House-Elves yet again

[a_svirn]

No: HPFGUIDX 181038

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Carol" <justcarol67 at ...> wrote:
>
> We're getting nowhere in the House-Elves are/are not slaves debate,
> and those of us who feel that the House-Elf ownership is 
sufficiently
> different from human slavery to justify the use of that loaded term
> (All in favor of slavery, say "Aye!") are also getting nowhere. Call
> it a draw as neither side seems likely to persuade the other to give
> an inch.
> 
> Let me start from scratch. 

a_svirn:
I know it's like going in circles, but still. 

Carol: 
6) Not all House-Elves are abused by their masters, and even abuse is
not sufficient reason in the minds of most House-Elves <snip
>to 
desire "freedom."
10) An unhappy House-Elf can work against his master in surprisingly
effective ways, either making his life miserable <snip
> or aiding
his enemies <snip
> or both.
11) A happy House-Elf (one who is well-treated and has a master he
respects) performs well and efficiently, wanting no other reward than
an occasional compliment ("Good service!") <snip
>Treat your House-
Elf well and he'll be happy,
giving you good service, which will make *you* happy. Treat him badly,
and your house will be dirty because the Elf will find a way to
subvert you.

a_svirn:
If you substitute the word House-Elf for the word (human) slave your 
argument is still valid. In fact I wouldn't be at all surprised if 
the advice such as this can be found in some household manuals for 
slave-owners, or, say, in sermons of some well-meaning ministers. 

Carol: 
4) While House-Elves can do other tasks, such as fetching Mundungus
Fletcher, they not surprisingly prefer housework and are exceptionally
good at it. (My guess is that their magic is specially adapted to the
Elf equivalent of "householdy spells" and to enabling them to keep out
of sight ("the mark of a good House-Elf is that he's not seen," as
somebody says).

a_svirn:
Oh, I don't know. I think Kreacher rather liked his assignment. He 
certainly was eager to participate in the interrogation. 

Carol: 
7) "Freedom," at least in the books, is accomplished through clothes,
not legislation.

a_svirn:
Yes. It is slavery that is accomplished through legislation. 

Carol: 
Nevertheless, his "freedom"
is not all that wonderful, as it amounts to homelessness and
unemployment for a year, and if it weren't for Dumbledore, both he and
Winky would have remained outcasts (or starved to death). No one wants
a disgraced House-Elf, especially one who "wants paying."

a_svirn:
And what exactly it tells us? That Dobby and Winky are natural 
slaves? I'd say it tells us that the wizarding society and culture 
leaves much to be desired. The example of Winky and Dobby shows that 
naturally, organically or whatever they are perfectly able to be 
free – their faculties, magical abilities and even their desire to 
serve are all intact. What they need is some goodwill of wizards. And 
the only wizard that has the required quality is Dumbledore. Well 
it's just too bad, isn't it? Not all is well in the WW after all, 
something is definitely rotten. 

Carol:
8) The enchantment that binds a House-Elf to serve a particular family
can be broken by giving the House-Elf clothes, but the enchantment
that forces a House-Elf to punish himself if he disobeys his master
(or even his paid employer, as we see with Dobby and Umbridge, remains
in place). They are, it seems, two separate enchantments, and it's the
second, the self-punishment enchantment, that seems more horrific to
Hermione, our spokeswoman for the Elf cause.

a_svirn: 
Yes indeed, it seemed to discompose Hermione. Elves themselves, 
however, are not fussed about it. They want to serve the masters of 
their choice – and that's the really big issue with them – but as for 
self-punishment, they don't complain about it. Well, Dobby mentioned 
it, but only as a minor issue. Kreacher certainly saw nothing 
whatsoever wrong with it. 


Carol:
9) SPEW is unworkable because neither Elves nor Wizards want anything
to do with it.

a_svirn:
SPEW is unworkable because it irresponsible and dishonest. And that 
very good word that Mike used – self-congratulatory. Or, if we take 
Hermione's tender age into account, immature, sneaky and self-
congratulatory. We haven't seen real mature and responsible attempt 
to do something for elves in canon. 

Carol:
So, supposing that the self-punishment enchantment, which no one on
this list or in the books sees as a good thing, is lifted, with
penalties instituted for abusing a House-Elf. Is that sufficient? (I
think it is,) 
<snip>
More important, how are the Elves supposed to be "freed" if the only
way to do it is by giving them all clothes? (Legislation can't undo an
enchantment.)

a_svirn:
I don't understand why you think that one of these two separate 
enchantments can be lifted while the other cannot. There is nothing 
said in canon about possibility of undoing either. I think it is more 
realistic that the binding enchantment can be undone. Since it 
involves cultural artifacts (cloths) it can't be a part of elvish 
natural constitution. If wizards abolish slavery legally they would 
have to undo the binding enchantment. As for self-punishment it just 
might be part of their make-up after all – since they continue to 
practice it even after the bond is broken. 

Carol:
I know that some people think that the House-Elves are supposed to
have "freedom of choice" to find a new master (they're not, let's face
it, going to open a business or become professors). 

a_svirn:
I am continually puzzled by that persistent reference to businessmen 
and professors. Are these two categories of people the only ones who 
have freedom of choice? And why the quotation mark? Are you signaling 
unusual usage? 

Carol:
But where are they
supposed to find these new masters? An employment agency run by the
MoM?

a_svirn:
Why not?

Carol:
 And what's the guarantee that they'd find a suitable employer?

a_svirn:
Oh, I don't think it would be such a problem. If wizards contrive to 
be a little less prejudiced, I think they can come to terms with the 
liberated elves. Especially since the terms are still likely to be 
very favorable for wizards. 

a_svirn.