20
I see these creatures have recently been deemed 'problematic' and JKR is accused of 'promoting slavery', amid other nonsense.
Despite being British, I wasn't aware of the folklore of these creatures cleaning homes and being too proud to accept payment. Instead, I always assumed they were an allegory for stay-at-home mothers.
Many people look down on SAHM, calling them lazy, unambitious and so on. Sometimes they're accused of wasting opportunities - "Feminists didn't fight for freedom so you could carry on being helpless and dependent upon a man". People make comments like "You must get bored at home all day" and "Don't you want to earn some money too?". You've probably heard about it.
Of course a lot of them are fed up with such social pressure. They say they want to be at home, enjoy looking after kids, and would prefer not to be out working, even if it's the norm and would make life easier. (I don't understand it, but respect it)
Since I was 10 and reading HP for the first time, the house elves always reminded me of that. Activists like Hermione just cannot believe that they're happy in their lifestyle, and try to coax and forcibly drag them out of it. They must be freed!
Did anyone else have similar thoughts, before finding out about the folklore and what these creatures were really based on?
No, I wasn't a Brownie. I remember reading Mr Pink-Whistle and other tales, but somehow the helpful brownie mythology completely passed me by. I didn't realise it was common knowledge.
Your analysis is very interesting, thank you.
I should re-read the series, because Winkie and Kreacher aren't ringing many bells.
Here’s the version of the Brownie Story that I would expect most women would have encountered as little girls: the version that would have been in their Handbook, and have been acted out or used in games during meetings.
And if you don’t remember Winky or Kreacher, definitely reread. If you haven’t read them as an adult, they are much more along the lines of social commentary than you might remember.
Well, that story clears it up nicely. Now I wish I'd been a Brownie before reading HP - the 'house elves' might have seemed charming, rather than baffling me for years.
I'm scrabbling around to find my old books. Might have donated them to a charity shop or something. This could be a good excuse to buy the illustrated versions, I hear they're excellent...