CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Chamber of Secrets Chapter 17: The Heir of Slytherin

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 189276


> Pippin:
> I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Sorting Hat's song in GoF, "And power-hungry Slytherin/ Loved those of great ambition."
> Hunger, IOW, is part of what the Hat looks for in a Slytherin. 
> 
> Canon never says anything directly about *why* the Slytherins crave power, but I have a theory about it. One thing many Slytherins seems to share is an attitude of resignation. It's amazing how some of their more memorable speeches  reflect this. 
> 
> Bella: Throw us into Azkaban; we will wait!
> Draco: I've got no choice.
> Regulus: I know I will be dead long before you read this
> Snape: I wish *I* were dead 
> 
> Slytherin himself resigned literally by leaving Hogwarts.  Voldemort is  certain that he can do nothing unless one of his servants returns to him. Lucius, and then Narcissa, resign their wands. 
> 
> A Slytherin, IOW, is someone who wants to make a difference, but feels he lacks the power to do so. And that sheds some light on the idea that all you have to do to avoid being placed in Slytherin is to ask the Hat to put you somewhere else. A person who believes he can make a difference is not resigned.
> 



Potioncat:
I didn't cut any of this portion of Pippin's post because I think it belongs in the fantastic post file.

I think you've defined an very real aspect of the Slytherin personality. It explains why Riddle would put so much stock in the prophecy and why Slytherins value their blood status--it's part of their fate.

The idea particulalry rings true because there is a similar cultural trait identified for the Appalachian region called Appalachian Fatalism.