Summary
- Dobby, one of the most beloved characters in the Harry Potter series, had a tragic but admirable life as a free elf after gaining his freedom from the Malfoy family.
- He struggled to find paid work initially but eventually found employment at the Hogwarts kitchens, where he took great pride in his duties and went above and beyond to help Harry and his friends.
- Dobby's loyalty and friendship towards Harry led him to sacrifice his life during a rescue mission, leaving both Harry and fans devastated and showcasing the emotional impact of his character.
Dobby is one of the most beloved characters in the Harry Potter saga. He was one of Harry’s most loyal friends, and his death is arguably one of the saddest moments in the entire series. He was heavily featured in The Chamber of Secrets, but, at least in the film adaptations, he wasn’t seen again until The Deathly Hallows - Part 1. While his journey as a free elf during those years may be relatively unknown to some, he wasn’t completely gone, and the books show some glimpses into his life after gaining his freedom. What was Dobby doing during all those years?
As the Malfoy family house-elf, like most house-elves in Harry Potter, Dobby’s life was defined by his servitude and commitment to his masters, despite their cruelty. However, after their less-than-ideal first encounter at the beginning of The Chamber of Secrets, Dobby and Harry developed a strong bond, which ultimately led to Harry’s kind and selfless act at the end of the installment. Harry tricked Lucius Malfoy into giving Dobby a piece of clothing by hiding one of his socks inside Tom Riddle’s diary. Lucius inadvertently set the house-elf free, which forever changed the trajectory of Dobby’s life.
Dobby’s Life As a Free Elf
Dobby was known for his bravery, kindness, and loyalty, despite having served the Malfoy family, who treated him in a cruel and unkind manner, for the majority of his life. With a sock that served as a declaration of freedom, Dobby’s life underwent a big transformation. A world of possibilities opened up to him, and he took each of them with great enthusiasm. After being freed from serving the Malfoys, what Dobby wanted most was to find his place in life.
Now a free elf, Dobby spent some time looking for paid work, but since most families in the wizarding world weren’t willing to pay a house-elf, he initially had some struggles finding employment. Eventually, Dumbledore offered an enthusiastic Dobby, and Winky, a female house-elf who had worked for Barty Crouch Sr. And was entirely cut from the movies, paid jobs at the Hogwarts kitchens, where other house-elves worked. While he was absent for most of the movies, throughout the books, Dobby was often seen working at Hogwarts, happily immersed in his new life. For a while, he was even the only house-elf who would clean the Gryffindor Tower, since Hermione would often hide clothes in an attempt to free the elves, which they found insulting. He was immensely grateful for his opportunity to work and took great pride in his duties, and he would often go above and beyond to ensure the well-being of Harry and his friends.
After Sirius Black’s death, Harry inherited Kreacher, the Black family house-elf, and became his master. Not wanting anything to do with him, Harry sent him to the Hogwarts kitchens, where he started working alongside Dobby. The two house-elves did not get along, since Kreacher disliked Harry and considered him a blood traitor, while Dobby loved and respected him. Following Harry’s order, Dobby and Kreacher spied on Draco Malfoy, and learned that he was using the Room of Requirement and planning something big. While Kreacher only followed Harry’s orders because he was bound to serve him, Dobby, as a free elf, did so out of sheer loyalty to him.
One of the most notable differences between the Harry Potter books and the films is Dobby’s role. In The Goblet of Fire, as the second trial of the Triwizard Tournament approaches, Neville gives Harry some gillyweed in order to be able to breathe underwater, and in Order of the Phoenix, Neville finds the Room of Requirement and informs Harry about it. In the books, however, it is Dobby who does both these things, further showcasing his friendship and loyalty to Harry, as well as his importance in the story.
Dobby’s Death and Sacrifice
During The Deathly Hallows, as Dobby’s life continued to evolve, he was met with a tragic fate. In the moments leading up to his death, Dobby went on a dangerous rescue mission to save Harry and his friends from Malfoy Manor. He managed to disapparate them to safety, but it was too late, as Bellatrix Lestrange threw her knife and fatally wounded the elf. Dobby died in Harry’s arms, as he expressed gratitude for his freedom and devotion to the Boy Who Lived, with his last words being “Dobby is happy to be with his friend, Harry Potter”. His tragic death left Harry devastated, but it even went beyond the wizarding world. Harry’s friends and Harry Potter fans alike also mourned the loss of the beloved character, serving as proof of the emotional impact Dobby had on readers and viewers alike.
Dobby’s role in rescuing Harry and his friends, and ultimately giving his life for them, makes his death even more heartbreaking and his character one of the most admirable and heroic within the Harry Potter franchise. It is bittersweet but important to remember that Dobby, at least, got to experience freedom and lived as a free elf for a couple of years. He traveled around, made some friends, and had a job he was proud of. While these experiences may seem relatively small, they were important milestones in the life of the beloved friendly house-elf who had spent most of his life in servitude.