Slytherin in Sorting Hat

[Wanda Sherratt]

No: HPFGUIDX 99173

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "theadimail" <theadimail at y...> 
wrote:
> Hi,
>   We know that The Sorting Hat has elements of all the four 
founders 
> of Hogwarts in it. If Godric Gryffindor's element was his sword 
which 
> Harry pulled out, true to Gryffindor's essential quality  which is 
> supposed to be bravery, what could be the element of Salazar 
> Slytherin that is hidden in it?

It's difficult to guess:  bravery=sword is an easy link to make, but 
what would equal "ambition"?  Because that is the real 
characteristic of Slytherin, not the pureblood stuff that came to be 
associated with him.  I think the four founders are also 
representative of the four elements: fire, water, air and earth, all 
of which are necessary for life, and Slytherin would represent the 
water element, but how that could physically end up in the Sorting 
Hat is problematic.  Perhaps we're not supposed to take the legend 
literally?

I also wonder if Slytherin is more or less tainted by his despicable 
followers (and descendent) so that we no longer have a very clear 
idea of who he was.  Was Salazar Slytherin an early Voldemort?  It 
hardly seems possible, since the other 3 founders of Hogwarts worked 
with him, and for some time they all got along well together.  On 
the other hand, there is that basilisk incident, and it's hard to 
see how Slytherin could have meant any good to come of installing a 
monster in the school basement.

Wanda