J.K. Rowling had, and I expect still has, a lot to say on any number of topics told through the Harry Potter series. Her messages on love, the nature of good and evil, on sacrifice and duty, are difficult to miss. What wasn't so obvious, at least to me, was what she was saying with House Elves. Unlike so many of the other topics, there was no grand gesture, no plain lesson, but she devoted a goodly portion of the series to this subplot, so there must be something to it. After years of occasional mulling, I think I understand it, at least to a degree. What she was after, I think, was to convey some fairly harsh truths.
1. How a group feels about a thing doesn't change what a thing is. House Elves live in forced servitude - slavery. That they cheerfully endure this doesn't make it something else. Pay attention to how your feelings changed about the situation as you found that, with few exceptions, the House Elves were really okay with it. It's just the way they are, of course, so this slavery must be okay. It's the good kind. Only it's not, because it's slavery.
2. Otherwise good people can hold profoundly ignorant opinions. This is told through any number of characters, but exemplified best through the character of Hagrid. He insists that freeing the House Elves would be doing them an unkindness, and he consequently refuses to contribute to the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare. That Hagrid is the least educated individual, and the closest thing to a bumpkin the stories contain, is likely not coincidental. That we discover in the same book, "The Goblet of Fire", that he has to endure plenty of prejudice himself speaks to how blind and lacking in empathy we can all be when confronted with the plight of another race.
3. In a broader extension of point 2, we have to talk about privilege. In the world of Harry Potter, wizards are the privileged class, and how that affects them can be plainly seen when it comes to House Elves. Hermione is determined at one point to gain access to the kitchens. Fred and George are agitated at the thought, proclaiming that her talk of freedom might put them off their cooking. In fact, it's only Mr. Weasely, Remus Lupin, and Dumbledore who seem to have any sympathy for Hermione's cause. Why? Privilege. To quote another blogger (the blog is here): "These social justice bloggers need to calm the fuck down," said the young white male blogger, bewildered and angered that anyone could take issue with a world that suits him so perfectly.
4. Boycotting is ineffective as a means of protest. There's a period of time when Hermione refuses to eat anything prepared by the House Elves, but quickly realized that wasn't going to matter. In the same way that the Walton family doesn't care that I refuse to shop at Walmart, the House Elves had hundreds of other mouths to feed. Mouths that didn't care or weren't even aware of their slavery.
5. Real change takes time. Apparently Rowling has alluded to Hermione, years after leaving school, as a member of the Ministry of Magic and that she has improved things a lot for House Elves. Change takes time, perseverance, and a powerful will.
Steph and I are doing well. We're staying Vermont over Christmas. I hope this find all of you well, and that you have a happy holiday season.
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