As a house-elf to the Malfoys, Dobby was constantly encouraged to harm himself if he did something wrong. Harry Potter was horrified by this the first time Dobby did it. The entire time Dobby served the Malfoys, he punished himself continuously, even when they were not present. This shows his loss of self-worth because he did many harmful things to his body. Because of the way Dobby has been treated as property by his masters, he does not consider himself an individual, he has lost his sense of self-identity. Instead, Dobby refers to himself as “Dobby” when he speaks instead of “I.” Because his previous masters taught him to think of himself as a being without many feelings, he is forced to not think as himself as a decision-making being. As an elf fighting for freedom against society’s norms, Dobby struggles with ways to express his expectations of freedom. Because house-elves have been enslaved for so long, people look down upon Dobby as a crazy elf. He asks around for years for paid work before finally working for Dumbledore. Even when he does so, his expectations are lower than what Dumbledore has in mind for him. These ideas are a result of being enslaved for so many generations. In this Analysis page, I present specific examples throughout the series that prove Dobby’s loss of self-identity, self-worth, and twisted ideas of freedom.
When Dobby first enters Harry’s life, it is presented in the most interesting way to the readers. This introduction was the first true time the readers saw a house elf and their role in the wizarding society. In the first chapter of Dobby’s introduction, we can immediately see some lasting effects that slavery has on him through punishing himself. Dobby came into Harry’s life in the book Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets to share a message with Harry that he was forbidden to talk about. As Dobby introduces himself to Harry, Harry insists that Dobby sits so that he can share his message. When Harry tells Dobby to sit, he bursts into tears. He starts crying out, “S-sit down! Never…… never ever……” (13). Harry quickly apologizes and Dobby continues, “Offend Dobby! Dobby has never been asked to sit down by a wizard- like an equal-“(13). Harry is slightly confused as to why Dobby is so shocked by this because he has never seen someone who has been treated as an object instead of a being. It is because in the Malfoy household where Dobby worked, he was encouraged to punish himself more than anything. He was treated as property and no one respected him as an actual being. Dobby explains to Harry that his punishments are a usual occurrence, “Dobby is always having to punish himself for something, sir. They lets Dobby get on with it, sir. Sometimes they reminds me to do extra punishments…” (16). Through this, we see the way Dobby is treated by the Malfoys, and how house-elves in general are supposed to live their lives. There is no one punishing them, in fact they are trained to punish themselves even when their masters are not present. There is no one around Dobby related to the Malfoys that are telling him to harm himself. This is a psychological effect that his “masters” have instilled in him. This is a long-lasting self-worth issue that continues in Dobby until he is finally free of the Malfoys enslavement and thereafter.
Dobby does not refer to himself as “I,” in fact he talks in third person whenever he refers to himself throughout the entire series. During Dobby’s time of serving the Malfoys, he is treated as property which was proven through the example in the previous paragraph. He loses his self-identity and does not think of himself as a complete individual. Even after Dobby’s time with the Malfoys, he does not refer to himself as “I.” These lasting effects of treatment from the Malfoys hangs on with Dobby until the very end. In the book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Dobby has an encounter with the Malfoys as he is trying to save Harry and his friends. As Bellatrix is torturing Hermione underneath a chandelier, Dobby is sitting on top of it, unscrewing it so that it falls on top of them. He points a finger at his old mistress and says, “You must not hurt Harry Potter!” Bellatrix is shocked that he is talking to his “masters” this way (474). Dobby disarms Mrs. Malfoy as she tries to put a spell on him and this sets Bellatrix over the edge. According to Bellatrix, elves are not supposed to have wands, let alone disarm a witch in possession of one. She exclaims, “You dirty little monkey! How dare you take a witch’s wand, how dare you defy your masters?” Dobby comes back with his famous words, “Dobby has no master! Dobby is a free elf, and Dobby has come to save Harry Potter and his friends” (474). Through Dobby referring to himself as a free elf, yet still calling himself “Dobby” instead of “I,” we see how the effects of enslavement have worn on him. Dobby has not had a master in 5 years (Harry Potter time), and we still see him stuck in his old ways. Dobby struggles to refer to himself as an individual because of his loss of identity through his treatment from the Malfoys. This effect never wears on Dobby.
Another example of long-lasting effects on Dobby is his idea of being free. In the book Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Dobby is working for Hogwarts. Harry never realized that the elves do everything around Hogwarts. They clean, cook and deliver things to people, all without being seen. When Dobby sees Harry he explains that “most wizards doesn't want a house-elf who wants paying, [miss]. 'That's not the point of a house-elf,' they says, and they slammed the door in Dobby's face! Dobby likes work, but he wants to wear clothes and he wants to be paid. Harry Potter.... Dobby likes being free!" (378). This is the first time we are introduced to a house-elf that is free and that actually wants to be free. Through Dobby the readers can identify the aspects of the elves enslavement that are unjust because Dobby opposes all of them. Without Dobby, the elves are just a background character. Through Dobby we understand what it means to be free to an elf. Dobby explains that “Professor Dumbledore offered Dobby ten Galleons a week, and weekends off. But Dobby beat him down [miss]… Dobby likes freedom, but he isn’t wanting too much, he likes work better” (379). As Dobby talks, Hermione, Harry, and Ron are confused about his definition of freedom. Dumbledore offered him a reasonable amount of money and weekends off, which seems normal to most people. But because Dobby was raised to think that he must work, his standards of freedom are much lower. Instead of Dumbledore’s offer, Dobby takes one Galleon a week and one day off per month (379). This sounds so little to people, but to elves it is almost asking too much. Dobby shivers at the thought of taking Dumbledore’s original offer. This long-lasting effect of working standards and freedom, takes a toll on Dobby after being set free by the Malfoys. To most people, he is still not free. But because he controlled his work schedule and gets some sort of payment, he feels that it is all the freedom he needs.
Below are some videos of Dobby getting set free as well as some moments between him and Harry throughout the series.
Below are some videos of Dobby getting set free as well as some moments between him and Harry throughout the series.
A clip from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets movie when Dobby becomes a free elf.
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Clips from the different Harry Potter movies of interactions between Harry and Dobby.
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