HG-HBP/LegalSystems/Co-Creator(3)/Sandwich/Bed(2)/CHAPDISC(2)/Free HE/Regulus

[a_svirn]

No: HPFGUIDX 178863

> > Magpie:
> > Instead it ends with the resolution that 
> > as sick as it is to watch House Elves punish themselves that 
hasn't 
> > changed, and this particular House Elf belongs to Harry, with a 
> > focus on the nice bits. It's a problem that's there, that 
Hermione 
> > makes noise about, but does not find any solution for, that still 
> > goes on being there at the end of the book--but it's also got 
some 
> > pleasant sides to it and that's the last image of it we see. 
> 
> zgirnius:
> It seems to me you are defining what the story is too narrowly. 
Elves 
> are slaves, this can only be resolved if elves are free. 

a_svirn:
Which they cannot be because they aren't free by nature. Ergo this 
situation simply cannot be resolved. 

> zgirnius:
Why is a 
> resolution in which the one main character who sees the problem, 
> manages to pass on her concern to two other main characters, not a 
> resolution? 

a_svirn:
Because it resolves nothing?

> zgirnius:
It constitutes a change from the previous situation. It 
> is a step in the right direction (more people caring, more people 
> thinking about it and treating elves better). 

a_svirn:
The only change I that can see is that Hermione gave up on the idea 
of freeing them, and concentrated on teaching Harry how to treat 
Kreacher kindly. It does resolve the Harry-Kreacher situation to 
their mutual satisfaction, but it doesn't offer any general solution 
for house-elves.