[HPforGrownups] Re: House elves and some spoilers for Swordspoint WAS: realistic solutions

[k12listmomma]

No: HPFGUIDX 180943

> Alla:
> I am not inclined to debate whether elves like it enough to be
> difference or not, but Here is one IMO huge difference that
> Goddlefrood pointed out - real life slaves are traded, elves are
> not. So here is a distinction between RL slavery right there,
> staring at us.

Shelley:
I have a problem with the idea that House Elves are not traded, or with the 
idea that they are not sold. We are told directly that only wealthy families 
own them, and that right tells me that the original house elf slaves might 
have been bought somehow, and that their price must be high. Otherwise, 
wouldn't poor families get them too? Wouldn't the children of House Elves 
seek out new families to serve if they were not bound to a master in true 
slavery? Why only the rich get to have them? Unless, of course, it's the 
house elf choice to choose the largest mansions to clean, or chose only the 
most well known and respected wizards as masters, and that leads them to 
choose the rich only to serve, as a status symbol among other house elves.