Hermione/S.P.E.W. and the Women’s Movement

[weasley_girl_ca]

The house-elf enslavement in Harry Potter is often compared to the human slavery history (just like blood status is compared to racism) but after taking a history course in university, I also see a lot of similarities between house-eves/Hermione’s campaign and the women’s movement (especially suffrage

Comments

[warrioreowyn]

I think there's a very important distinction between the two movements - namely, that Hermione is not a house-elf. The suffragettes were female, so it was entirely appropriate for them to spearhead a movement for women's rights. And if Dobby decided to take up the cause of SPEW, that would be a fine thing as well. But what Hermione is doing is deciding that she knows better than another group of people what is best for them.

It is, in some ways, an extension of the same question that is at the heart of the controversy over the Iraq War: can and should a people be made free by outside forces, or must freedom come from inside? In my opinion, it is good to show people what freedom can look like, and the presence of Dobby among the Hogwarts elves does that. It is good to introduce the idea of change into a culture where it is not present. And it is good to support movements for freedom. But a people group cannot be compelled to be free with any great amount of success, unless at least some of the people actually desire freedom. And that's what Hermione's failing to see, with her attempts to free the house-elves despite themselves. If she freed them in the state of mind that they are in at the present time, they would only be miserable. Until and unless the liberation movement comes partially from inside, it will be useless or worse.

[weasley_girl_ca]

That's a really good point...the heart of the suffrage movement came from within. But I think Hermione has the right idea, not the right methods. She's just approaching it the wrong way--by, like you said, trying to force freedom on them prematurely.