House elves WAS: realistic resolutions

[Carol]

No: HPFGUIDX 180967

Kemper wrote:
> <snip> It's kind of sad, really, that others (not just Harry, but
all the Muggleborns or those raised in the RW) aren't compelled to
voice dissent.  Hermione seems the lone moral compass.  I wish I liked
her more. 

Carol responds:
But *is* Hermione (in GoF-HBP) the "moral compass" at all? I thought
that she was a typical example of an intelligent and idealistic
teenage girl who thought that she had all the answers (SPEW), meets
with resistance at every turn (not only from her fellow "good guy"
Gryffindors but from the adult half-wizard, Hagrid) and later learns
that she was wrong. She still wants to free the House-Elves, as she
tells the wily Griphook, but she knows better than to do it against
their will and she has come to understand and respect their point of
view. (That she is right in DH, as opposed to the earlier books, is
shown by Kreacher's grudging nod to the girl he has previously labeled
as "the Mudblood" and by the alteration in Kreacher's behavior and
attitude toward "Master Harry" once Harry understands and respects
Kreacher's adoration of "Master Regulus," in essence allying himself
with this scion of the Black family--Kreacher's family--rather than
assuming the worst of a boy who was both a Slytherin and a Death Eater.)

Hermione, it seems to me, has learned that House-Elves are magical
creatures that think differently from humans (whether Wizard or
Muggle) and have different values from teenage girls who lived until
age eleven in postmodern Muggle Britain (with presumably liberal
parents). The pureblood Wizards' view of House-Elves, as represented
by Ron (and that of nonpurebloods who grew up in the WW, like Hagrid)
matches the House Elves' view of themselves much more closely than
Hermione's does. That Ron is right and Hermione is wrong is clearly
shown by Winky's hysterics when Hermione tries to comfort her and talk
about her rights and by the Hogwarts Elves' reactions to Ron's
compliment "Good service!" (they beam with joy and pride) in contrast
to their reaction to Hermione (shooing HRH out of the kitchen, which
as "slaves" you'd think they'd be unable to do). 

SPEW is obviously the wrong solution to the perceived problem of
House-Elf "slavery," as even Hermione ultimately understands. She
takes the next step, attempting to understand their psychology and
focusing on the enchantment that forces them to punish themselves for
disobedience. *That*, we are given to understand, is where the problem
lies.

I agree with you about the "platinum rule" (a concept I've never heard
of before). The right way to treat House-Elves is the way *they* want
to be treated rather than imposing postmodern Muggle values on magical
creatures who still follow ancient traditions, either because they
want to or because of some ancient and evidently unalterable
enchantment. "They--like--it," says Ron of the Hogwarts House-Elves
(he's not speaking of the misfits, Dobby, Kreacher, and Winky). And,
once Kreacher comes to respect Harry (because Harry understands and
respects *him*), Kreacher becomes a happy House-Elf.

To say that House-Elf servitude is "slavery" and to try to impose
human values on them is to fundamentally misunderstand the problem.
Might as well fit them all with Hogwarts uniforms now, force them to
use wands and attend classes, and go out into the WW to become
bureaucrats, teachers, and Troll trainers.

House-Elves are magical creatures, as different from Wizards as
Centaurs and Merpeople are. While we're at it, why not force the
Giants, Trolls, Centaurs, Merpeople, Goblins, and whoever I'm
forgetting to conform to the human ideal as well.

Back in ancient times when I attended Northern Arizona University as
an undergraduate, there was a sign in front of the Administration
Building which read, "To become educated is to become more human." But
to send House-Elves out into the world to make their own way as humans
are forced to do is only possible if they're made "human" through a
wholly unsuitable (and unnecessary) education. House-Elves learn
wandless, nonverbal magic without a Hogwarts education, thank you.

I say, let House-Elves be House-Elves. Don't force "freedom" on them.
Just treat them with respect and consideration and don't give them
orders that they can't obey or might disobey and end up punishing
themselves.

How about a compulsory course at Hogwarts, House-Elf Studies, as a
companion course to Muggle Studies? Taught by someone who understands
and respects House-Elves, of course.

Carol, who agrees with SSS that those of us who don't consider
House-Elf servitude to be analogous to human slavery are by no means
defending Harry as a hero who can do no wrong (I disapprove of that
Crucio, remember? And I think that Harry only becomes enlightened with
regard to Snape, Kreacher, and a number of other characters in the
last book)