Throughout the Harry Potter series, we meet many fantastical beasts and creatures. Some are EXTREMELY beast-like, resembling monsters of old and primarily functioning at nightmare fuel. Whereas, others are much more humanoid than they are creature in their appearance, intellect and nature.
Alongside merpeople and centaurs, goblins and elves both fall into this latter, humanoid category of magical beings who live within the wizarding world of Harry Potter. And while the differences between the half-fish, half-humans of the sea and the half-horse, half-humans of the forest are quite obvious, the variations between goblins and elves are a little more difficult to identify.
In this article, we’ll take a look at how these magical beings are similar, and the many ways in which they are incredibly different.
The Similarities Between Goblins and Elves
While uniquely their own species, there are quite a few ways in which goblins and elves are the same. Below is a list identifying the most obvious similarities between the two.
- Magic:Both of these beings have powerful abilities to perform magic that seem to be unique when compared to the capabilities of witches and wizards.
- Appearance:The goblins and house elves that we are introduced to throughout Harry Potter—and even Fantastic Beasts for that matter—all have long, hooked noses and larger, pointed ears.
- Stature:Goblins and elves are both much smaller than humans, and grow to be around three-to-four feet in height, on average.
- Subjugation: Both goblins and elves have experienced oppression from wizardkind. Goblins are prohibited from using wands and studying wandlore, whereas elves have been enslaved as servants for powerful magical households.
The 5 Most Remarkable Differences Between Goblins and Elves
Despite the similarities noted above, there are actually more ways in which these two magical beings are quite unique from one another, including…
1. They are different species
One of the most obvious differences between goblins and elves is, of course, the fact that they are not the same species. This can be seen in a few particulars, including their DIFFERENCES in appearance, such as:
- Build: Goblins are a lot stouter than elves, who typically seem to be much more slender, with bodies that are more proportionate than goblins.
- Claws: Elves’ fingers and hands resemble those of humans much more than goblins, who have long, claw-like fingers with sharp nails.
- Hair: While the majority of goblins we meet have hair on their heads, most elves are bald or have very little hair.
2. Their dispositions are completely opposite
With elves, it is evident that they are generally gentle and compliant beings. A perfect example of this is when the house elf, Dobby, punishes himself for speaking negatively about the Malfoy family, despite being a free elf and his general disdain for his former masters.
Goblins, on the other hand, are widely known for their trickery and lack of honesty. One notable example is when the goblin, Griphook, betrays Harry, Ron and Hermione in order to gain possession of the Sword of Gryffindor.
While some may argue that this perception of goblins is rooted in wizard prejudice, the limited portrayal of goblins in the series does seem to support this belief.
3. They have unique brands of magic
While elves possess extraordinary magical abilities that surpass those of most wizardkind, a goblin’s power seems to align more with that of a human’s.
This is evident from the fact that elves can teleport at will and perform magic without the need for a wand. Throughout the series, we even observe Dobby demonstrating telekinetic skills and the ability to turn invisible.
On the other hand, goblins rarely showcase their powers in the series, with the exception of what we see within Gringotts Wizarding Bank. This could be because their magic is closely tied to specific tools, like wands, much like with witches and wizards.
4. There’s a disparity in their social statuses
In both the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts series, goblins are often employed in jobs that are considered “lower class.” For example, we see them working as bartenders and bank tellers, which seems to indicate that they are not accepted into more important societal positions within the magical community.
That said, goblins do have significant roles in running Gringotts Wizarding Bank and, therefore, the magical economy.
While goblins may not receive the best treatment from humans, they very clearly hold a higher position in the wizarding world compared to elves.
Elves, or more commonly, “house elves”, essentially live in a state of indentured servitude. Their only chance at freedom centers around receiving a gift of clothing from their masters. Obviously, this is much worse than having lower-ranking, paid jobs like goblins do.
5. Their languages are different
Goblins communicate with each other using a language called Gobbledegook, while house elves are believed to exclusively speak the languages of their human masters.
While it’s possible that house elves have their own language, there is no evidence to support the existence of such a language. That said, it’s hard to believe that magical beings with such abilities would not have their own native tongue.
Are Goblins and Elves All that Different?
Goblins and elves, as they appear in Harry Potter, are both smaller humanoid beings with powerful magical abilities. In spite of these similarities, however, there are many things that mark them as unique species, in particular, their brands of magic and their overall dispositions.
