BEDA 5-Actually-6: On Sorting

So I missed yesterday because it was very busy and I had my first session of physical therapy, which was exhausting -- and I only slept about four hours the night before on top of that.

So today's post is something I just wrote about the Sorting process at Hogwarts in Harry Potter. As I mentioned before, Pottermore is opening in a few months -- a website created by J.K. Rowling to continue the Harry Potter experience now that the books and films have wrapped up. Within this (I hesitate to call it a game because as of right now, we aren't exactly sure if it that's what it is or not), each of us will be sorted into one of the Hogwarts houses -- Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin. This worries some people who have had to determine for themselves which house they are after inconclusive online quizzes that vary in accuracy; since this sorting test was created by Jo Rowling herself, this is considered THE sorting, as if we were sorted by the Sorting Hat itself. So without further ado, here is my essay-like theory on what the process of sorting is actually like:

I feel as though a lot of people get very wrapped up into being sorted based on who you are, your personality, etc. While that definitely plays a factor, there are various examples to contradict this — the most obvious being how Peter Pettrigrew could be considered a Gryffindor when I think we could all agree he was one of the most cowardly characters in the series. I think the answer to such curiosities as this is that you aren’t solely sorted into your House based on who you are and what personality traits you have, but more so based on the traits that you value, the traits that you admire and that you aspire to have.

Continuing with the Pettigrew example, I do believe that he valued bravery and courage in some way — I think this is likely why he befriended the other Marauders; they were likely the kind of people he wanted most to be like. That’s, in fact, my only explanation as to how he could end up in Gryffindor, since bravery was definitely not something he often exhibited himself.

It also may explain why Hermione was sorted into Gryffindor despite having what many of us would probably consider “Ravenclaw” tendencies. It is clear that she personally values knowledge, because she constantly sought it — but did she surround herself with others like her, who enjoyed homework and always had a book on-hand? I think the people with whom one chooses to befriend and spend time with shows more than anything what they value, perhaps not in themselves, but in other people.

After all, I think sorting is very much about — as opposed to defining what kind of person you are — placing you with the type of people you want to be around. In that case, you may not exemplify any of the traits of your house on the surface, but you wish to be around the kind of people who do. This is probably why Neville was sorted into Gryffindor — he’s not inherently brave (at first!), but he clearly values courage and nerve and has a strong desire to prove himself in those aspects (and as we all know, he definitely does).

And of course, people are far too complex of beings to be slapped with black-and-white labels — so many characters take on traits from all of the houses, there may only be a slight leaning toward one above the others, and that’s fine. I feel as though people are sometimes too eager to be easily sorted and classified, so they can present a clear badge to others defining precisely what they are. But we’re all so much more than just brave, just intelligent, just hard-working, just ambitious. Just as the world isn’t split into good people and Death Eaters, none of us are 100% Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, or Slytherin. We may lean toward one because we share the traits that house was established on or because we value the same traits that were valued by the founder of that house, even if our courage or ambition or what have you isn’t quite as obvious as you might expect from a member of our house.

In short, it seems the occasional belief that your Hogwarts house is going to tell you exactly what kind of person you are. But what really is a Ravenclaw, a Gryffindor, a Slytherin, a Hufflepuff? It’s a house wherein the people vary just as much as they do in Hogwarts itself. It isn’t something to worry over much, I don’t think — after all, Harry made it into Gryffindor despite having a chunk of the heir of Slytherin’s soul in him. Because that was the house he wanted to be in. And it is likely that if you feel you should be in one house over the others, that’s likely where you’ll end up.