Harry and the house-elves---another view

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 162128

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Eric Oppen" <technomad at ...> 
wrote:
<SNIP>
> One thing that a lot of posters on this point forget, again and 
again, is 
> that _house-elves are NOT human!!!_  They are another race 
entirely.  Humans 
> hate being enslaved.  House-elves may well see their situation as 
the 
> highest and noblest calling available to them. <SNIP>


Alla:

They may or they may not. Till enchantment is lifted, we do not have 
the 
complete picture IMO.



Eric Oppen:
> And there might be very good reasons why house-elves 
are "enslaved."  <SNIP>House-elves apparently have their own kind of 
magic, and 
> Dobby, once free to do as he pleased, was able to face down Lucius 
> Malfoy---who, for all his faults, is almost certainly neither a 
coward nor a 
> weak wizard.
> 
> If all the house-elves were freed, they might be even more 
dangerous than 
> Dementors or another goblin rebellion.

Alla:

I am sorry, but how is this reason even approaching to be the good 
reason?

Wizards are afraid that another race has magic more powerful than 
them and they decided to keep them enslaved because of that, I mean, 
if this was primary reason indeed, IMO this is a disgusting reason. 
It is surely easier to do so, than become friends or allies with 
house elves and make sure that house elves have no reason to turn on 
wizards.

And I do not see wizards go and try to imprison Giants. Who sure are 
dangerous and violent, many of them.

I mean, did they just got lucky with house elves and figure that to 
keep their magic in check is a good reason to continue?

Sorry, I do not think it is a good reason.


Eric Oppen:
  And, again, you can't generalize 
> from Dobby, or Winky.  Neither of them is particularly typical of 
> house-elves. 

Alla:

And again, I disagree, if I had been given to see up close and 
personal three house elves only, I may assume that those are 
**typical** house elves. IMO of course.

Eric Oppen:
 What if, once freed, they decided they'd been "cast aside and 
> scorned" and began to wreak vengeance on all and sundry?
>

Alla:

Maybe that would be a very memorable lesson for wizards then not to 
try and enslave another race than can get upset about that.

JMO,

Alla