Sorry if I'm being nitpicky. I just wanted to clarify a couple of things I think about what you're saying here, which is:
Which is exactly the answer gave to a room of children in an interview.
I'd have to look at the exact quote to really talk about what she was saying in it, but it seems like it's one thing to say slavery is wrong and we all know that, and another to be showing that the slavery will come to an end--or even should come to an end--in a particular fictional universe. I think one could also just say that slavery is bad in the real world, but it's fun to have fantasy guilt-free brownie slaves in fiction. Harry grew up a child in our universe and adjusts pretty well to it.
Because it will take a long time...that seems pretty self-explanatory.
In some ways it seems more non-explanatory. Sure it could end. So could Wizards die out. So could the Muggle world join with the Wizarding one--I seem to recall JKR saying that that last wouldn't happen. But that's no more or less likely.
Or you could be like Dumbledore and not bind them to the rules, but let them serve, call him a "barmy old codger," and have pay and vacation if they want it, or refuse it if they don't.
Which would mean sticking with the status quo (and maybe forcing them to do things against their will when you feel it's necessary.) To me that's a big reason why House Elf slavery doesn't seem like it would end. It's an ideal situation--totally benign slavery. You can be the character most against slavery and still enjoy slave labor. It's ideal.
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Date: 2008-07-02 12:00 am (UTC)Which is exactly the answer gave to a room of children in an interview.
I'd have to look at the exact quote to really talk about what she was saying in it, but it seems like it's one thing to say slavery is wrong and we all know that, and another to be showing that the slavery will come to an end--or even should come to an end--in a particular fictional universe. I think one could also just say that slavery is bad in the real world, but it's fun to have fantasy guilt-free brownie slaves in fiction. Harry grew up a child in our universe and adjusts pretty well to it.
Because it will take a long time...that seems pretty self-explanatory.
In some ways it seems more non-explanatory. Sure it could end. So could Wizards die out. So could the Muggle world join with the Wizarding one--I seem to recall JKR saying that that last wouldn't happen. But that's no more or less likely.
Or you could be like Dumbledore and not bind them to the rules, but let them serve, call him a "barmy old codger," and have pay and vacation if they want it, or refuse it if they don't.
Which would mean sticking with the status quo (and maybe forcing them to do things against their will when you feel it's necessary.) To me that's a big reason why House Elf slavery doesn't seem like it would end. It's an ideal situation--totally benign slavery. You can be the character most against slavery and still enjoy slave labor. It's ideal.