[HPforGrownups] Re: Resolutions/Ron's Cloak/Slytherins are Bad

[Lynda Cordova]

No: HPFGUIDX 183497

Montavilla47
 think there are at least two ways of being "disapppointed" (my word
of the day) in a book. You can be upset that the author's purpose was
different than you thought.
You can be also be disappointed that the author didn't fully deliver on
her purpose.

As an example, let's take the House Elves. Because she ends the series
with her hero perfectly happy owning a slave, I tend to think JKR confused
her "slavery is bad" message, and that the real message ended up being,
"slavery is only bad if you abuse your authority as a slave owner."

Lynda:
I agree. As far as the House Elf situation is concerned I know that a lot of
readers were disappointed that the House elves were not all freed and/or
that Harry actually still owned one at the end of the series.

I wasn't. I never saw that freeing the houseelves was one of those
storylines that had to be resolved. In the series, wizarding families have
owned House Elves for centuries. The House Elves enjoy working for wizards,
although not the treatment they receive at the hands of neglectful and
abusive owners. Does that mean I personally believe that slavery is a good
thing? NO. But it was not essential as far as I could see, for JKR to have
the House Elves freed. Or, for that matter, for Harry to give Kreacher his
freedom. I knew that slavery was bad prior to reading the HP books. I still
know the same thing afterwords. I also know that in employer/employee
relationships, being treated with respect and dignity is important and tend
to think that Rowling was talking about that as much as she was about
slavery.

Lynda


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