Kreacher The Faithful Servant, Redemption and the struggle of faith as illustrated by Kreacher's |
 Aug 10 2007, 12:28 PM
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Being Chosen by a Wand at Ollivander's  Posts: 2,977 Joined: 12:37pm April 28, 2007  |
Kreacher's tale, in terms of Christian imagery, seems to me more a story of redemption, than even Snape's.
We don't like Kreacher: he spouts racist rhetoric, he betrayed Sirius, Hermione thinks, because of Sirius shabby treatment of him, he prefers Bellatrix and Draco, but Hermione doesn't listen to Kreacher. Hermione is well meaning but her attempts to explain to Harry what Kreacher feels when Kreacher is standing right there telling Harry what he feels, seems in a way just as, if not more, insulting that Sirius' lack of appreciation for Kreacher's service. Hermione's in effect says she knows more about Kreacher's problem and feelings than Kreacher is capable of expressing. Hermione's offense towards the elves is the typical must overlooked mistake we who work in the human rights field make. Kreacher hated Sirius, as he told Harry, because with his lawless ways Sirius broke Kreacher's mistress heart and disgraced family tradition. I know Sirius' mother's beliefs were horrid, but respect and honor of parents is a value shared by many cultures, traditions, and religions and in the HP universe, house elves. However the Christian imagery began when Kreacher tells how with misgivings Regulus lends Kreacher's services to Voldemort, and Voldemort abuses the elf. Like Lazarus, Kreacher is called back from the lake of the dead--the Inferi. Regulus sees his servants pain. He is filled with remorse, because he allowed Voldemort to abuse his servant. But he is filled also with determination to make things right. Regulus takes on the journey into hell himself, endures the suffering and trials his servant endured at his bidding. Before passing on he gives his servant a charge and he leaves behind in the necklace his hope that one will come after him who will eradicate Voldemort's evil. Fast forward to OOP and Sirius returns home but he is almost like Esau, or Ham, or any of the wayward sons and daughters in scripture. Maybe he is more like the first sons of Jacob, who against their father's wishes go and murer not only the boy they feel dishonored their sister but the boy's entire tribe. As Jacob says, his sons actions after his promise to reconcile the boy with his daughter in marriage disgraced his name and theirs. But Sirius embarks upon a mission to throw away everything--good and bad- his family has accumulated because of the abuse he suffered. He never equates his parents abuse with his own rebellion, because his choice to reject their racism was the right one. But in that he cannot see his own role in the abuse he suffers perhaps he is like Esau who sets about disobeying each and every request his parents make of him, especially when he sees his inheritance is passed to his younger brother whom his mother finds more worthy. We can understand Sirius' anger at the spiritual abuse he suffered, but when we see his room, we understand that --at least as a young boy- Sirius interest in the Muggle world was superficial: fast machines and faster girls. Not evil, it's just that those picture seem to reflect the lure of a lawless world--a world with few values. Kreacher is not, I think responding to what Mrs. Black says about Muggle culture, but what little of it he sees from Sirius point of view: the lure of Rome, Babylon, Las Vegas (I'm being cheeky here...we don't really believe that Sin City thing do we?). We know Sirius does respect certain values--but Sirius cannot recognize the same values in Kreacher, or his brother, and perhaps even his parents as they approached death with the loss of both of their sons to Voldemort. He remembers only the abuse, the disapproval, the hatred and he died rebelling against it. Because of Sirius 'disregard for those things of value of his parents, the locket is taken by a thief. We see in scripture how different people took what they heard of the teachings of their parents and elders and applied it to suit their ends often twisting laws to the point of perversion. This is what happens to the objects of value Sirius allows Dung to steal from the temple so to speak. The only item stolen put to the use it was meant was Sirius' mirror. Sirius dies and leaves Kreacher yet another master he resents. Kreacher sees Harry as Sirius son, so of course he would share the same values. But then Kreacher is summoned, allowed to give his testimony, defend his master, defend his beliefs. Hermione gives her version, but I think Harry is wiser about elves than Hermione. He understands it is not kindness Kreacher seeks from his master, but value of his service, value of law--not rules, but shared laws, like the respect for one's family. Harry not only restores Regulus mission to Kreacher--he fulfills Regulus hopes, explains Regulus' true intent. Harry is the promised one to Kreacher symbolically as the Holy Spirit is the Promised One to the Jesus' follwers: The Holy Spirit or the Spirit of truth in Christian tradition comes to open eyes and mouths and makes everything clear. When Harry returns the locket to Kreacher, rewarding Kreacher for his faithfulness to Regulus's service, Kreacher sees his master did not die in vain. Kreacher's eyes are open; not only does Regulus' purpose becomes clear, but Kreacher learns that he too has a part to play in not his own liberation but the liberation of all magical society. He finds self worth and he is freed from perhaps a century of service to darknes and in darkness. Tradition and service become less chore and more vocation. When Sirius willingly passes his inheritance to his more worthy godson, he allows Kreacher acess to a freedom greater than a bequest of clothing with no purpose or direction. Harry is kindness is not superficial words or sympathy, therefore Harry's treatment represents a truer and deeper understanding of kindness, because Harry thinks and treats Kreacher, although as his servant, with the respect one should bestow towards a being equal in intellect and value. Thoughts? Observations? Rebuttal? This post has been edited by Maime the Hunter: Aug 10 2007, 04:00 PM |
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Aug 10 2007, 01:40 PM
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Junior Dishwasher at The Leaky Cauldron Posts: 629 Joined: 11:34pm July 24, 2007 Location: Jamison PA USA |
I was going to suggest that Kreacher's story was one of redemption on another thread when I noticed yours. You have this thought out far more fully than I had. I particularly like how you link this to Harry giving Kreacher the locket. You see a sharp contrast in him after this point. He starts caring for the home again, cooking meals etc. When he was leading a charge out of Hogwarts, "I had one of those lump in your throat moments" about a character I felt quite differently about previously.
QUOTE Hermione is well meaning but her attempts to explain to Harry what Kreacher feels when Kreacher is standing right there telling Harry what he feels, seems in a way just as, if not more insulting that Sirius' lack of appreciation for Kreacher's service. Hermione is in effect saying she knows more about Kreacher's problem and feelings than Kreacher is capable of expressing. Hermione's is a typical mistake we who work in human rights make. What an interesting observation. I could never pinpoint what I found troublesome about Hermione with SPEW. Her heart was in the right place but her efforts seemed like grinding wheels. She did really seem to think she understood house elves better than they did themselves. It points to the importance of listening to as well as advocating for the oppressed. Kreacher was always a sharp contrast to his counterpart Dobby. Truthfully, the most touching scene for me in the DH was Harry's burial of Dobby. Dobby was occasionally annoying to me as a character as well. His loyalty was never a question and he always meant to help Harry anyway he could. Some of this seemed to lead to problems for Harry. It is surprising to me, that of all the moments in DH, the two that really gripped me were with the house elves. Anyway, very well thought out analysis. I am going to reread it because its involved. -------------------- Our judgements judge us, and nothing reveals us, exposes our weaknesses, more ingeniously than the attitude of pronouncing upon our fellows. - Paul Valery
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Aug 10 2007, 04:59 PM
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Disgruntled House-Elf at The Leaky Cauldron Posts: 408 Joined: 3:22pm August 10, 2005 Location: Hermione's handbag  |
QUOTE(Maime the Hunter @ Aug 10 2007, 01:28 PM) [snapback]1382604[/snapback] Hermione is well meaning but her attempts to explain to Harry what Kreacher feels when Kreacher is standing right there telling Harry what he feels, seems in a way just as, if not more, insulting that Sirius' lack of appreciation for Kreacher's service Interesting! I had almost the exact opposite impression myself; it seems that Hermione had suddenly learned an awful lot about house elves for her analysis seemed to be spot on. After Harry gave Kreacher the locket, and Kreacher accepted Harry as his master, he immediately abandoned his old mistresses ideals and accepted Harry's as his own. When Harry sent Keeacher on his mission to track down Muddungus, he bowed low to Ron (blood traitor) and even gave Hermione (mudblood) an attempt at a respectful salute. -------------------- Now, if you will excuse me, I have better things to do than to listen to adolesent agonizing
- Phineas Nigellus |
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Aug 10 2007, 08:57 PM
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Ollivander's Apprentice Posts: 2,158 Joined: 7:39pm March 11, 2007 Location: wandering in the Forbidden Forest, listening for the Phoenix song   |
QUOTE(Maime the Hunter @ Aug 10 2007, 01:28 PM) [snapback]1382604[/snapback] Hermione is well meaning but her attempts to explain to Harry what Kreacher feels when Kreacher is standing right there telling Harry what he feels, seems in a way just as, if not more, insulting that Sirius' lack of appreciation for Kreacher's service. Hermione's in effect says she knows more about Kreacher's problem and feelings than Kreacher is capable of expressing. Hermione's offense towards the elves is the typical must overlooked mistake we who work in the human rights field make. Hermione gives her version, but I think Harry is wiser about elves than Hermione. He understands it is not kindness Kreacher seeks from his master, but value of his service, value of law--not rules, but shared laws, like the respect for one's family. Somewhere, on another thread, I wrote an impassioned posting called "In Defense of House Elves". I thougt Dobby and Kreacher were amazing characters who had much to teach others about the power of redemption. As pertains to this discussion, much as Bill quietly warned Harry about the differences in perspective between goblins and wand-carriers, there are obvious cultural differences between elves and humans. Most elves seem to inculcate the idea of service, loyalty and work well performed as part of their ethos. What bothered me intensely about Hermione and SPEW was that she decided that the cultural mores of the elves were not worthwhile. She decided that they should be abandoned, by force if necessary. Thus SPEW became not a liberation front but a new, imposed moral imperative. Ouch! Those who decide to act as "liberators" had best make sure that the future they are offering is at all enticing to the "oppressed". Hermione was clueless that her leaving of clothes for the elves was an insult. Even when they pointedly stopped cleaning the Gryffindor common room - taking a stand in direct contradiction to their values - she still persisted in liberating them. Fond as I am of Hermione, she was as closeminded in her way concerning elves as the Malfoys were in theirs. As for redemption, I thought Kreacher's story almost rivalled Severus'. (Yes, really!) Kreacher at first was rather obnoxious, having swallowed the Black family "pure blood mania" completely. His insults and vile mutterings put one in a certain sympathy with Sirius. Dumbledore's words in OOTP about Kreacher's life were eye-openers. Wizards certainly made Kreacher who he was. Kreacher was, to me, an indictment of how we too often treat the smaller, the weaker, the expendable in society. He was symbolic of the bitterness people feel who have served too well and too long without recognition. His losses (Regulus) were deep ones, and no one thought he had the acuteness of soul to feel them. And here Hermione redeemed herself a bit too. By insisting that Sirius was wrong in his treatment of Kreacher, she helped usher in a better era for the elf. He responded to kindness and long-denied recognition with an openness of heart that was really moving. He more than met kindness half way - he embraced change completely. (And how many wand-carriers in the series did that?) He shook off decades of Black family pure-blood racism and happily served Harry, Ron and Hermione - the blood traitor and the mudblood of earlier days. He grew to care about wizards again, and his scene with Mundugus shows that he was prepared to go to the mat for Harry. And that final scene in the battle of Hogwarts - how brilliant! Kreacher, with Regulus' locket bouncing on his chest, fought the very Death Eaters his former masters had idolized. His change of heart led to a change in beliefs. Kreacher learned to think and to feel for himself, and became, in the end, heroic. Kreacher had a dynamic personality and an openness to growth and redemption - who'd have thought it from our introduction to him in OOTP? Kreacher was the very embodiment of the words from Godric's Hollow: "where your heart is, there will your treasure be also". Kreacher grew, through kindness, to be whole again and to love and serve gladly. His heart had found his treasure. This post has been edited by fidelia: Aug 10 2007, 08:59 PM --------------------  |
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Aug 11 2007, 08:02 AM
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Doctor Filibuster's Junior Assistant Posts: 1,963 Joined: 8:57am March 12, 2005 Location: at Home or somewhere in between |
If it weren't for Hermione's notice of the elves and her offering a choice, Dobby would never have had to explain that it was an insult. After all, Harry giving Dobby that old sock through Lucius freed Dobby from a life of miserable servitude to the Malfoys, and it made him very happy. In this way, her efforts opened up a whole avenue of communication on how different beings view the world, and their perceived purposes in living in it.
Sometimes the reasons why we do something or feel a certain way need to be examined, especially when they become such an ingrained aspect of our culture, and we accept it or do it "just because that is the way it always was". Hermione might have been acting very high handed in this situation, but her intentions and motivations were on the "right" side. It also gave Harry a reference as to what wouldn't work in regards to Kreacher, and he followed his heart in giving him the locket, respecting and acknowledging the service that was Kreacher's life work, and sealing a newly discovered and very helpful ally. This post has been edited by momwitch: Aug 11 2007, 08:09 AM -------------------- Avatar made with Poser 6 and Photoshop Elements
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Aug 11 2007, 09:53 AM
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Disgruntled House-Elf at The Leaky Cauldron Posts: 408 Joined: 3:22pm August 10, 2005 Location: Hermione's handbag |
QUOTE(momwitch @ Aug 11 2007, 09:02 AM) [snapback]1383703[/snapback] After all, Harry giving Dobby that old sock through Lucius freed Dobby from a life of miserable servitude to the Malfoys, and it made him very happy. A key point might be that Lucius was tricked into giving Dobby clothes, and Dobby knew it. We don't know how Dobby would have reacted if Lucius had done that willingly or how Krecher would have reacted if Sirius had freed him. Krecher might have been as happy as Dobby if someone had tricked Sirius into giving him clothes, but either might have seen it as being sacked, as Hermione would put it, if it was done deliberately I thought a really touching part was when Harry was asking Kreacher how he escaped the inferi and Kreacher didn't understand the question thinking "master Regelus told Kreacher to come back" should have explained it. I hope Hermione was listening to Krecher there and finally understands "the house-elf's higest law is his masters bidding." This post has been edited by Professor_Nigellus: Aug 11 2007, 09:55 AM -------------------- Now, if you will excuse me, I have better things to do than to listen to adolesent agonizing
- Phineas Nigellus |
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Aug 11 2007, 11:31 AM
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Doctor Filibuster's Junior Assistant Posts: 1,963 Joined: 8:57am March 12, 2005 Location: at Home or somewhere in between |
True, Prof Nigellus, but there are least two things that can be inferred by that. One was that Lucius looked down upon anyone else not of his "stature". It didn't even occur to him that someone like Harry could or would do the very same thing that he did such as slipping Riddle's diary into an unsuspecting cauldron, by slipping a sock into the returned diary. He was duped because of his own arrogance.
The second thing is: Sirius had an arrogant streak, but he knew it, and that is where his strength lay/lied: he knew himself. He didn't give Kreacher anything, to the point of being reluctant to give him any orders. He hated everything that Kreacher represented and reminded him of. That is where Kreacher felt useless and bitter because he had no purpose left in his life. Kreacher horded the things that were in the Black house, but he could never steal them for himself, he was loyal to his master's memory and the purpose he had while serving his master. I don't think that Kreacher was redeemed as much as he was finally recognized for who and what he was. Recognition makes someone's life very personal, while redemption is all too often very anonymous. This post has been edited by momwitch: Aug 11 2007, 12:00 PM -------------------- Avatar made with Poser 6 and Photoshop Elements
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Aug 11 2007, 12:01 PM
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Being Chosen by a Wand at Ollivander's Posts: 2,977 Joined: 12:37pm April 28, 2007 |
QUOTE(Professor_Nigellus @ Aug 10 2007, 03:59 PM) [snapback]1383021[/snapback] Interesting! I had almost the exact opposite impression myself; it seems that Hermione had suddenly learned an awful lot about house elves for her analysis seemed to be spot on. After Harry gave Kreacher the locket, and Kreacher accepted Harry as his master, he immediately abandoned his old mistresses ideals and accepted Harry's as his own. When Harry sent Keeacher on his mission to track down Muddungus, he bowed low to Ron (blood traitor) and even gave Hermione (mudblood) an attempt at a respectful salute. We have to agree to disagree on that point; 1) I sincerely hope Jo didn't mean to imply that the ragged little slave was happy with Master Harry because he gave him a meaningless trinket. And that Miss Cissy and Miss Bella comment was straight out of Gone With The Wind and not in a good way. 2) I know Hermione's meant well. But her attitude is still: Oh look how he's abusing himself. The poor little maltreated elf doesn't even know he wants to be free. And well intended as Hermione is, she is still a little arrogant about her own enlightment and good intentions. She's going to continue to shower Kreacher with kindness until he sees things her way, and if he rejects her kindness she'll just explain it in her own way. She feels: Kreacher will better when he's free and eventually he'll understand that she wants for the elves is the best thing for them. She reminds me of a debate I saw between a Muslim woman and a western woman who was determined that women in Islamic or other cultures take off their head coverings and shorten their skirts. For the Muslim woman, who understood her faith, a modest appearance is a righteous one; it was her choice, not a violation of her rights. She acknowldedged that is true that in some cultures choice has become tradition and law--but more on that later, because I think it does apply to the elves. Kreacher didn't want to be free because he still had a debt to the house because of Regulus, not a debt of service but a debt of love. But we have to remember that Harry long before Hermione got involved with the elves had already established rapport with Dobby. He had seen Dobby punish himself and understood why. Dobby told him why, not Hermione. He didn't need Hermione in COS to tell him to ask Dobby to sit down. Dobby was not impressed by Harry's kindness alone, but that Harry treated him like a equal . This impresses the Goblin as well. Firenze did allow Harry to ride him as one would a horse, but Harry did not treat Fierenze like talking beast of burden, which seems to be Hermione's attitude. Hermione's imput had nothing at all to do with Harry's decision to free Dobby. Harry responded to what he knew Dobby wanted. Hermione assumed because Dobby wanted to be free, all the the elves wanted to be free--or wanted freedom in the same way. Hermione's understanding is why Dobby and later Ron in OOP has to clean up Gryffindor tower alone. Harry could see that Hermione offended the elves. Woudn't it have been better to sit down and talk to them, thank them at least for the services they had given her for years, then let the elves tell her their needs? She does not notice that Kreacher, rejects her kindness. And her understanding of species tolerance is exposed as conditional with Firenze--possibly because in spite of her scorn of the centaurs four legs they appear a more complex, intellectual race than humans. I don't think Harry ignored Hermione regarding Kreacher, but Harry asked Kreacher why he hated Sirius and I think he believed Kreacher. I think Harry weighed what he was told by both of them and came to a decision as what to do. Also there is no reason to think that because Kreacher found he could respect and even love serving bad boy Sirius' godson, and didn't call Hermione a "mudblood" any that he magically stopped thinking of her as one or that he instantly rejected all of his old prejudices. Don't we all wish ridding ourselves of prejudice was as easy as someone forbidding us to use certain words? QUOTE I hope Hermione was listening to Kreacher there and finally understands "the house-elf's higest law is his masters bidding." We don't know exactly waht kind of enslavement the House Elves condition represents: Is it physical slavery --Stealing, kidnapping, capturing people and forcing them to serve --which is criminal; Or, as I believe, was the elves something more of traditional servitude where a person serves by choice or vocation or to pay a debt--like an indentured servant? In this case the original Servant and Master might entered into some sort of agreement--one that is honored throughout generations. And keep in mind Jo lives in a society where there is/was very strict protocol regarding behavior between even paid servants and their employees. That the elves are powerful suggest that elves and Wizards might have had some sort of an agreement, probably during the time when wizards and witches were persecuted by the greater number of non-magical beings, other magical beings who looked less human were targeted without regard or trial, and Wizards could have provided protection or refuge for them. Like any other ancient set of traditions or laws which remain constant although the community evolves or changes because of discovery, enlightenment or technology, the tradition can become currupted even perverted. Which gets back to the spiritual struggle: There are all these laws in the Bible, Torah, and Koran, and other holy writings, which are thousands of years old, given to people who lives and world, and governments were very different than ours. This often is the cause for the struggle of faith. Our world has changed but the laws we consider holy, whether they are religious, or simply idealism about government and community have not and this causes great inner conflict for some of us who claim a certain religion or faith. This is why something as simple, for example as a woman younger than fifty, with her head uncovered in the pulpit can spilt a congregation. Kreacher is like most people of faith: it doesn't matter which faith or philosopy, who finds himself trying to obey laws and ideals that he is told by his parents or anyone are right and honorable and will bring him reward, but in a world that has changed so much that certain laws seem barabric--animal sacrifice for example. From the elves point of view: what good are clothes and kindness in a world where you have no place or purpose or manner in which to support yourself or loved ones? And for Kreacher, the pain and fear of "clothes" was greater. Kreacher was made to suffer because Reuglus his master ,allowed Voldemort to use Kreacher. Regulus refused to leave Kreacher lanquishing in a lake of death, and felt such remorse for his servant's suffering that he took on the suffering and death himself, and giving Kreacher the taske of carrying on his work, although he knew the Elf did not exactly understand. Not only loyalty but "love" for a master's whose compassion for him exceeding kindness, but extended to sacrifice. Regulus seems almost like Christ, Kreacher like the diciples. It is because Regulus honored his family's traditions, he was able to feel compassion for Kreacher, not in spite of it. Because Regulus honored those traditions Kreacher honored, Kreacher was possibly as kind and loving servant to Regulus as a boy, as he was cruel and abusive to Sirius when Sirius was a child. But in honoring all of his families traditions, the good and the bad Regulus might have understood more about elves not only more than Sirius, but more than Miss Cissy, Miss Bella. Narcissa and Bellatrix were kind to Kreacher because they wanted something from him. But Regulus gave his life to make Voldemort pay for hurting his elf as well as others--Kreacher was more than a servant to Regulus, he was family. That's love. Kreacher in turn had to do what his master asked or Regulus sacrifice, his suffering, his remorse and compassion would be for naught--but also because I think Kreacher loved Regulus as Winky loved her family. QUOTE don't think that Kreacher was redeemed as much as he was finally recognized for who and what he was. Recognition makes someone's life very personal, while redemption is all too often very anonymous But for some people, clarity of purpose, which is what Harry gave to Kreacher, is redemption. If you doing something just because you are ordered to and told it is right, but you have no understanding, then because you are still partially in darkness, you are subject fall. Say,you go to church everyday because your parents tell you to, and you take communion, maybe even help serve it, but it's just a ritual, then one day you see the purpose of communiion beyond just something you're supposed to do at this point of the service. Your eyes our opened--you treat the ritual with more reverance, it sings to you. I think this was the nature of Kreacher's redemption. He could see not only "What" Regulus wanted him to do, but why.
This post has been edited by Maime the Hunter: Aug 11 2007, 12:41 PM |
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Aug 13 2007, 07:18 PM
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Gringott's Cart Axle Greaser Posts: 2,773 Joined: 4:37pm September 28, 2005 Location: In my tower, dwelling on ... |
Something that I've been wondering is whether or not the locket that Harry presented to Kreacher counted as clothes. It is certainly something that is worn like clothes. If it did count, then Kreacher would in essence be a free house elf like Dobby. Therefore all of Kreacher's efforts to clean up Gimmauld Place, cook for the Trio, and better his appearance would be self motivated. However, jewelry might be different from clothes and Kreacher might have just been happier to serve Harry after receiving it.
-------------------- “Wisdom is a flower from which the bee its honey makes and the spider poison, each according to its own nature.” (By an unknown adept) Proud Supporter of the "Rotfang Conspiracy." |
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Aug 13 2007, 07:40 PM
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Butterbeer Connoisseur Posts: 1,456 Joined: 5:38pm June 22, 2007 |
At first I thought the locket didn't count as clothes, and that's why Kreacher continued to serve Harry, though now happily.
But. . . How could he have turned up at Hogwarts without orders if he were not a free elf? Yes, elves still bound in servitude can go where they are not ordered to go, but they must punish themselves for it. There's no indication of that here. So I like to think that he was free, and served Harry of his own volition. Maime--no offense, but I think your post is really condescending to slaves in general and house-elves in particular. -------------------- There is more to life than dreaming.
There is more to love than making it. There is more to you than meets the eye. . . --Mars Bonfire |
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