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

[a_svirn]

No: HPFGUIDX 161936

> Charles:
> *If* the house elves are really as against freedom as we have 
seen, 
> (a *big* if in my opinion) I think the question we should ask is 
if 
> it is because of the enchantments that wizards seem to have placed 
> upon the entire species? I see this as a great possibility. We've 
> only seen two elves rebel against their masters- Dobby and 
Kreacher. 

a_svirn:
But then we've seen only three elves at close quarters. That's two 
out of three. And the third one was a *privileged* servant, with a 
very special kind of relationships with her master. 

> Charles:
> I grant that there may have been other cases, but I propose that 
it 
> takes a house elf with extraordinary magic to break through the 
> enchantment at all. With those who do, it takes a major effort on 
> their part. Dobby was made to punish himself by the Malfoys often, 
> and we see Dobby still struggle with the enchantment even after 
being 
> freed. 

a_svirn:
Because though he was *freed* he wasn't freed of the *enchantment*!  

> Charles:
 The opposite case is Winky, 
> who remains fiercely loyal to Crouch even after he sends her 
packing. 
> She cannot speak ill of him, even though he has cast her aside. 

a_svirn:
I don't think it's the enchantment, it's psychology.
 
> Charles:
> Another possibility I see for the house elves "fear of freedom" 
(for 
> lack of a better term at the moment)is tradition. 

a_svirn:
Hear, hear! 

> Charles:
While human slavery 
> has existed in human cultures for longer than anyone who loves our 
> species would really care to admit, it has not been as continuous 
for 
> one group of people as it has presumably been for house elves. 

a_svirn:
Yes, it has. *And* hereditary human slaves weren't all that anxious 
to be free, (provided that their masters weren't too cruel). Only 
first-generation slaves were prone to rebellions, like gladiators in 
Rom. 


> Charles:
> On a whole different train of thought that just crashed into my 
sleep 
> deprived head- what if the house elves turned out to be all 
descended 
> from a particular (wizard) family that fell afoul of a very 
powerful 
> (dark) wizard? I'm not seriously suggesting that that will come 
> around, it just popped into my head as I was getting done with 
this 
> post. 


a_svirn:
I think it's more likely that they are descended from free house-
elves who were enslaved. The brownies the like creatures from 
folklore aren't slaves – they work for pay, *and* they are usually 
given tiny cloths and footwear in return for their services. That is 
to say, precisely the articles the house-elves are forbidden to 
possess. I think their ancestors were tricked into some 
ghastly "magical contracts" by clever wizards. Whereupon, instead of 
much-coveted cloths and shoes they were forced into wearing tea-
towels, as "a symbol of their enslavement" as Dobby very justly put 
it.