Hermione's Hypocrisy?(long)

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 129229

>>Betsy:
>Aha! A light has been switched on!  Yes, in this manner, Hermione 
is *very* condesending.  All house-elves must be innocent by virtue 
of their victimization.  The funny thing is, Hermione's view of 
house-elves parallels exactly the WW view: powerless, useful, not 
too bright creatures that need instruction.<
<snip>

>>Phoenixgod: 
>I'm confused. I thought you were arguing that Hermione wasn't a 
hypocrite? Seems to me that by saying her view and the wizarding 
world view of House elves aren't all that far apart *is* saying she 
has hypocritical views on house elves.<
<snip>

Betsy:
To my mind, to be hypocritical is to *recognize* that you're doing 
one thing while saying another.  Hermione is completely consistent 
in what she says and what she does. (House-elves should be free.  I 
will help bring about their freedom.)  And she's also completely 
genuine.  However, because her views on the house-elves are so 
simplistic (because of her immature empathy skills), her attempts to 
help them become a form of condescension.  More ignorant than 
malicious, but condescension, none the less.  I would label the 
parallel between Hermione's view of house-elves and the WW's view of 
house-elves as irony.

Betsy