Sorting and House System

[sneeboy2]

No: HPFGUIDX 173039

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "fitzchivalryhk"
<fitzchivalryhk at ...> wrote:

> For those who share the point of view that the Sorting and House
> System of Hogwarts is not beneficial for the wizarding society and its
> children, what do you think can be done to change it?
> Abolishing the House system all together?
> Eliminate the Slytherin House?
> Abolish Sorting by the Sorting Hat and put the students randomly into
> each house?
> Change the ideological implication that permeates the house system?
> Put a pro-equality teacher as the Head of Slytherin to change the
> pro-pure-blood atmosphere of the House?
> Other suggestions? :)


Sneeboy2 replies:

I couldn't agree more. One of my predictions for DH was that the
Sorting Hat would be destroyed, thus eliminating the basis for
house-based stereotypes. (Though, as someone pointed out, there would
still be separate residence halls and sports teams, the rivalries they
engendered could be friendlier.) I was disappointed that JKR offered
instead the mild "exception to the rule" of Snape and -- even more
mildly -- Draco.

There was the "sort too soon" comment, and others books hinted that
there was some choice or family tradition involved in the sorting. But
the stereotypes held true in the end. Having the Syltherins, as a
group, live up to their reputations seemed to confirm that you can
safely judge people by what group they belong to.

Snape's backstory shows that the sorting system played a key role in
ending his friendship with Lily, and thus his becoming a DE; if this
is JKR's subtle condemnation of the system, I think it's too subtle
for most readers, especially the younger ones.