[HPforGrownups] House Elf Loyalty

[Kemper]

No: HPFGUIDX 151594

On 4/27/06, silmariel <silmariel at telefonica.net> wrote:
>
>
> > bboyminn:
> > I've always objected to people comparing house-elves to human slaves.
> > While there are some parallels, and on occassion it does give us a
> > framework to illustrate their plight, I don't think it really holds up
> > well.
>
> My instinct says Honor is only an excuse... but after a hunt, I've found
> the
> reference - I was starting to think I had imagined it.
>
> ...
> JK Rowling: "The house elves is really for slavery, isn't it, the house
> elves
> are slaves, so that is an issue that I think we probably all feel strongly
>
> about enough in this room already."
>
> Pretty clear, isn't it?
>


Kemper now:
It isn't pretty clear.  Regardless of what JKR says about her intentions,
they don't seem to come across that way on the page.

I agree mostly with Steve.  Mostly.

The House Elves seem like endentured servants.  They sign up with a family
because they get something in return... which may only be the joy, or
honor, of serving.  But they seem to get something initially in the
Servant/Master arrangement, otherwise why would the first HEs ever agree to
serve a Witch/Wizard in the first place?

-Kemper, who's hella behind on reading posts...


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