House elves and slavery

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 126645



Bonnie:
I just have to put in my oar here.  What is slavish about house 
work?  It's a very noble art.  Work in general ought to be more 
highly valued in our society.  I work in a hospital and have 
often thought that the housekeepers and aids ought to be paid 
nearly as much as the nurses, etc. (No, I'm not either.)  What 
would happen to us all if there was no one to clean up?  House 
elves ought to be highly valued and very well treated.  I think 
it's a very noble profession.

Alla:

Absolutely, housework IS a noble profession, just as any work. The 
point I am trying to make is that I don't see enough convincinng 
evidence ( enough to convince me, of course) in the text that Elves 
always wanted to do housework ONLY, would continue to do housework 
ONLY, IF they were not enslaved.

I am not sure if I think that they are brainwashed, probably not, 
since Dobby is indeed a very good example of that, but I am not sure 
if House elves current situation is their own doing only.

Whatever elves choose at the end, is very satisfactory with me, I 
just want them to be able to make informed choice, that is all.
"Dobby likes work, but he wants to wear clothes  and he wants to be 
paid, Harry Potter... Dobby likes being free" - GoF, p.378, 
paperback.

JMO,
Alla