House elves

[siriusgirl]

So what about house elves?

I personally don't think having a house elf is inherently good or bad. It just is, like anything else it's neutral and depends on the household. However, the way the Malfoys treated Dobby and the way Crouch sacked Winky to cover up is horrible! That doesn't mean there aren't house elves who aren't happy and well treated.

I think the issue with Hermione's SPEW is it was somewhat condescending. She assumes they want to be free, and all they do is housework, and that they should get paid and get sick leave etc. Judging them by human standards. However, her intentions are good, and I'm glad to see that she is able to ensure that house elves are protected and that cruelty to a house elf becomes punishable by law.

We see three house elves. Dobby who is the maverick house elf (then again working for the Malfoys who were very cruel, no wonder he was so happy to be free). Kreacher, who starts off as spiteful and nasty but turns out to be OK once he gets treated nicely. I think it was easier to be angry at Kreacher for his attitude than pin part of it on Sirius who took out his bitterness and contempt on Kreacher, but after I heard Kreachers' story I felt bad for him and realized Sirius isn't blameless. I love Sirius and always will but he WAS horrible to Kreacher. Of course, there's also Winky who goes into depression and alcoholism after being Crouch's scapegoat.

I think house elves do have a certain amount of power. They are the ones who make the house comfortable to live in, cook dinner, make the beds etc. If angered they can turn and do the minimum and even betray the family.

Thoughts?

[MWPP]

Four! Hokey - who is treated well, until Hepsibah keels over and the MoM treats her with so little respect....

Another point about Kreachur - he was more or less in solitary confinement for the time between when Mrs. Black died and Sirius came back, except for the rantings of some creepy portraits. In some ways his actions when we first meet him are understandable.


The House Elves / S.P.E.W. are parallels to assorted civil rights situations. Sometimes in trying to help it shows that the prejudices are so ingrained that they become apparent without the well-meaning person being aware of their presence. "Some of my best friends are..."

[siriusgirl]

Oh yeah, Hokey. She was well treated too by Hepzibah. Being accused of murder was wrong, come on, Ministry. But with Hepzibah, she was happy.

ITA about Kreacher, I think his actions were understandable. I'm a Krecher fan now after TDH. His story and yes the fact he was alone explains a lot. He was starving for affection. Really, he was more sinned against than sinning.

House elves are generally reflections of the family they serve, the way they're treated can (but not always) say a lot about the family itself and about the person (IE: Mr Crouch) and they echo the view of the family ("Mr Bagman is a bad wizard!).

Hermione's heart was in the right place, but she wound up offending them. In TDH, she hit the nail on the head about Kreacher and house elves general. She also made Harry see what he didn't want to see: That Sirius was cruel to Kreacher and was at fault for that and paid for it. Sirius apparently was kind to most house elves but he only saw Kreacher as a reminder of the home he hated and so took it out on Kreacher

The tricky thing is that House elves fortune is all in a matter of luck. When the house gets past down it all depends on the new owner being kind or cruel.

[MWPP]

Generally I agree with most of your thoughts. I have to differ about the "starved for affection" one, though. House Elves have a different way of being in the world, but still are sensitive to the lack of input. It has less to do with "affection" and more to do with mental stability - it doesn't even have to be solitary confinement, per se; how many times have you been stuck thinking in the same circular rut until some input from another person shows you other options? Kreachur spent close to ten years with no one else of any species talking with/to him. Think about walking by yourself in a dark place. All manner of imaginary fears begin to take precedence over your rational thought patterns. 'Same with him.

The tricky thing is that House elves fortune is all in a matter of luck. When the house gets past down it all depends on the new owner being kind or cruel.

As is the fate of any being lacking power in the situation. It doesn't matter if it is a pet or a slave, or someone who has been suckered into materialism and is being held captive by a credit corporation. If the one with the power is kind, the subjected one fairs reasonable well... If...


.

[siriusgirl]

I definitely agree that Kreacher being alone played a role for so long played a role in his actions in OOTP and when he gets company, that company is contemptuous of him and hates him. Sirius failed to see the dangers of a discontented house elf. The best way to ensure a house elf is loyal to you and not just the family is really to treat it kindly, as Harry finds out. House elves are what they are made to be by wizards.

I wonder what laws Hermione passed?