Why are the Elves treated so bad?

[Jivebot]

I never read the books and have only a passing familiarity with the movies. So i legit do not understand the Elf situation.

I'm not even talking from a moral standpoint. The sun is hot. Water is wet. Slavery is naughty. Insert more obvious statements here.

Slavery has existed in every culture at every time in human history until relatively recently. I get the concept of slavery. But it always existed in places that served a purpose as practical as it was evil.

There is no practical reason to treat the Elves this way. All they're tasked to do is menial labor that Wizards can casually wave a hand to do. Or imbue inanimate objects with the ability to carry out their assigned purpose. We see it all over hogwarts. Brooms that sweep on their own. Books that shelve and organize themselves.

It's like the only reason the Elves exist is to prove all Wizards suck. lol.

Is this explained in any logical way in the books? Or was it just exaggerated for this game?

[Moon Rabbit]

They are based on Brownies. a type of house fae that does chores after attaching itself to a household. Usually they preferred a warm bowl of cream as payment. One tale I read featured a woman felt sorry for the thing wearing rags and made the faerie a little suit. The brownie was insulted and left the household and never came back. Faeries aren't like humans. They are often considered insane. They don't have the same values as humans. A brownie has no understanding of fashion and probably doesn't get cold. It values the bowl of cream. She treated the fae as she would a human. They may consider dancing forever a gift, but a human would consider it torture and death. Brownies like working. It's what they were born to do.

The problem is, the only house elves we see in the films belong to the Malfoys and Blacks and they are abusive. Most probably don't abuse their house elves like that.

[Knightmage Bael]

Originally posted by Moon Rabbit:

They are based on Brownies. a type of house fae that does chores after attaching itself to a household.

Yeah, there's a lot of mythical creatures people aren't aware of. I have a couple of Encyclopedia volumes dedicated to mythical creatures from different cultures around the world, and its still not inclusive of everything.

[zenstrata]

Read the books and find out! =)

[Moon Rabbit]

Originally posted by Archmage_Bael:

Originally posted by Moon Rabbit:

They are based on Brownies. a type of house fae that does chores after attaching itself to a household.

Yeah, there's a lot of mythical creatures people aren't aware of. I have a couple of Encyclopedia volumes dedicated to mythical creatures from different cultures around the world, and its still not inclusive of everything.

Right on! I've always been interested in mythology and folklore. Especially Celtic faeries (Aos Si/Sidhe).

[Jellie Juice]

Nah, I need my Elf slaves. Who else is going to clean my room of requirement?

[PocketYoda]

Originally posted by Jivebot:

Originally posted by PocketYoda:

I'm dead serious, did you not read the books.

That was the very first thing I said in the OP :)

Still, now that I have a bit more context it all makes a bit more sense.

Somebody else in the thread said that Wizards tricked Elves into some sort of magical vow. Is that confirmed or just a rumor? Either way I suppose, it would explain why Goblins are so distrustful of Wizards.

Its never told that in the books, sounds like a rumor.

[Zaburo]

Originally posted by PocketYoda:

Because they like it like that. They go into depression and alcoholism if they are freed..

Still laughing after i read this 10 min ago. You absolutely made my day better. Awarded you.

[The Seraph of Tomorrow]

Because they are weak, simple as that.

[Hawk]

The same reason why people treat other people the same way in real life.

[CloversDrop]

Slavery still exists.

You had to house and feed traditional slaves. Modern slavery means you give them a wage and they house and feed themselves.

[PocketYoda]

Originally posted by Zaburo:

Originally posted by PocketYoda:

Because they like it like that. They go into depression and alcoholism if they are freed..

Still laughing after i read this 10 min ago. You absolutely made my day better. Awarded you.

Thanks but its actually true.

[Nejc]

Originally posted by PocketYoda:

Originally posted by Jivebot:

That was the very first thing I said in the OP :)

Still, now that I have a bit more context it all makes a bit more sense.

Somebody else in the thread said that Wizards tricked Elves into some sort of magical vow. Is that confirmed or just a rumor? Either way I suppose, it would explain why Goblins are so distrustful of Wizards.

Its never told that in the books, sounds like a rumor.

I also think it's just a myth.

Having read a few explanations online;

The way it was supposed to work is that elves are servants by nature and want to be paid with kindness and not money because that's how people get paid not them. Getting money and clothes would offend/insult them as they are not people.

But, bad families would abuse them and generationally brainwash them to think that they are supposed to be mistreated. That is what Helga Hufflepuff wanted to fix by bringing them to work at Hogwarts. And later Hermione as well, but Hermione went overboard and tried not only to improve their treatment, but also pay them and free them with trickery which greatly offended them and so they refused to clean the Gryffindor tower.

[pieceofyarn]

My gosh, this game is a fiction. If anything it should teach you slavery is bad mkay? But you know that. This is art imitating life to a certain degree. But it is fiction and fantasy I assure you no house elves were actually enslaved because of this game. If slavery bothers you so very much and it should let's discuss human trafficking.

[PocketYoda]

Originally posted by njc:

Originally posted by PocketYoda:

Its never told that in the books, sounds like a rumor.

I also think it's just a myth.

Having read a few explanations s online;

The way it was supposed to work is that elves are servants by nature and want to be paid with kindness and not money because that's how people get paid not them. Getting money and clothes would offend/insult them as they are not people.

But, bad families would abuse them and generationally brainwash them to think that they are supposed to be mistreated. That is what Helga Hufflepuff wanted to fix by bringing them to work at Hogwarts. And later Hermione as well, but Hermione went overboard and tried not only to improve their treatment, but also pay them and free them with trickery which greatly offended them and so they refused to clean the Gryffindor tower.

Yeah sounds like Fanfic, the big issues with Harry potter and wizarding world is there are so many fanfics its hard to tell fact from made up crap.

[Moon Rabbit]

Originally posted by Cloverdrop:

Slavery still exists.

You had to house and feed traditional slaves. Modern slavery means you give them a wage and they house and feed themselves.

While I get and enjoy the larger point, slaves don't get to quit or apply.