However, the details are so vague that we’re led to assume that nothing comes from it-maybe some new policies, but the institution is still intact. Note: Off-page, Rowling has confirmed that after The Battle of Hogwarts, Hermione works on elvish welfare. And she made the only person who was treated like a minority-in an otherwise racially-progressive society untouched by real-world bigotry-a joke for caring. However, what is terrible is that she constructed another layer of oppression that readers were supposed to not care enough about to resent all but one character for just shrugging off slavery. It’s not terrible that Rowling drew from history. Other uncomfortable (and looser) parallels include the illegality of house elves ( and goblins) wielding wands and real-world slave codes. Rowling could’ve begun the construction of these creations as brownies, but drew from her own poor understanding of class and race to expand upon them. However, house elves, unlike brownies, are known to those who live in their houses and have no autonomy. Known by various names across the British Isles, these elfish/goblin-like creatures work gleefully for humans in the middle of the night and wear rags. Despite being inheritable like objects (Harry inherits Kreacher), house elves are part of the families they serve.Ī common defense of Rowling making slavery palatable is that people think she’s referring to real-world folklore creatures called brownies. He and others insist that elves are housed, fed, and (mostly) treated well-part of the family. Through characters like Ron, Rowling employs common contemporary and historical excuses for slavery to defend this hierarchy. “Slave” appears 11 times in The Goblet of Fire (S.P.E.W.’s introduction) alone. This isn’t a loose analogy I’m projecting. (It’s too Benevolent Slavemaster revisionism for me.) Transatlantic parallels While Dumbledore does employ and house two free house elves (Dobby and Winky), it doesn’t erase the hundreds of enslaved elves under his watch for 40 years. Neville, Ron, and Harry technically join S.P.E.W., but just to keep Hermione off their backs. The only other person who works to end slavery is a non-canonical Slytherin, Liz Tuttle. If Harry Potter were a product of the 2010s, her classmates would call her an “SJW.” The house elves stop coming to clean the rooms, and her classmates blame her. Everyone gets upset when Hermione’s activism goes from advocacy to action (as she attempts to free the elves that clean the Gryffindor dormitory).

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