We assume that the vast majority of them apparently do serve, but do we actually have any evidence that a majority of them like it or are content with it? Aren't we hearing that second-hand, from the wizards, as part of their own conventional wisdom? I find it interesting that 100% of the elves that we've actaully "met" fail to comply with the stereotype of happy toilers. Have the books given us a chance to hear, firsthand, from any contented house-elves?
I share your frustration with Hermione, to an extent, because it seems that she's missing something essential, though I'm not sure what, exactly, so that it's more about her own sensibilities than about the elves. But I guess all reformers have to start somewhere. I'm intrigued by the "brownie" discussion below, and the suggestion that the Elves may stand for some kind of principle of order or maintenance that the wizards are only too happy to interpret as "service" and to distort and reinforce with punishment.
I think it's really cool that we've all gone so far with this question! I've never really thought much about House Elves before. :)
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2004-10-04 11:30 pm (UTC)I share your frustration with Hermione, to an extent, because it seems that she's missing something essential, though I'm not sure what, exactly, so that it's more about her own sensibilities than about the elves. But I guess all reformers have to start somewhere. I'm intrigued by the "brownie" discussion below, and the suggestion that the Elves may stand for some kind of principle of order or maintenance that the wizards are only too happy to interpret as "service" and to distort and reinforce with punishment.
I think it's really cool that we've all gone so far with this question! I've never really thought much about House Elves before. :)