Hey everyone,
Welcome to another installment of Harry Potter Theory.
Today, we’re going to be discussing why elves are, well, “house-elves,” despite
possessing pretty powerful magical abilities.
As you may recall, elves – and the concept of house-elves – are introduced in The Chamber
of Secrets when Harry meets Dobby, the resident house-elf of Draco Malfoy’s family and the
family’s home, Malfoy Manor.
Through this introduction, we discover that the upper class of the Wizarding World all
seem to “own” house-elves – elves who are magically bound to serve their masters
and work in servitude for well-to-do wizarding families without compensation.
Their tasks range from cleaning to cooking and running errands – all without question.
The only way that they can be freed from their magical ensl*avement is if their master gives
them a piece of clothing.
Of course, this sounds quite miserable.
And, so, it was unsurprising when we learn that Dobby longs to be free from his indentured
servitude to the cruel Malfoy family, who mistreat him and underestimate his abilities
and intelligence.
This of course, inevitably leads to Harry helping Dobby secure his freedom, tricking
Lucius Malfoy into tossing an old sock to the elf.
However, despite Dobby being the first house-elf we are introduced to, we come to learn that
he is actually quite an anomaly when compared to the majority of the elves that we come
across throughout the remainder of the series – from Dobby’s friend, Winky, who Harry
meets at the Quidditch World Cup when he mistakes her for Dobby, to Kreacher, the miserable
house-elf of the Black family, who is inevitably left to Harry after Sirius Black’s death.
Through these and other elves that we are introduced to throughout Harry Potter, we
are led to believe that most house-elves actually ENJOY their ensl*avement.
In fact, Winky, after being released from service with her family, goes into a severe
depression.
What’s more, each and every elf physically punishes themselves if they betray their master
in any way.
In the Goblet of Fire – at least the novel version – we are also introduced to many
elves, all of whom are employed by Hogwarts.
While it’s true some of these elves are eventually paid for the work they perform
at the school, many of them were unwilling to accept payment for their services.
Many also take great offense when Hermione attempts to free them from their positions
through her organization S.P.E.W.
– that is, the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare.
Now, I suppose you could argue that the self-punishment and rejection of compensation is part of the
magic that ensures a house-elf obeys every command of their master and asks for nothing
in return.
For example, Kreacher, who has an extreme dislike of Muggle-born witches and wizards,
punishes himself after insulting Harry and his friends due to the fact that Harry is
his master.
HOWEVER, we also see Dobby punish himself for talking ill of the Malfoys AFTER he has
been freed from servitude to that family.
Which indicates that it may be a strong biological trait of extreme loyalty, rather than that
of magic, which forces them to behave this way.
Speaking of magic, you may be wondering, what is it about elven magic specifically that
makes house-elves as formidable as I’m suggesting?
Well, first of all, elven magic is quite different from wizard magic – to perform it, elves
require no wands and no incantations.
They seem to simply have the ability to cast their magic at will, and it’s often more
advanced than that of wizardkind, which is something that Harry himself notes at one
point.
For example, they are able to use their magic in places that witches and wizards are unable
to.
They can apparate from place to place, including into areas that are heavily fortified by magic
to prevent such a thing.
House-elves are also skilled fighters, which is proven by the role they play in the Battle
of Hogwarts.
Throughout the series, we also see house-elves use several spells that witches and wizards
are incapable of breaking.
On the whole, elven magic and elves’ ability to perform that magic seems quite superior
to most of the power wielded by humans within the Wizarding World.
In fact, perhaps prior to elves being ensl*aved as house-elves, wizardkind was rather threatened
by the species magical abilities.
This does provide a rather strong motivator to attempt to supress and harness elfish power
for their own gain…
Anyway, while all of this gives us a good insight into how the disposition of elves
seems ideal for servitude, and why witches and wizards may have ensl*aved the species
in the first place, it does not explain how wizardkind managed to become and REMAIN the
masters of this powerful species.
Well, as it happens, I have a few theories…
The first theory I’ve heard from fans is one I’m not too keen on myself.
Some people have suggested that elves are a creation of wizardkind, made with magic
for the express purpose of serving magical high society.
I’m pretty quick to disregard this theory for a few simple reasons.
Number one, elves are common throughout all kinds of magical lore.
If J.K.
Rowling was going to create a magical wizard-made creature for the Wizarding World, I don’t
believe she would’ve chosen a species so well known throughout other works of fantasy
and fiction.
The second and final reason is that if elves were created by wizards, I don’t believe
they would’ve created a species with such personality.
Why chance it that an elf like Dobby would seek freedom, or one like Kreacher would be
so miserable?
The next theory, however, I think is a rather strong one.
This one takes into account genetic traits, evolution, and natural selection – although,
in this case, I don’t quite believe the selection to be so natural.
Imagine that wizards, being the larger and presumably stronger of the two species, sheltered
elves centuries ago from other more menacing magical creatures.
At first, this could’ve been more of an informal arrangement, in which wizards offered
protection to elves and, in return, elves helped out around the house.
Perhaps it started innocently enough with preparing a meal or two, or making the beds
at the beginning of the day.
But then, over time, it’s possible that the elves who provided witches and wizards
with better “service” were treated better.
The more independent-minded elves may have been cast out – and possibly killed off
without the protection of wizards – or simply left without much opportunity in the way of
finding a mate.
After all, like many other species, it’s not impossible to imagine that an elf with
a “job” was more desirable to a potential spouse than one with no prospects.
From there, it’s possible that wizards further manipulated the evolution of elves by breeding
the most obedient and docile of the species with each other.
After all, wizarding households only seem to have one elf at a time.
Which leads to the question of procreation.
How is this species continuing to reproduce?
That is, unless their masters are organizing opportunities for subsequent lines of house-elves
to be…created.
This is quite a sinister thought, and – for the sake of the house-elves – I would hope
it’s untrue.
However, I just can’t think of how else house-elves have continued their bloodlines.
This theory would also explain why, despite their powerful magic, house-elves remain ensl*aved:
because they’ve been bred to enjoy their servitude.
That said, one flaw I find in this theory is that for a house-elf like Dobby – who
did not enjoy being ensl*aved – why wasn’t he able to break out of bondage?
He did not like serving the Malfoys, and he is powerful.
So, why wasn’t he able to break free using his own magic?
I suppose…it could be argued that overthrowing his masters for freedom would be against his
genetic makeup – just as it was in his very nature to bang his head against the wall after
insulting the Malfoys, despite no longer serving them.
For now, I guess, that explanation will have to suffice…
One final theory I’d like to touch on, before we end today’s video, is based on the fact
that I don’t believe we are given the whole story when it comes to elves in the Wizarding
World.
Perhaps, in addition to the house-elves who enjoy serving wizardkind, there are also free
elves thriving in the wild.
After all, they are an incredibly powerful species, so it’s possible that they could
simply be living free, unaffected by both magical and Muggle society.
Which brings us back to the idea that if witches and wizards offered protection to elves hundreds
of years ago, perhaps it was only the most docile and timid of elvenkind who approached
wizards in search of a safer existence.
And while this group of elves evolved within the confines of their servitude, wild elves
evolved entirely differently.
Perhaps elves in the wild are unruly and disloyal, with their natural selection evolving in accordance
with the traits that would’ve best kept them alive should they come up against other
menacing magical creatures.
And with that, we have come to the end of another video!
What did you think?
Do you agree with my theories?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
And, as always, if you enjoyed this video, don’t forget to like it and subscribe to
the channel!
Until next time…
“Dobby is a free elf.”