Hogwarts Houses

So, I've been thinking a lot lately about the different houses in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. I realized a while back that she had ended up creating her own stereotypes when she made these houses, but I only recently realized how much more there is to each house.

I noticed how stereotyped the houses had become when I found HP fans who couldn't get past the fact that "all Slytherins are evil" (granted, this came from a Gryffindor, and we all know how those houses get along...), and when the first thought I had whenever someone said that they were a Hufflepuff was "What the heck is a Hufflepuff" (thank you, A Very Potter Musicals). I mean, I knew that there was nothing wrong with being a Hufflepuff and that not all Slytherins were evil, but so what? These ideas have become so ingrained in everyone's heads that it's hard to change their minds.

I am currently in an honors class that is focused solely on the Harry Potter series. We had a discussion one day about the houses. Our professor argued that, as honors students, it's almost guaranteed that we are, in reality, all Gryffindors or Slytherins. The Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws among us did not agree (I was one of them). His claim was that the Gryffindors and Slytherins are the ones who step up, who walk off the beaten path to do the extraordinary, and that that is what we were doing just by being in the honors program. I don't think this is truly the case.

When you think of the four houses, what traits do you associate with them?

Gryffindors: brave, courageous, outgoing, strong, protectors, etc... all that knightly, chivalrous stuff.
Slytherins: evil, ambitious, cunning, sly...pretty much anything with darker connotations.
Ravenclaws: smart, intelligent, wise...and any other synonym you can think of. Maybe also a little eccentric.
Hufflepuffs: loyal, kind, friendly, trustworthy, good finders...or possibly you really didn't know the characteristics of Hufflepuffs ("What the heck is a Hufflepuff?").

What's wrong here? These are all very shallow definitions. You must either be brave, ambitious (or evil...), smart, or, if you're none of those things, you're a Hufflepuff (a.k.a., the leftovers). With these definitions, I feel like there should be a lot more Hufflepuffs, but there aren't. Pottermore.com has the houses within about 100,000 members of each other (they're roughly equal, or at least close enough). These descriptions are too one-dimensional. Not all Slytherins are evil. Hufflepuffs are not just the leftovers. You don't necessarily have to be smart to be a Ravenclaw. And Gryffindors aren't just mindless muscle.

I recently took on the feat of convincing my sister that there was no reason for her to be ashamed of being a Hufflepuff. To do so, I had to dredge up every good fact I could find. The problem is, not many people are out there extolling the greatness of Hufflepuffs. You know why not? Because the true Hufflepuffs aren't that worried about what others think of them and the other houses only know what they're told about Hufflepuffs, which is not much. After a lot of work, I think I finally convinced her. Then she had to ask me, if Hufflepuff is so good, what do the other houses have to brag about? So, more deep thought. I think I finally found the definitions that suit my way of thinking. These aren't necessarily 100% correct, and I may have to tweak or completely rethink them later on, but for now these are my accepted descriptions for each house.

Gryffindor: They are focused on their reputations, but they also care about others. They have a need to prove themselves, which usually results in them trying to prove their bravery by showing off or by doing some great deed to help another. They are drawn to attention. They will go out of their way to do good things and help others because it will boost their own standing. It is not all selfishness; they do care about the well-being of others. The main point is that, if they can use their good deeds to gain some fame, they will, but even if they can't, they'll still do the good deed and help out a friend in need or stand up for what's right. They are, in essence, the knights. They are out in the world being chivalrous and making a name for themselves.

Ravenclaw: They are focused on learning. They are a very curious bunch and want to learn whatever they can. They are open-minded, always questioning and trying to understand, looking at all the possibilities. They can be a little eccentric and don't care much about what others think of them because they are more focused on the knowledge they are gaining than on the people around them. They don't have to be the smartest bunch, but they do have to have a drive to learn, a curiosity that keeps them seeking for new knowledge and understanding. They are the scholars, in their on-going search for knowledge and the truth. They just like to keep themselves busy by thinking and using their brains. Sometimes, the knowledge they gain may seem pointless, but sometimes it can lead to great discoveries and achievements.

Slytherin: They are the most ambitious ones. They have a goal, a dream, and they will make it happen. They strive to achieve anything they set their mind to, sometimes to the detriment of others. They don't let anything stand in their way. Their goals don't need to be all about having power or control; they aren't all out there to rule the world. When they make up their minds to do something, they will do everything in their power to see that it gets done. Some of those dreams will be about becoming great, gaining fortune, obtaining power; but some will be smaller, such as pursuing the one they love, or reaching a personal goal (running time or such). They are the people who will get whatever they want out of life because they will continue to strive for it until they make it a reality.

Hufflepuffs: The only house that is truly not focused on themselves. They are focused on helping others. Their happiness comes from making someone else happy. They are the most loyal and trustworthy because they truly care about their friends and don't want to use them for their own personal gain. Their goal is to please everyone, sometimes to the point that they ignore their own desires. They have a need to please other people. They will go out of their way to help a friend because they know that it's the right thing to do. They won't ask for recognition because just knowing that they have helped someone is enough for them. They are the charity volunteers; they just want to make the world a better place and will give up their time and effort to do so because they truly care about the well-being of others and still have extreme optimistic hope in humanity.

So, where do your priorities lie? Are you living for your reputation, your dreams, your curiosity, or your friends? There will be overlap; no one is completely one thing or another, but what is the drive behind the biggest decisions you have made about your life, your friends, your career, etc.?

If you generally put others before yourself, you are a Hufflepuff, selfless and truly to be admired. People like being around you because they know where they stand and that you really care about them. You can't stand to see anyone sad and will do everything in your power to help them.

If you like to explore/question/understand/think about things, you are a Ravenclaw. You like knowing things and want to know more. This may be just the curiosity of learning a single fact to wanting to know the truths of the universe, but whatever it is, you want to learn it. You're admired for your open-minded attitude and that you can just be you without worrying about what others think.

If you live to make yourself known, you are a Gryffindor. You like to stand out from the crowd. You stand up for what you believe in and make sure that your opinions are known. You make a stand when others might not. You aren't afraid of drawing attention. Bad attention is better than no attention at all. Everyone will know your name.

If you actively chase your dreams, you are a Slytherin. You don't let anything stop you from accomplishing your goals. You won't back down from a challenge if overcoming it will get you closer to your destination, but you will avoid anything that might hinder your journey. You will make your dreams a reality or die trying (just an expression, dying would prevent you from reaching your goals), but either way, you'll never be disappointed with your life because you will know that you did your best.

Well, I hope you can now see the benefits, and even some of the downfalls, to every house, and maybe even have a better understanding of which one you belong to. No house is perfect or even better than the others. Hufflepuffs are selfless but get no recognition, Ravenclaws are constantly learning but lose touch with reality, Gryffindors are famous but conceited, and Slytherins achieve their goals but destroy others in the process. Those are exaggerations, but you get the point. Never again do I want to hear "All Slytherins are evil" or "What the heck is a Hufflepuff?". Every person in every house has great things going for them.

And to my professor: just because we are honors students and stepping out above the crowd, doesn't mean that we have to be ambitious or daring. We could just be caring or curious. You don't know the reasons behind our individual choices to join. It may be the best way for someone to learn how to make the world a better place, or for someone to obtain the knowledge they seek, or it could be because it sets them apart from the crowd, or because it's just another step on the path to achieving their dream. Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs can be honors students just as much as Gryffindors and Slytherins. You're teaching us to look critically at the Harry Potter books. Well, I have, and I've seen how these stereotypes have grown beyond the pages of the books, and we are so much more than those original descriptions the sorting hat gave in 1997. Don't try to box us in or tell us who we are. We know who we are, and that is all that matters. The honors program represents all four houses, and you'll just have to accept that fact. I am a Ravenclaw, through and through, and being an honors student doesn't change that.

Sorry that it was a little long-winded and I got a little sassy there at the end, but I had to get that out there. I know it got a little repetitive, but I just had to make sure I said everything I had to say, so thanks for hearing me out.