Salazar, Slytherins and Bigotry

[lizzyben04]

No: HPFGUIDX 179971


> bboyminn:
> 
> I've spoken in detail on this very subject many times though
> by Group standards that was long ago. So, here is my version
> of Founder Speculation.
> 
> Keep in mind as we begin that even today there are fanatics
> who are using ancient icons as a justification for their own
> personal cruelty; example; the Christian Crusades, and the
> ancient and modern Islamic fanatics. That's what I think
> modern people are doing with Slytherin. They are taking one
> small fragment of what he said and twisting it to their own
> ends. 
> 
> According to to ghostly Professor Binns, Slytherin didn't 
> TRUST muggleborns, and by extension, muggles. No indication
> that he hated them all and wanted them all dead. 
<snip>
> So, the danger was great and very real. Consequently Salazar
> have very real reasons to worry about muggles.
<snip>
> So, Slytherin, and rightly so, didn't trust muggles and by
> extension, didn't trust muggleborns, and given what was at
> stake, it is not unthinkable that he held these opinions
> VERY strongly. Even strongly enough to fight with his dear
> friend Gryffindor. It was a matter of life and death to
> the wizard world. 

> Now, I'm not saying the man didn't have a ego, and I fancy
> that he build the Chamber of Secret as a tribute to that
> ego. He intended to have his own little 'Slug Club' meeting
> in secret in the Chamber where he could profess his personal
> ideals that weren't part of the general curriculum. But
> that doesn't mean he was a full blown racist.
> 
> When he left the castle, he knew the school still needed to
> be protected, so he left the Basilisk behind, not to attack
> muggleborn witches and wizards, but to attack marauding
> muggles if some family of a muggleborn should even betray
> the school. 
> 
> So, there is my version of what happened, and I think my
> version is consistent with the limited history we have. 
> We have not historical evidence that Slytherin was 
> fanatically anit-muggle or racits. He had a well justified
> fear and mistrust of muggle and by extension muggleborns.
> But we see no indication that he wished them ill-will as
> long as they to wished the wizard world no ill-will. Yes,
> we do hear a lot of modern talk about Slytherin believing
> this or that, but that is the opinion of self-serving
> individuals not a historical account.


lizzyben: 

I think that all these theories about the Founder's backstory are 
really interesting, but perhaps more interesting than JKR intended. 
In the two months before DH was released, she posted Godric 
Gryffindor & Salazar Slytherin as the "Wizards of the Month". Godric 
Gryffindor was described as an "enlightened fighter against Muggle-
discrimination," and Slytherin was described as a "notorious champion 
of pure-blood supremacy." There's nothing there about Slytherin being 
afraid of Muggle-borns, or not trusting them; no hints of an unknown 
complex backstory. He's a *notorious* champion of pure-blood 
supremecy - IOW, a fanatical bigot. I had a sinking feeling at that 
point that the plot of DH would be some rendition of "Noble 
Gryffindors save the Muggle-borns!" 


lizzyben