House assumptions

[Melody]

No: HPFGUIDX 45266

Um, this one is quite long, so I suggest getting a little comfortable.
 May I suggest a cup of tea for our English chaps and a nice coffee or
Coke for our American audience.

Ben Jones wrote:
> I rarely post,...<

Me:
You should rethink that.  I like your post very much.


>...but houses are one of my pet interests.  I tend to think that the
Marauders were in different houses, but I seem to have a different
idea about what puts a given person in a given house.  Feel free to
tear this to shreds and bring me to my senses.<

Me:
I have no intentions of tearing it to shreds so relax.  :)


> I don't think houses have much more to do with why people do things
than what they do or even how they do it.

> As I see it, Gryffindors are motivated by basic emotions and want
others to like them.  ***small cut of description of The Three***
> Slytherin are motivated by ego (in the sense of the word without a
value judgment) and want others to admire them.
> What motivates someone (Hufflepuff) to be loyal and diligent?  I
think they are motivated by reputation and want others to trust them.
> As far as Ravenclaw, it's not so much a matter of being smart as
much as being motivated by pragmatism and wanting others to understand
them.

Me:
Let me break it down your theory into a easy to read table for those
reading along at home.

Gryffindor's motivation: raw impulse emotion, need to be liked
Slytherin's motivation:  ego, need to be admired
Hufflepuff's motivation:  reputation, need to be trusted
Ravenclaw's motivation:  pragmatism, need to be understood

Your examples do show credit for not being bias to one house over
another.  Often times it is not the motivation but also the perception
of the actions that defines us.  That is the perspective that I want
to add.

Let's start with Gryffindor.  Many times chivalry and valor come from
basic unbridled emotions.  The chivalrous tend to be coaxed on by
sense of duty and honor, but the desire to act is deeply ingrained as
selfless.  From the twins helping Harry with his truck to the 4th year
Gryffindor students helping Hagrid with the blast-ended skrewts, they
always do what is necessary to help and protect others...without
second thought.

The ability to feed off emotions is often seen as a pure, unwavering
reasoning based on ideals hence why it is respected and thought as
foolish in one breath.  The 4th year Gryffindors could of been greatly
injured from the round-up of the b-e skrewts.  I am sure the
Slytherins inside Hagrid's hut thought so, but it was the Gryffindor's
sense of obligation to the scene that kept them out there.  The
Gryffindors knew Hagrid needed help and they stayed to help.  There
was no second thoughts.  There was no weighing of their options.  It
was broken down to two basic answers.  Either (a) run and hid and
leave Hagrid to his own devices, or (b) stay and help.

Whether or not they were *liked* did not matter.  It was more a sense
of self pride within themselves.  They were not going to let anyone
down.  They seem to have a deep desire to be thought of as dependable.
 This is true at the train, chamber, class, Quidditch, and graveyard.

So, Gryffindor's motivation is based on ideals and a need to be
dependable.  The catalyst to their actions is raw emotions run unchecked.

Now on to Slytherin.  Ego can be a nasty thing.  Many times it is
greatly misunderstood as a verge to evil.  Mostly because it is very
self driven.  Being too self-involved and not helping your fellow man
is thought to be unkind and rude by our standards.  Really, it is more
self preservation which is really not all that bad.  By protecting
yourself and guarding your actions, a Slytherin is able to be there to
help influence the world with their given talents and knowledge.
While the brash Gryffindors are out placing their life in precarious
situations, the Slytherin are inside expanding their minds and
exploring their talents.

It is this concept of "being your own island" that Slytherin nurture.
 They are self-dependent, self-reliant, and very independent.  That
way no one can let you down.  Admiration and respect comes very slowly
from the Slytherins, so the desire to be admires themselves is very
easily what they want most.  I think you hit the nail on the head with
them there.

So then, Slytherin's motivation is self-preservation (ego) and the
need to be admired.

Next is Hufflepuff, I hope I haven't lost y'all by now.  :)  We given
so few examples of Hufflepuff's actions.  Only major one is Cedric, so
I will expand from him.  Those who are patient and hard working often
are quiet observers.  They see the actions of many and see their
motivations.  From their vantage points, Hufflepuffs nurture and love
dedication and equality.  Cedric saw the truth in Harry's fall during
the Quidditch game and felt ashamed that his father did not.  Only on
a fair playing field does Cedric want to compete for who is the best.
 This is so the true "best man" will win.

>From this I agree that Hufflepuff's motivation is reputation.  They
have the need to be respected for who they are.  They do not like
masks.  Their catalyst is equality.

That leaves...Ravenclaw.  This house, as has been pointed out, has
very few examples to their character.  So since I have babbled on for
so long, I will make this short.  I agree with Ben.  :)

So to recap and to make another cute table:

Gryffindor's motivation: ideals and need to be dependable
	Catalyst - raw emotions run unchecked
Slytherin's motivation: self-preservation and need to be admired
	Catalyst - not sure here?
Hufflepuff's motivation: reputation and need to be respected
	Catalyst - equality
Ravenclaw's motivation: pragmatism and need to be understood
	Catalyst - wisdom

>From these motivations and the perception by the other houses, the
reasoning behind the rivalries between houses becomes apparent. These
below seem to be the major clashes between houses.

Gryffindor is thought of brash and foolish to Slytherins, and
Slytherins are seen as too self-involved by Gryffindors.

Ravenclaw can see the logic behind the Slytherins but also see the
foolishness of being too self-absorbed and alienating yourself.  The
Gryffindors, while noble, are often times see by Ravenclaw as not wise
in their actions.

Hufflepuff sees Slytherin as often being too bias to their views and
Slytherin find the Hufflepuffs to be spineless.


So to get back to the whole reason you broke down the houses in the
first place, the Marauders.
you placed:
James-Gryffindor
Sirius-Slytherin
Remus-Hufflepuff
Peter-Ravenclaw

Before I placed all four in Slytherin, but I think I should change my
mind.

While James does "fit" as the typical Gryffindor, I have to wonder
what his motive was for pulling Snape out of harms way.  It could be
for duty, but it seemed to me to be more for saving the group.  James
saw that Snape's death would be bad for all involved.  That would
place James in Ravenclaw.  Besides, placing all the "good" characters
in Gryffindor is getting kind of annoying.

I also have problems putting Peter in Ravenclaw.  He seems to be more
into self-preservation.  Wisdom, I hope, would tell him that joining
the "evil" side would not be...well, wise in the long run.  He does
though, as you pointed out, try desperately to explain himself which
is something Slytherins don't seem to have the desire to do.  I always
like Peter in Slytherin as a sort of "Colin Creevey" to Sirius.  That
annoying fly that would not go away, so Sirius just accepted him.

Remus as Hufflepuff is very understandable in my mind.  He desires to
be seen as a equal and appreciated for his toils and wisdom.  One
might also place him in Ravenclaw as well.  He seems very wise,
well-read, and desires to be understood.

And as for Sirius, he does fit nicely in Slytherin.  On all accounts.
 As I said before, Snape and him do seems a lot alike in their actions
and reactions, and Snape definitely places well in Slytherin.

So I say,
James and Remus: Ravenclaw
Sirius and Peter: Slytherin

I believe that James and Sirius are old friends from pre-wizard school
and thier friendship was well cemented before Hogwarts.  Then when
they came to Hogwarts, they were sorted into different houses.  they
still pal around together but with Remus, James' new Ravenclaw friend,
and with Peter, Sirius's groupie.

So, thoughts, arguments, mud thrown in my general direction?

Melody
who is sorry she is so long winded today.