Thread open to talk about house elves and S.P.E.W too.
House elves:
House-elves are small humanoid creatures who inhabit large houses belonging to wealthy Wizarding families. They are "bound" to the family of the house, which means they do all manner of menial tasks for them until they die. House-elves are apparently very happy with this arrangement and consider it a matter of pride that they serve faithfully and do not betray their families.
There are over a hundred house-elves at Hogwarts; there they lay the fires, do the laundry, light the lamps, and do countless other such tasks. The House-Elves are also the chefs of the castle and they create wonderful meals in the huge kitchens.
A house-elf is a short creature with large bat-like ears and enormous eyes. It is difficult to tell the difference between male and female house-elves, although the female generally has a higher, squeakier voice (GF8). Both male and female house-elves do not wear clothing (and would consider it shameful to do so) but cover themselves in towels, tea cozies, or pillowcases. If their owner gives them an article of clothing, it breaks the "enslavement" and the house-elf is free. For most house-elves, this would be the ultimate insult and they would be shamed forever.
I would like to have an house-elf. I would take care of him/her though. Give it good food and a good room to live. And give it gifts (except clothes) on special occasions.
I would love to have on like Dobby. I would be very nice to my house elf and make sure they got to do fun things.
I still can't believe that Hermione is trying to trick them into freedom. Doesn't she understand that it is in their nature to want to serve. She is trying to change something that can not be changed.
Oh yeah... I would love to have a house elf, and that elf would have a GOOD life.
Playing games, and going out with the family. They wouldn't be treated like a slave.
Seriously, why does Hermione believe that she alone is right that they house elves have to be freed? Dumbledore and Hagrid do not agree with her. She is too arrogant, and I think a lesson in that is coming to her soon.
I don't think that she's arrogant. Remember, she's from a muggle family, and she knows lots about muggle history and happenings, and knows about slaves, etc... She has a great big heart, and just doesn't want to see anyone treated as "less than" Do I think that she's going WAY over, yes... but, she's got her heart in the right place.
I would love having a house-elf.Doing my laundry,washing my dishes,cleaning my house etc.I am a very lazy person so a house-elf would be perfect for me.Doing everything for me.Just like a slave.I really like the notion of someone doing everything for you and don't have to pay them.Plus a house-elf likes doing the chores.I would treat my house-elf like Crounch,but I would give it some money(1 galleon a year) and I would give it a day off (once a year).Ain't I generous?
Hermione should definitely abandon SPEW..sorry S.P.E.W.It is isn't going anywhere and it's a bit irritaiting,
Is it possible that S.P. E. W. could stand for something else later. JKR uses Hermione to stress this alot, i mean whenever somone says spew, shes says S.P.E.W!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Also I'm thinking maybe this will lead to something more than the trivial upsetting of the hogwarts elves. I mean what if she really does offend them one day, and they all go off to the dark side like kretcher or something. Then again I don't know if they would be able to do this beacuse of their loyalty to their wizarding familys.
I don't think Hermione would be able to cause them to go to the dark side. They love Dumbledore. I do think that if she upsets them too much she will be punished by McGonagall.
