Freedom for House-Elves (Was: Kreacher the Plot Device Elf)

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 161841

Betsy Hp wrote:
<snip> JKR is taking an odd tactic of having only 
> Dobby actually express a certain level of unhappiness with the state 
> of house-elves.  She's not hinted at a previous house-elf 
> rebellion.  No other house-elf has jumped on Dobby's bandwagon.  In 
> fact, there's an impression that Dobby would be thrilled to be owned 
> by Harry.  And Harry doesn't seem all that bothered to be Kreacher's 
> owner, for that matter.

> For me, I think the analogy goes about as far as the "Lupin equals 
> an AIDs patient" analogy goes.  There's definitely some cross over, 
> but it's not written as a total parallel.  Honestly, I'm not sure 
> where JKR is going to take the house-elf thing.  With one book left 
> to go I'm not sure she can squeeze in a freedom for house-elves sub-
> plot. <snip>

Carol responds:
Sorry to take your remarks out of context here, but I agree with
Magpie that House-Elf slavery, which in most cases is voluntary
servitude despite the binding magical contracts, doesn't really
parallel human slavery, pre-Civil War American or otherwise.

But you make an interesting point here: we know of no previous
House-Elf rebellion. Professor Binns's History of Magic class is full
of Goblin wars and rebellions (except for one war with the Giants,
you'd think that nothing else happened in the history of the WW) but
not a single incident of house-elf rebellion. It's one thing for the
Wizards to take House-Elf servitude for granted, not even mentioning
it in "Hogwarts: A History" because it's just (for them) a fact of
life, but the House-Elves seem to take it for granted, too, and even
to want it. You're right that Dobby would be thrilled to be owned by
Harry, IMO; he's voluntarily accepted Harry as his master. And when
Dumbledore offers him payment and days off, Dobby talks him into
paying him *less* money with *fewer* days off because, although he
likes being paid, he likes work better. Clearly, working, specifically
cooking and cleaning for humans and other domestic responsibilities,
is ingrained into a house-elf's nature, along with keeping the
family's secrets, a big responsibility. This view of life and work is
not indoctrination or enforced domination. Even a freed Elf wants to
work for a human master, preferably one to whom he can show fanatical
loyalty.

>From Winky's point of view, freedom is a disgrace, equivalent to being
fired. In fact, that's exactly what happened to her: enforced freedom.
She's lost her inherited place in WW society. Her mother and
grandmother belonged to the Crouches, happily serving them, and they
would be ashamed of her for losing her place as Mr. Crouch's trusted
servant. It's odd that at first she seems willing to look for work
along with Dobby but takes to drinking butterbeer *after* she starts
working at Hogwarts. Maybe seeing the happy Hogwarts House-Elves
(pardon the alliteration), she misses her old life and especially her
master more deeply.(?)

Freedom is not necessarily a wonderful thing in and of itself, even
for humans. It's not much use unless you have money, too. (Just ask
Sirius Black in GoF, though granted, he's a fugitive, too.) Freedom
for unemployed humans or House-Elves brings with it the burden of
finding a job and supporting themselves, something House-Elves aren't
trained to do. They can't even look in the Daily Prophet for jobs.
House-Elves are supposed to work without pay for the people whose
property the House-Elves are part of. There aren't any want ads
offering employment to House-Elves, nor can they do any other job than
housework (or perhaps child care), such as mining or smithing or
working at Gringotts. The Goblins have a monopoly on those trades or
jobs, even if a House-Elf wanted to learn them. 

Really, I can't see the House-Elves in general wanting freedom unless
they also have job training and opportunities to work in other fields,
and would most of them want it even them? It seems to be in their
nature to be domestic servants. Except for Kreacher, who is an anomaly
in many ways, they like cooking and cleaning, and they're
exceptionally good at it. Most of them wouldn't choose to, say, write
for the Daily Prophet or work in a shop even if they had the
opportunity. Like most of us, they like what they're good at, and
they're good at what they like. It's human, erm, House-Elf nature.

So I think Hermione is wrong to want to free the House-Elves, and I
don't think that any program of indoctrination is going to turn most
of them into Dobbys. What's needed, IMO, is some sort of code
regulating the treatment of House-Elves, guaranteeing them safe and
comfortable working conditions, outlawing abuse, and providing
optional holidays for House-Elves who want them, along with some form
of retirement for those who are too old to work. A rehabilitation and
placement program for Elves who've been given clothes would be good as
well. Humane treatment, yes. Freedom, no. At least, I think that's the
House-Elves' perspective.

Carol, not at all bothered by Harry's owning House-Elves as long as he
treats them fairly (just how that applies to Kreacher beyond ordering
him to keep himself clean is anybody's guess)