Gryffindor's dark side

[Julia]

No: HPFGUIDX 125135



Charlotte:

<snip>
It is said that Gryffindor values most bravery above all other
attributes. The flip side of this is of course a tendency for
recklessness and hotheadedness (see Harry's ill-advised trip to the
Ministry in OotP and practically all of Sirius behaviour). This in
itself is quite different to the calculating perception of those
snide Slytherins.

But the other attitude connected to bravery is arrogance.

<snip a couple of examples of Harry's arrogance>

But what's more interesting is Redhen's contention that the driving 
force behind Gryffindor is not so much a magnanimous bravery, but 
rather a desire to be "admired".
It is this wish to be looked up to or praised, which is the root
cause of the broad stroked and generally admirable actions of the
Gryffindors (not the other way round). For the most part, because
Gryffs want admiration, their actions are by their very nature
admirable.

But the desire to be admired can also be perverted.<snip a couple of 
very good examples>


Julia here:
Yes, I agree with you. I always thought that Jo couldn't have 
created only 'good' and 'evil' houses.
Gryffs are arrogant and want to be admired - that's very true! But I 
think that we sometimes see things from the wrong POV. You see, IMO 
bad attributes of students aren't considered when choosing a House. 
I really think that even Slytherins aren't chosen because they're 
evil. They simply value other things.
But still... when growing up in a specific House we are becoming 
more and more Gryffindors, Ravenclaws, Slytherins and Hufflepuffs...
And this is the problem - mainly with Harry. He wasn't like that 
when he was younger, but he get used to being a Gryffindor and he 
started to be arrogant. The whole atmosphere is Hogwart isn't 
helping too - Gryffindors are seen as 'heros'.
But, the House-characteristic thing is rather complex - as our 
personalities so it's hard to determinate one or even a couple of 
specific features that every member of a house have. Different 
people - different personalities - even in the same house.


Charlotte:
Probably the major difference between Gryffindor and Slytherin then
is that Slytherins don't care so much about what others think as
long as they achieve their ends. Others are beneath them anyway.
On the other hand Gryffs, while subconsciously believing like the
arrogant Slytherins that others are beneath them, still want the
admiration and love of those around them - which in its worst form
is like the simpering awe of Pettigrew.


Julia:
What's more can I say? I completely agree with you. I think that 
this is the main difference between this two Houses. Continuing what 
I said above, I think that this is the attitude towards friends, 
enemies, school, life in general that determines the choice, not the 
specific features (like he is brave, she is kind, he is tolerant, he 
is intelligent, she is a social person etc). Because one can be a 
social person and brave and the other can be an outsider but still 
brave and they could be in the same house!


Charlotte:
The only person who doesn't fit this mould is Neville, but then as
Redhen says, he really doesn't fit in any house (including
Hufflepuff), but that's a whole other argument....


Julia:
Here I can't agree. I think that Neville fits in Gryffindor - his 
attitude is very Gryffindor-ish: he is loyal to his friends, rather 
brave (DoM battle)... maybe he isn't confident and arrogant - but 
hey, he doesn't have to have ALL the Gryffindor's qualities as long 
as he has some of them and the other features doesn't overshadow 
them!


Julia