[HPforGrownups] Re: Ron, Hermione, and the hearts of house-elves (Was: Andromeda as good Slytherin)

[elfundeb]

No: HPFGUIDX 177677

Montavilla47 wrote:
> <snip>
> Here's the part where I have a problem, because I *don't* see any
change of heart here. The Ron who thinks about warning the
House-Elves about the battle doesn't seem any different than the Ron
who exposes Hermione's booby-hats in the common room so that the elves
will have a choice about whether or not they want to become free.
>
> So, that moment all the culmination of the S.P.E.W. subplot fell
flat for me. Even if it did have the big sloppy kiss that every
Ron/Hermione shipper had been waiting for for seven books.

 Carol:
Hermione, it seems to me, comes much closer in DH to understanding the
psychology of house-elves in DH than in earlier books, and her new
understanding helps Harry to reach Kreacher's mind and begin to treat
his views with something other than contempt.

Debbie:
Although at one time (pre-OOP) I envisioned Dumbledore flinging socks in the
final battle, I believe JKR used the House Elf liberation
issue primarily to illustrate the R/H subplot.  And this scene, though a bit
awkwardly done, resolves this subplot by showing that both of them
had adjusted their positions.  In expressing concern for the House Elves,
Ron expressly rejects Harry's query whether they should get the House Elves
fighting.  He only wants to protect them, which is a far cry from his
statement in GoF that "They. Like. It.  They *like* being enslaved!" (ch.
14).  Back then he seemed to be in denial that the House Elves were being
abused and needed help.  And, as Carol pointed out (which I will not
repeat), Hermione has adjusted her own position, or she would not have
considered Ron's statement to be justification for the kiss that's been
coming for six books, if not seven.  Only now does she have the
understanding to formulate a plan that might actually help abused House
Elves.  And perhaps she's able to do so in her career (which IMO is wide
open since I don't read JKR interviews or put any credence in anything she
says), so I think the outlook for elves is quite good at the end of the
book.

Debbie
who found it a bit jarring that in the last sentence of the main action of
the series, Harry wants his slave Kreacher to bring him a sandwich
and wanted to tell him to go get his own damn sandwich and thank Kreacher
for his leadership of the elves in the final battle


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]