Let's burn down the Houses ! (was : The Sorting Hat doesn't sort )

[happybean98]

No: HPFGUIDX 106908

> Jenni wrote :
> >   You know, I'm beginning to think this theory, about the sorting 
> > hat not really "sorting" and just taking what's in the first 
year's 
> > mind instead, has quite a lot of merit.  At the very least, what 
> > canon we have doesn't contradict this particular view.

> Del replies :
> You know what, Jenni ? You're starting to get me convinced.
> But I don't like that, oh no, not at all !
> What it would basically mean would be that the Sorting would 
reinforce any prejudice the kids would have had when arriving at 
Hogwarts, and I find that *disgusting* !!

happybean98:

You have a point here Del, that I think the Sorting Hat is aware of. 
But the whole story is that the houses were not originally meant to 
be breeding grounds for prejudice. "And never since the founders four 
Were whittled down to three Have the Houses been united As they once 
were meant to be." OoP p. 206. 

This excerpt from the Sorting Hat's song tells me that originally, 
the houses were meant to peacefully co-exist. "The Houses that, like 
pillars four; Had once held up our school," OoP p. 206 (But alas for 
frail humanity,) "Now turned upon each other and, Divided, sought to 
rule." OoP p. 206

I interpret this to mean that while the houses were intended to 
support the school and work together, (maybe like different branches 
of government), corruption and the desire for power destroyed their 
unity and left them vulnerable to becoming the basis for sterotypes 
and pecking orders, (the hallmarks of prejudice).

Maybe this is why the hat sings: "But this year I'll go further, 
Listen closely to my song: Though condemned I am to split you Still I 
worry that it's wrong, Though I must fulfill my duty And must quarter 
every year Still I wonder whether sorting May not bring the end I 
fear." OoP p. 206

I think the Sorting Hat realizes that because of the fall-out between 
the founders, the sorting has become the basis for prejudice and 
disharmony, and now thinks it is dangerous.

Who knows? Maybe the Sorting Hat will go on strike next year?

Del continues:
(snip)
> So he (Draco) arrives at Hogwarts *wanting* to be Sorted into the 
House that
> will support him in his opinions and ambitions.
> And instead of throwing him in Gryffindor along with the Trio so 
that
> he's got a chance to discover something new and maybe change his 
mind,
> the Hat obligingly puts him in the only House that won't challenge 
him  !
> 
> Disgusting.

happybean98:
I agree that it's too bad the Sorting Hat doesn't make more 
prudential house placements, but I think you're trying to give the 
Sorting Hat a role that it doesn't have. It's a magical object, not 
an authority figure, (although it does seem to be developing a 
conscience...) 

Also, while one effect of the house system may be that it helps 
prejudiced Slytherins feed on each others warped ideas, does that 
mean that the whole system is corrupt and should be thrown out?

Others have pointed out that it serves good purposes as well, such as 
being a family away from family, and helping the students to feel at 
home in a smaller group of students.   

Del:
> I think it's high time someone takes the decision to burn down the
> Houses and rebuild a new system based on something arbitrary, like
> putting the (new !) names of the 4 Houses in that stupid Hat and
> having the students pick one blindly, for example.

happybean98:
Well, it's interesting to note that JKR originally thought of doing 
that very thing. Cannon is the "page of doodlings" on her web site 
depicting all the different ways she considered sorting the students. 

-happybean98