Hermione and House-Elves - another non-spoilery reflection

[pharnabazus]

Another thing that intrigues me is... is Hermione ever going to be reminded that all of the actual reasons that pushed her into the cause of House-Elf liberation were actually misconceptions of one kind or another? For instance, when Winky talked about obeying orders and being afraid of heights (up in the top box at the Quidditch World Cup) she was

Comments

Re: Is Dobby more like the others than we think?

[jodel_from_aol]

I have a couple of essays that deal with the House Elves over on Red Hen. There have been some updates to both this spring. A few newer issues have finally sunk in.

The main one is The Servant Problem [http://www.redhen-publications.com/Servants.html] which floats the theory that the "enslavement" of the House Elves only dates from the establishment of wizarding Seclusion and that prior to that period, most wizarding households had actively *avoided* dealing with House Elves.

The other, more specifically related to Dobby is The Year of the Basilisk [http://www.redhen-publications.com/Basilisk.html] in which I have added some newer insights as to what seemed to be going on there. Once you take a look at the activity in Year 2 through the lens of what actually happened was what was *meant* to happen Dobby's actions and statements are open to some very different interpretations.

Right, just because their syntax makes them sound like simpletons doesn't make it so. ANd Servants have been manipulating Masters for a loooong time.

Re: Is Dobby more like the others than we think?

[pharnabazus]

Exactly - they've "always" been manipulating their masters. I would be terrified to have someone like Kreacher serving me. Even if he were totally loyal. Especially if he were totally loyal.

BTW, perhaps the most terrifying post-victory distopia I ever heard of is the House Elf Republic of Hogwarts, with the House-Elves arranging everything "for master's own good, of course."