JK Rowling invokes vivid images of Albert Camus, a French philosopher and writer, in her exploration of the human condition. One parallel that can be drawn is between the character of Dobby, a house-elf who is forced into slavery, and Camus’ concept of Sisyphus, a figure from Greek mythology who is doomed to push a boulder up a mountain for eternity.
In the Harry Potter series, Dobby is initially a slave to the Malfoy family, but through his friendship with Harry Potter, he is able to gain his freedom. However, in the early stages of his enslavement, Dobby must have imagined himself happy in his task, much like how Camus argues that one must imagine Sisyphus happy in his task. This is because, like Dobby, Sisyphus has found meaning in his task, and it gives him a sense of purpose.
Both Dobby and Sisyphus, in their own way, have found a way to transcend their oppressive situations through their determination and resilience, and through imagining themselves happy in their task. JK Rowling and Albert Camus both explore the idea that it is possible to find meaning and purpose in even the most difficult of circumstances, and that this is what makes us human. The act of imagining oneself happy in an oppressive situation is a key aspect of this exploration.
However, in the early stages of his enslavement, Dobby must have imagined himself happy in his task, much like how Camus argues that one must imagine Sisyphus happy in his task. This is because, like Dobby, Sisyphus has found meaning in his task, and it gives him a sense of purpose.
I can’t believe they’ve automated the production of papers written by middle-schoolsers in the thirty minutes before class starts
