House-Elf Justice (was Re: Kreacher - workable solutions?)

[sophierom]

No: HPFGUIDX 129561

Steve/bboyminn wrote:

> But elves are a very different case, all indications are that they
> really do eagerly seek out humans to serve, both in this story and
in
> general lore and legend, and that they take a great deal of pride in
> what they do. Because of this, the comparison to human slavery is
very
> limited in it's ability to illustrate the elves' situation.
> 
> Consequently, I have never seen the problem of elf servitude as a
> problem of slavery or forced service, it's a problem of treatment.
> Elves need to be treated with dignity and gratitude; the value of
> their service needs to be reflected in the way they are treated.

Sophierom:

I agree that house-elves are, in some important ways, very different
from humans who have been enslaved.  As you suggest, there seems to be
something in their nature/culture/magical make-up that causes them to
"eagerly seek out humans to serve".  I believe that service is
fundamentally different than slavery (as do you, if I'm understanding
your point).  

However, house-elves at the time of the HP series are both servants
and slaves.  They cannot leave the service of a wizard master unless
that master grants them clothes or freedom. You're right: wizards and
witches should treat their house-elves with respect and dignity; but
not all will do that, and there's no way to enforce better treatment.
 If house-elves are badly treated, then they should be able to
exercise the choice to leave that family and find another to serve. 
If it's in elf-nature to serve, then it's in human nature to acquire
and hold onto power (a generalization, I know, but one that I see
throughout the HP series and life, for that matter).  Oppressors
rarely give up their power without compulsion.  Why would any master
give up the authority to treat his or her house-elf how s/he chooses?
 If a master/mistress does treat a house-elf well, it's  because s/he
CHOOSES to treat the elf well.  The choice, then, is still in the
hands of the human. I believe that, unless the house-elves to choose
their own fate, they are indeed slaves, and though they are different
from human slaves, all slaves lack fundamental right to choose their
own path in life.

 Steve/bboyminn:
> Sadly, typical colonial Europeans, the wizards are very much
operating
> under and perpetuating a 'slave' mentality in themselves and among
the
> elves. I still take the stand that the only thing holding elves to
> their service is a rigid fierce unwavering sense of honor,
commitment,
> tradition, and loyalty. Not force of law, not force of magic, but
the
> elves own rigid fierce unwavering sense of honor, commitment,
> tradition, and loyalty. I can't say that magic plays NO role, but
for
> the most part, it is the elves unwavering commitment that binds them
> to service.

Sophierom:

This is a fascinating concept!  Do you mean to suggest, then, that
should an elf will it, s/he could be free? Perhaps Dobby's freedom
didn't come so much from Harry (though he was the instrument) but from
Dobby, through a set of choices he made throughout CoS?  I really like
this idea. 

I think, however, that the house-elves must ultimately have the choice
to serve rather than the compulsion to serve.  If they are the ones
who place magical bonds on themselves, so long as they can also take
the bonds away, then I'll agree with you: house-elves aren't slaves
but free servants.  But IMHO, house-elves will continue to be slaves
(no matter who or what enslaves them) until they have the choice to
make their own futures. I think I've said this before (I'm very
repetitive!), but I do believe that, in a story that revolves around
the power of choice and free will, the house-elves' lack of choice
represents a real problem.  The poor treatment of house-elves is a
symptom of this problem, but it is the lack of choice that is the
fundamental illness here.  

Steve/bboyminn:
> If wizard could lose their colonial god-like all-superior attitudes
> and approach the agreement with the same sense of honor and
commitment
> as the elves, there would be no problem. Everybody would truly be
> happy. Once again, I say that there is really nothing that needs to
be
> fixed in the elves, they are fine. It's the wizards and their
> self-superior, self-serving abusive colonial attitudes and actions
> that need to be fixed. 
> 
> To help the plight of Elves, it's the wizards who truly need to be
fixed.
> 
> Just saying it again.

Sophierom:

Glad you did say it again.  I think your point about the need for
wizards to change their attitudes is a great one. But I maintain that
it would be impossible to change every wizard's attitude.  And it
would be impossible to enforce a change of attitude.  That's why
house-elves need the choice to leave a family. I also think that it's
inaccurate to argue that the condition of the house-elves hasn't
affected the elves themselves.  Winky and Kreacher have some serious
emotional issues. They are not "fine"; they are incredibly unhappy.
This may be because of the mistreatment, and it could be argued that
if they hadn't been mistreated, then they'd be fine.  But at the risk
of repeating myself, how is it possible to make someone like Mrs.
Black respect house-elves when she doesn't respect other humans? Is it
possible to make Malfoy respect house-elves when he doesn't even
respect Muggleborns?  And if it's not possible to reform the wizard,
what happens to that house-elf? Dobby was able to get out of a bad
situation. Other house-elves might not be so lucky. 

All the best,
Sophie