The Houses Mystery

[myphilosophy2001]

No: HPFGUIDX 44454

bboy_mm wrote:
> We all exagerate when we are trying to emphasize a point, so I think
> Hagrid did just that, he overstated himself to emphasized that
> Slytherin house has turned out a vast majority of Dark Wizards. But 
> I don't think it is a statement of absolute historical fact. Just a
> generalization to make a point.


This brings up an interesting idea. I think it's entirely possible 
that JKR is going to do for the various houses at Hogwarts what she 
has begun to do for the various nationalities/social 
classes/financial stratas/"races" in GoF. In other words, in GoF JKR 
begins to make her message against stereotypes and prejudiced, 
unproven judgments quite clear. 

There is Hagrid, a kind, gentle soul who is nonetheless the target of 
persecution because of his giant heritage and the generalized 
perceptions of giants. There's Hermione, a gifted, talented witch, 
whose place in the WW is continually challenged and questioned 
because she is not of full wizard blood. There's Lupin, the beloved 
and generous professor, who can't keep a regular job (we can assume 
this because of the tattered condition of his clothing and case) 
because, despite his effectiveness as an educator, he is deemed 
dangerous because he's a werewolf (a condition that he can actually 
make pretty much unharmful with the Wolfsbane Potion). There are the 
House-Elves, who are widely and unquestioningly perceived as natural 
born slaves, creatures who are entirely unfulfilled when not 
harnessed to a "master" and doing his bidding. But Dobby proves this 
assumption false -- most house elves may have internalized this 
rhetoric, but not him. And if not him, than there are surely others 
who share his disposition.

In this way, JKR could take the same "don't judge a book by its 
cover" logic and apply it to the four houses of Hogwarts. Hogwarts, 
in a sense, exists as a miniature community unto itself, making the 
four houses a representation of varying social groups: the warrior 
knights (Gryffindor), the worker bees (Hufflepuff), the academia 
(Ravenclaw), and the cruel, cowardly elitists (Slytherin). However, 
if sweeping generalizations are false and unacceptable in the wider 
world JKR depicts, it only follows that they are at Hogwarts.

Hagrid, though sweet and lovable, has been known to fall victim to 
Prevailing societal stereotypes. He reinforced the perception of 
Goblins as mean, greedy types to Harry in SS/PS. Thus, it's safe to 
assume that Hagrid's statement about Slytherin House could also be a 
result of stereotype. If not all giants are murderous and mean, 
perhaps not all Slytherins are fated to become dark wizards. 
Furthermore, maybe not all Gryffindors are destined to prove 
themselves heroic and of high integrity. I think the Sorting Hat puts 
a student in the house whose traits he or she has the most potential 
to embody, but, as JKR has illustrated time and again, it is an 
individual's conscious choice to do "what is easy and what it right."

If JKR does follow this track with the four houses, Snape could just 
as easily be a Gryffindor as a Slytherin. Sirius and James a 
Slytherin as a Gryffindor. Wormtail a Gryffindor or Hufflepuff as a 
Gryffindor.

The End ;-P

-Jessica (Moonstruck)