On the topic of house-elves...I read a disturbing essay by no_remorse a while ago, to the effect that house-elves were JKR's parody of conventional '50's style house-wives...and once I'd read it I couldn't get that idea out of my head, because it makes perfect sense, in a gruesome Stepford Wives sort of way.
The house-elves take on the burden of the unpaid menial labour in the wizarding world (well, somebody has to do it) and for some sad reason they don't mind at all. They're tied to one household for the rest of their natural lives, and are quite content to stay in that role - or are they?!?
Which makes me wonder if we're supposed to make a connection with Aunt Petunia; who I am sure has a lot more going on inside her than meets the eye, and is almost certain to make a Dobby-like bid for freedom before the end of the series...
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Date: 2004-10-04 12:15 am (UTC)The house-elves take on the burden of the unpaid menial labour in the wizarding world (well, somebody has to do it) and for some sad reason they don't mind at all. They're tied to one household for the rest of their natural lives, and are quite content to stay in that role - or are they?!?
Which makes me wonder if we're supposed to make a connection with Aunt Petunia; who I am sure has a lot more going on inside her than meets the eye, and is almost certain to make a Dobby-like bid for freedom before the end of the series...