SPEW

S.P.E.W. (Society for the Promotion of Elvish Welfare) is a society formed by Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter books, who is horrified by the way house-elves are treated. The organization aims to promote better conditions for house elves. She originally thought of calling it Stop the Outrageous Abuse of Our Fellow Magical Creatures and Campaign for a Change in Their Legal Status or, simply, SOAOFMCCCTLS, but then realized that this name was too long to fit onto a badge. It has become known by its acronym, which Ron pronounces as the word "spew."

Related Topics:
Hermione Granger - Harry Potter books - Ron

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House-elves are creatures who exist to serve other magical races, mainly Wizards. Although possibly once a more magical race (elves such as Dobby and Winky have both shown they have powers), house-elves serve one family (or institution) until either the family dies out or the elf is set free. They are considered to be unworthy of fair treatment by many in the wizarding community, and so are often abused. (However, it should be noted that some ? such as Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry ? treat the elves in their employ much better. Albus Dumbledore, Arthur Weasley and Sirius Black have also all directly or indirectly acknowledged that they agree with a move for greater elf rights.)

Related Topics:
House-elves - Wizard - Dobby - Winky - Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry - Albus Dumbledore - Arthur Weasley - Sirius Black

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After seeing Winky verbally abused, misjudged and consequently sacked by Barty Crouch Sr. at the Quidditch World Cup, Hermione formed the organization to try and improve the elves' lot in life. However, she has faced several obstacles to her course:

Related Topics:
Winky - Barty Crouch Sr. - Quidditch

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• The unwillingness of the magical community to change their ways.
• The fact that no one ? not even her best friends Ron and Harry ? have faith in her cause.
• And ? most importantly ? that elves in general are most unwilling to be set free; Dobby is so far the only exception mentioned.

In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Hermione steps up her plans by knitting hats for the Hogwarts Elves and hiding them under rubbish (the only way for a house-elf to be set free is for their master to give them an item of clothing). However, the Hogwarts elves refuse to clean Gryffindor Tower because of all the clothes lying around, leading Dobby to do it all on his own. No one has the heart to tell this to Hermione, who still believes she is setting elves free by the dozen.

Related Topics:
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - Gryffindor Tower - Dobby

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In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, there is no mention of S.P.E.W. from Hermione, leading to the speculation she has perhaps given up on the organization. However, Harry Potter himself makes reference to it and increasingly seems to have been influenced by her perspective ?- particularly in the cases of Hepzibah Smith?s elf Hokey, though also in passing when Professor Slughorn refers to using a house-elf to check his drink for poison.

Related Topics:
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - Hepzibah Smith - Hokey - Professor Slughorn

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Rumours have circulated that Rowling's inclusion of S.P.E.W. has been a jab at British feminists, although bearing in mind she has confessed that Hermione is based on a younger version of herself, it could be her own interest in the work of Amnesty International she is using as source material.

Related Topics:
Feminist - Amnesty International

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