Why shouldn't readers see it as natural to their kind? Don't they run their own separate society?
They were driven there by wizards.
I don't see how it's in Book 7 that she's finally able to fight against House Elf subjugation when in that book she accepts the elves as natural slaves and just wants them to be treated kindly by their rightful masters
I don't think this is a good summary of Hermione's view. She's finally come to the realization that in fighting for social justice, you still have to respect the freewill choices of the people themselves. Change like house-elf liberation doesn't happen in radical revolution; it happens over time.
I admit I didn't see anything particularly gutsy or even that noticible in her calling herself Mudblood
No time to get into this at the moment, but this is a rather large discussion about what subjugated people do with hurtful language towards them. Many white people, for example, get all riled up when black people refer to themselves as "Niggers;" but that entirely misses the point. It's a way of embracing and transforming hurtful language. Rowling is clearly aware of this issue when Hermione makes that choice.
Hermione's been part of the ruling class as a Wizard.
But subjugated within that class as a muggleborn and a woman.
but when things are set right she's be back in power--unlike Griphook, who will still be without a wand.
By default, yes...but I think we can be sure Hermione will be one who advocates for goblins, and for wand possession for all magical brethren.
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Date: 2008-07-01 03:16 pm (UTC)They were driven there by wizards.
I don't see how it's in Book 7 that she's finally able to fight against House Elf subjugation when in that book she accepts the elves as natural slaves and just wants them to be treated kindly by their rightful masters
I don't think this is a good summary of Hermione's view. She's finally come to the realization that in fighting for social justice, you still have to respect the freewill choices of the people themselves. Change like house-elf liberation doesn't happen in radical revolution; it happens over time.
I admit I didn't see anything particularly gutsy or even that noticible in her calling herself Mudblood
No time to get into this at the moment, but this is a rather large discussion about what subjugated people do with hurtful language towards them. Many white people, for example, get all riled up when black people refer to themselves as "Niggers;" but that entirely misses the point. It's a way of embracing and transforming hurtful language. Rowling is clearly aware of this issue when Hermione makes that choice.
Hermione's been part of the ruling class as a Wizard.
But subjugated within that class as a muggleborn and a woman.
but when things are set right she's be back in power--unlike Griphook, who will still be without a wand.
By default, yes...but I think we can be sure Hermione will be one who advocates for goblins, and for wand possession for all magical brethren.