Okay, we know there are thouse House Elves that go crazy for work - they love it! But what about the ones that don't fit the mold? What about the ones that want to be free?

What makes a House Elf decide that they aren't happy, when so many others who get treated worse love their jobs? And, if a House Elf becomes free ... what do they do after? Do you think that they still want to work, or do they do it just because it's what they're used to? And do all freed House Elves want to be paid?

There's a lot to answer here, so let's get discussing!

Credit of this idea mainly goes to our Secretary, AliD, and a little to myself, but only because I added a few embilshments ...

Well, here's my view on things.

When a House Elf gets sacked, like Dobby was; they begin to think of ow it would be to be free. Some night like it, some might not. It all depends on the Elf, like you said. It would lso depend on how the Elf was treated when they were working, was it treated harshly, or was it treated with compassion? If it was treated harshly, then the Elf might consider being free for life, working odd jobs or just travelling. As for being paid, I don't know if the Elf would, I mean I don't like it when I get treated badly at work, but get paid for it, it would make them feel like the only reason they're getting paid is because of them sticking around and being bullied.

I think some House Elfs might want to be paid, get the treatment they rightfully deserve. Again, it would all depend on the Elf in question. We know Dobby wanted tobe paid, but he's a srtange Elf, he's happy being free and happy to be working at the same time. He dosn't really care about money, he just wants enough so he can buy wool to knit.

Hm, that's abotu all I can think of for now, when my brain wakes up fully I'll post more.

Oooh good question!! I think as far as why some have feelings about being treated lousy and some don't.... I think it has a lot to do with the individual House Elves.

Myself, I think that Dobby is quite a bright House Elf. He is strong in his convictions but is also smart enough to realize he cannot speak out against things without punishing himself...and living by the House Elf ethics. (As crazy as that might be) This intelligence also makes him realize how silly these ethics are. Especially as he begins to have a better view on what the real wizarding world is like (outside the Malfoy's household). He realizes that there is free will out there and that choices are what make people happy. I think Dobby realizes he wants this to himself and that's why he longed to be free. I feel that sometimes Dobby views himself more like a wizard then a creature. That's why he's so content to be free. He wants to experience all that he can in the wizarding world and enjoy himself while he does it. I think even if Dobby didn't get a job at Hogwarts he would have been content to roam freely, so long as he wound up places where he was respected by other witches and wizards the way he is at Hogwarts.

I think this kind of thinking by Dobby is not shared by all House Elves though. Whether it be they have not met kind masters, or they have a sense of pride and family value to be enslaved, or whether it's simply they have no sense of free thinking or free will that keeps them enslaved...there is something more to most other house elves that keeps them working as house elves. I think the fact that they try to complete their duties as secretly as possible...keeping unseen - makes it harder for us to understand just why it is House Elves do what they do. We never get the chance to talk with one and get to understand or know them.

Hmmm. Well I think house elves are a lot like humans, all very different. Maybe a house elf that wants to be freed, just like a human, has something psychological about it and sees how free humans are and frankly wants to be that free. Another thing is that a house elves magic might not be as strong as some others (I mean its magical bonds) and therefore has the choice to do something without punishing themselves.

I guess the only option for a house elf after being freed is to work seeing as they can't carry wands and therefore cannot go to school and learn anything although they might be able to have a position in the ministry, as an auror of some kind provided that are no rules forbidding that.

Excellent question

All of you have talked about Dobby, and how he wants to get freed. However, what about Winky? - She was dismissed and ended up miserable, regretting what she did. Winky did not want to be free, so does that make her unintelligent? I don't think it does...

My theory on the House elf thing is related to what Linda said; house elves are a lot like humans. That is very clear from Dobby's excessive happy emotions to Winky's sad emotions and even to Kreacher's grumpiness. The feelings that are within each house elf is innate; they each come equipped with their own set of personality traits that decide whether or not they will want to be free and know what to do when they are. Each house elf was created differently, just as humans were, because if they were all the same then that would make for a boring part of the series.


i could go on, but i'll stop here so other people can expand/respond...

Hmm...I'm not sure they would want to be paid the same way we are paid. Maybe just knowing they had the choice to work when they wanted and where they wanted would be all the freedom they would need. They may want their own home, but the families that hire them could provide the room and board and give them vacation time and money. I'm not sure...

Hm, well it would depend on the Elf and how they were treated when they were working for free. If their new master promised them freedom to go wherever they wished, wihin limits of course, and promised not to hurt them, then they might consider being paid. Most of the Elves are old Elves though and wouldn't want payment no matter how much ther master insisted. And it would also depend on he family, how rich they were, what kind of things they would have the Elf do. If the Elf had to do dangerous stuff, then I think the Elf would consider asking to be paid.

And age is a consideration here. How old are we takling about? Do House Elfs retire after a certian year, and what would happen to them. Would they want to just die, or would they want to live out their last years in freedom, going where they wanted, living their life without worrying about burning dinner.

Do you guys think that witches and wizards would be willing to hire free HE's? And, if they did hire them, would they be able to put their trust in the HE as far as loyalty goes? Without HE being bound to the family, would they still feel connected to the family?

I'm not sure that I would trust a "random" House elf that I hired. A house elf really gets into your personal life working in your home. I would almost feel like I would need to install a HE cam to see what was going on while I wasn’t in the house. On the other hand, if it was a House Elf that had been with my family for generations and I freed him/her, it would be a completely different story. That trust would already be established.

Hm, good point Caitlin. I don't know what to think on that. It's their choice and we should respect them, but sadly there's some wizards out there who are greedy and want something they think they deserve. If my House Elf were to tell me right now that she wanted to quit working and leave my house a mess I would let her, I don't believe in forcing something on her if she doesn't think its right.

Which would go with all the Elves who don't want to be free. We shouldn't have to force them to quit by clothes, we should be encourging them.

I think it would be best to give each House elf the option to be free. That way we wouldn't force any of them into a life that would cause them to be unhappy. Isn't their happiness our main goal anyway

*waves hello*

In the case of a house elf being mistreated, I think that there ought to be some sort of society set up within the ministry that monitors the treatment of house elves. If they discover that the family is not treating the house elf properly, then they have the power to remove the house elf from that household and give it to another family.

Now this might seem unfair to the family and the house elf, but maybe instead the family could first get a warning and have to take a course on proper treatment of magical creatures. Something to educated them about these poor, underappreciated creatures...