I believe that the key to house elves' freedom is knowledge. The more house elves know about their working conditions when compared to the rest of the world, the more they will be willing to break free of the bonds of servitude, or at least take some vacation time. I also believe that the more the Ministry knows about house elves, their treatment, and their customs, the more able they will be to help house elves everywhere.
Of course, I still believe that in the end, the decision is up to the house elf. As long as they are aware of what their options are, I believe that if they choose to serve as a living, that's their prerogative. However, house elves like Dobby (I'm sure there are lots more charismatic, leader types among house elves!) could serve as a wonderful rallying point — if other house elves can take a lesson from the late Dobby, they will probably be much more likely to weigh their options more thoughtfully.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2010-07-04 10:11 pm (UTC)Of course, I still believe that in the end, the decision is up to the house elf. As long as they are aware of what their options are, I believe that if they choose to serve as a living, that's their prerogative. However, house elves like Dobby (I'm sure there are lots more charismatic, leader types among house elves!) could serve as a wonderful rallying point — if other house elves can take a lesson from the late Dobby, they will probably be much more likely to weigh their options more thoughtfully.
Caitlin // Ravenclaw