Snape as infidel/House characteristics

[steven1965aaa]

No: HPFGUIDX 150577

Lupinlore wrote:
 
> The various House characteristics have always struck me as more 
symbolic than actual.  As many have pointed out, Hermione has 
Ravenclaw traits, Harry Slytherin ones, Neville Hufflepuff 
qualities, etc.  Even the symbolism seems to shift over time, as 
Slytherin goes from the house of ambition to the house of pure blood 
and Hufflepuff from the house of hard work to the catch all.
The exception to this is, to an extent, Slytherin.  I think this is 
in part due to honest reservations JKR herself has with regard to 
Slytherin's symbolic house traits -- whether pure blood or ambition. 
Even in her most positive statement about the dream of house unity 
she talks of Slytherin as embodying "maybe not the most noble 
traits."  Scarcely a ringing defense.  And let's face it, she hasn't 
shown us any Slytherins who aren't from the wrong side of the moral 
tracks, be it the unctious and manipulative new potions master, the 
abusive and unforgiveable old potions master, or the various bullies 
and losers who dance attendance on Draco (including Theodore Nott 
and Blaise Zabini, upon whom much hope rested).  True, we've seen 
McClaggen and Pettigrew in Gryffindor and Marietta in Ravenclaw -- 
now we need to see a truly good character in Slytherin (and I don't 
mean a DDM!Snape, who doesn't qualify as good in any case).

[Much snipped]

Steven1965aaa writes:

One interesting thing about Harry in this respect is that he has 
characteristice of each of the houses.  This is made clear from the 
statements of the Sorting Hat in SS right from the outset (not a bad 
mind - Ravenclaw; you'd do well in Slytherin; if your sure, then its 
Gyyffindor) (not exact quotes I'm paraphrasing).