House Elves and Dobby

[Marilyn Peake]

No: HPFGUIDX 128868

Kay D.: I was really alluding to the house elves story here, Dobby's 
life is changed by Harry's kindness 

Why did Dobby help Harry?  Why do house elves have so much power 
(even without wands), and yet allow themselves to be enslaved?  Will 
they become a factor in the next two books?

Marilyn: I was at first shocked at Dobby's introduction into the 
Harry Potter series - a slave who masochistically punishes himself.  
However, after awhile, I thought that Dobby represented another 
genius attempt by J.K. Rowling to introduce complex ideas about good 
and evil to children.  In the real world, people often cooperate with 
the enslavers.  If everyone stood up for what is wrong exactly when 
it first occurs - if a nation refused to allow others to be enslaved, 
if everyone acted like Harry - the world would be a much better 
place.  And Harry's first reaction was to demand that Dobby stop 
hurting himself, no matter what the political consequences to Dobby.

Best Wishes,
Marilyn

~~ Drink deeply by land or sea. Earth comes only once.~~
>From THE FISHERMAN'S SON Trilogy 
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