Characters In Hogwarts Houses

This is something I've been wanting to do for a while now, and I figured I might as well do it as apposed to saying I ought to do it.

Basically, I'm going to play Sorting Hat and weigh and look at characters to see what their most notable and defining traits are, and how they express themselves through their thoughts and behavior, using the Hogwarts houses as a device to to so, mostly because as a storytelling lover I think it makes for a great way to do some character analysis: I'm going to name the character, list the house I think they fit most in, and explain what aspects of their personality I am getting reasoning from.

So you know what I'm working with, I'm giving the House's most prominent traits thusly.

• Gryffindor
  • Bravery/Courageousness
  • Chivalry
• Hufflepuff
  • Hardworkingness / Steadfastness
  • Honor / Judiciousness
  • Goodheartedness / Virtue
• Ravenclaw
  • Intelligence / Studiousness
  • Analytical / Deductive / Tactical Thinking
  • Mindful / Contemplative
  • Good Sense
• Slytherin
  • Cunning
  • Ambition
  • Charisma / Diplomatic Ability

And, so, without further ado, the first set - Disney's Aladdin:

Aladdin (both Disney and Original)

• House: Slytherin
  • Disney first. This was less difficult to place as you would think. Aladdin has a great many traits that drive him: he is very brave, chivalrous and honorable when the chips are down, but his story is mainly spurred by two things - first, he is overwhelmingly ambitious, caused by a massive insecurity about himself: his first and foremost desire is to have more than what he had in life, and even his love of Jasmine can be seen in this way: Jasmine represents something better that has come his way, even before he knows she's a Princess. Note, it's not the average "I want to be rich and powerful" kind of ambition, but a "I want to forge my own grand place in life instead of being stuck in this poor position," and originally he sees Jasmine as a kindred spirit with which they could make their own destiny. After he finds out she's Royalty, he feels she's a symbol of the better life he needs, but he feels in order to get that something better he must have more in the first place. The second major part of his personality is cunning - it's the way his bravery and virtue come through rather than vice versa - he's a brave trickster, rather than a tricky knight - and a theme in the battle is that he doesn't exactly need phenomenal cosmic power to defeat Jafar, the Genie's power is more of a tool that he uses to build his plans on, and in the end the Genie doesn't really need do anything, he had Jafar in the palm of his hand by wits alone. All in all, he's a prime example of a heroic Slytherin.
  • He's even more Slytherin in the original story, where he's pretty much ambition incarnate - he's driven entirely by his desires, which makes him reach Good Is Not Nice often and even Heroic Sociopath levels at times. He finds a genie, and decides he wants to be rich, so he is. He decides he wants the princess, so he bids the genie to torture her and her fiancee every night until she ends up thinking her husband-to-be is cursed and leaves him, leaving "Aladdin the new prince" to come in as the perfect new suitor. Jafar in the Disney film is also a Slytherin, but a textbook cunningly ambitiously deceiver version. The Sorceror in the tale is even more similar to Aladdin - they're both characters who want more, desire power to get more, and when they get that power feel they have the ticket to flaunt, do, and get anything they want. The Sorceror is really a slightly-more-evil mirror of Aladdin, which is what makes the conflict between them so interesting. It turns to a battle of wills and who wants the power more.

Genie

• House: Hufflepuff
  • This one was also easy. Genie is the canonical anti-Jerkass Genie - he cares about his masters, tries to guide them in the right directions, and is generally a force for good, even though he is often forced to work for masters that are anything but (he mentions Aladdin is the first person to even consider setting him free). His greatest ambition is merely the freedom to do what he wishes: to be a person, and not a thing, you might say - a contrast to Aladdin's ambition which equates freedom with a strong presence - but he is far too honorable to use trickery to obtain it. Instead, he uses his powers to bring goodness to the world as much as he can. He's by far the most steadfastly kind character in the film, and you're really rooting for him at the end when he's gushing about finally being free, because he really deserves it. This role never changes throughout the films and series, as he continues to be a sort of guide for Aladdin - using his goofy nature to steer him in the right path.

Jasmine

• Gryffindor (1st Movie), Hufflepuff (Everywhere else, except certain episodes of the show where she might be considered a Ravenclaw instead).
  • Jasmine's personality doesn't exactly radically change as much as be expressed in different ways over the course of the series. In the first movie she's the most difficult to place character - she has the same ambition to forge her own destiny as Aladdin does, and she leaves the palace when her sense of self is threatened, but she's also very honorable: her wishes that people respect matched and perhaps caused by a belief that people should show respect and do what's right (more on that a little later). In addition, she's as cunning as Aladdin, but inexperienced and naive thanks to being raised in a palace. However, it is her bravery and chivalry which are the most prominent - both here and the show, she stands up straight in the face of evil and refuses to back down, so much so that Jafar practically has to force her using magic, and with her rebelliousness against society comes a drive to face the world no matter what comes, she's perfectly willing to become a "street rat" rather than live against her feelings of freedom. However, she's willing to give it all up to save lives (more of those Hufflepuff traits coming through). Again, difficult to place.
  • For the rest of the series, as she, now that she's not being forced to be what the law wants her to be, comes into the role of a Princess, she needs to be less rebellious, and thus, her extremely honorable and diplomatic traits become more major, and her aims most of the time are to do the right thing by the people, with the right thing by herself coming second. When it comes to the main cast, she adopts the role of the fair and sensible one - judicious and seeing the good in people's natures better than most other characters (except Iago, who is nevertheless better as seeing the evil in people's natures), she gives chances but loses a lot of that naivete, leaving someone who is strong willed, diplomatic, and honorable, always doing what she can and willing to do good.

edited 15th Oct '10 2:39:16 PM by KnownUnknown

I find it interesting that Gryffindor and Slytherin are the houses with the least character traits.

Every major character in the Princess And The Frog would be Slytherin.

But Tiana's whole thing was hard-work and honesty. Sure she was ambitious, but her greatest ambition was to be put in a position where she would constantly have to be managing every aspect of her business; the Malfoys are entirely the type to delegate.

^^^ They are also the strongest traits, though. Possibly.

^^ and ^: I'd actually say Princess and The Frog is the best Disney example of protagonists who are very heroic Slytherins. Ray and Louis aren't, though. I might do it eventually, I'm still thinking of what work to do next.

Hmm. Beauty And The Beast. Belle and her dad are Ravenclaw, Le Fou's Hufflepuff, the Beast's Gryffindor, and Gaston seems like a Gryffindor to me too.

The problem I have with the house sorting is that while they all started out kinda gimmicky, their execution turns out to be 'noble, smart, evil, and stupid'

That said:

Buffy Summers: Gryffindor

Willow Rosenburg: Ravenclaw

Rupert Giles: Ravenclaw

Xander Harris: Hufflepuff

Dawn Summers: Hufflepuff

Angel: Gryffindor

Angelus: Slytherin or Ravenclaw

Cordelia Chase:Gryffindor

Faith Le Hane: Gryffindor

Spike: Gryffindor

Drusilla: Ravenclaw

Mayor Richard Wilkins: Hufflepuff

Riley Finn: Hufflepuff

Will do more as I can think of them.

Every character in Gurren Lagann is in Gryffindor.

Rei and Kaworu are in Ravenclaw, Mari is in Gryffindor or Slytherin, Asuka is in Slytherin, and Shinji just sorta wanders around the halls and frowns.

Arthur becomes the first important Hufflepuff.

edited 16th Oct '10 8:09:35 PM by snowbull

Hmm. Beauty And The Beast. Belle and her dad are Ravenclaw, Le Fou's Hufflepuff, the Beast's Gryffindor, and Gaston seems like a Gryffindor to me too.

I'd argue against Gaston being Gryffindor, as he lacks any of Gryffindor's traits. I'd also not be so quick to put the Beast there, either, though I don't know where else he would fit given the canonical house descriptions.

To which I'm going to add "valor/determination," as well.

McLaggen and Romilda Vane were meant to represent the negative aspects of Gryffindor: overly bold, hotheaded, pushy, conceited, and overly confident. Gaston is fairly McLaggen-esque.

And I think of Jasmine as Gryffindor even in the sequels and TV show because she always had this tendency to get really ticked (usually at Aladdin, heh) and then storm off dramatically. I think she's definitely the angriest of the princesses.

Also Ravenclaw house really has an overabundance of hotties but I guess that's not really a requirement since Myrtle was in there too.

I'll do the Glee cast:

Rachel: Slytherin

Finn: Hufflepuff

Kurt: Slytherin

Mercedes: Gryffindor

Artie: Ravenclaw

Puck: Gryffindor

Quinn: Slytherin

Santana: Gryffindor (she's got Slytherin traits too, but I think she's more bold and brassy than she is cunning)

Brittany: Hufflepuff

Will: Gryffindor

Emma: Hufflepuff

Sue: Slytherin

I really don't think we've seen enough of Tina and Mike's personality to place them. I don't want to just put them in Ravenclaw because they're Asian, but there is a severe lack of Ravenclaws on that list... And that new kid Sam seems pretty Hufflepuffy to me.

edited 18th Oct '10 1:04:10 AM by SevenOfDiamonds

I'd argue against Gaston being Gryffindor, as he lacks any of Gryffindor's traits

Not true. Gaston is overconfident and charismatic. Compare this to Hufflepuff:

Is he a hardworking salt-of-earth type?

Ravenclaw:

Is he an intellectual?

He could be Slytherin of course. That's the easy choice. We could put every evil character in Slytherin. But judged by his aspirations, Gaston wants to be a hero, not a ruler or a manipulator. That's the Gryffindor aspiration.

^ Overconfidence can be a side effect of Gryffindor's Bravery, but Charismatic is a Slytherin trait. You also see his Cunning much more than you see any Bravery on his part - take his last action, where he fearfully begs for his life only to then shamelessly take advantage of the Beast's mercy.

After all, no one plots like Gaston, takes cheap shots like Gaston, or plans to persecute harmless crackpots like Gaston.

And judging by his desires, he doesn't seem to want to be a hero as much as he likes being admired as one - due to being vain and selfish - and mostly he wants to dominate a woman just like he's allowed to have everything else he wants. That could be seen as a form of ambition, but that's arguably stretching it.

I've been trying to look for a good example of a villainous Gryffindor, but Gaston isn't it. I considered Frollo, but as it turns out he's ridiculously difficult to place.

edited 18th Oct '10 1:13:04 PM by KnownUnknown

Dilandau from Escaflowne might be a Gryffindor; he's got a bit of Slytherin cunning, sure, but he'd much rather solve his problems with a pointless action sequence. Although he could be a Hufflepuff - he's a perfectionist/hard worker who cares a lot about his underlings/friends.

I do have an idea for a Gryffindor Lawful Evil pureblood supremacist character (I was going to use her in a deconstruction of the exchange-student fic phenomenon), but she was built to order.

As for the other cast members of Escaflowne...

Hitomi: Hmmm... she's hard-working, but she's not great at the interpersonal relationship thing, so I don't think she's Hufflepuff material. She's smart, but I don't think her brains are her most prominent asset - and she's too hesitant to be a Gryffindor, I think; very much not about heroics for heroics' sake. You know, I wonder if she wouldn't be a Slytherin? Kind of a bizarre choice, but the only other one I can think of is Hufflepuff, and it doesn't... quite work with her. Ah well. Slytherin or Hufflepuff. It really depends if she ends up finding out about the house's reputation for bigotry before or after the Sorting.

Van: Gryffindor

Allen: Gryffindor or Hufflepuff. Possibly Slytherin? It's been a while since I saw the series.

Merle: Not a clue. Her personality's pretty flat. Maybe Gryffindor?

Millerna: Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff

Folken: Ravenclaw

Dryden: Ravenclaw

Dornkirk: Slytherin. Which is kind of weird, 'cause I always think of the spoilerrific guy he's supposed to be as a Hufflepuff.

Yes, I said it; I don't think of Sir Isaac Newton as a Ravenclaw.

edited 18th Oct '10 2:24:53 PM by FurikoMaru

^ Yeah, the only ideas I can get for evil Gryffindors are Knight Templar, Spirited Competitors (for example, Younger Toguro from Yu Yu Hakusho is probably a Gryffindor), and other such evil characters who are nonetheless tireless and brave in their evil actions. A lot of them are minions, because people don't usually use that characterization for Big Bads - often Big Bads might be fearless, but they don't go out and bravely do their own work, relying on their tactics and minions - and plus they tend to be shown as cowardly in the clutch to Foil the hero.

As far as Knight Templar Gryffindors are concerned, we arguably have some already in canon. Sirius was, let's be honest, an asshole who tried to commit murder in his teens and definitely had a violent and vengeful streak. Then there's Dumbledore, who was ruthlessly manipulative.

Anyway, I'll do some science fiction characters (Star Trek, Star Wars, and X-files).

Anakin/Vader: an evil Gryfindor if ever there was one.

Palpatine: Slytherine, without question.

Spock: Ravenclaw.

Kirk: Gryfindor or possibly Slytherine. Kirk is brave (Gryfindor trait). He's also devious and ambitious (Slytherine traits). Favors Gryfindor however.

Fox Muldur and Dana Scully: Ravenclaws.

Cigarette Smoking Man: Slytherine.

Malkavian, hope you don't mind if I add a few Buffy/Angel characters to that.

Tara Maclay - Hufflepuff. As probably the most good-hearted character in the series, this makes sense to me.

Lindsey Mc Donald - Slytherin and later on, possibly Ravenclaw. While far more ruthless than Draco, he nevertheless faces the same wall of conscience that Draco and Regulis ran into. He is one of my favorite characters because he is so much more...complex than the other cast members. Did he ever truly reform? We will never know thanks to Angel(Hypocritical jackass that he is)

So, moving on. I'll do some video game characters. How about Final Fantasy IX.

Zidane = Hufflepuff.

Kuja - Slytherin. All about ambition for him even though he has sympathetic reasons.

Steiner - Gryffindor. Naturally, being a very devoted knight.

edited 18th Oct '10 6:15:21 PM by Nikkolas

Since I was once going to write a fanfic where these characters go to Hogwarts, I might as well do the cast of Naruto.

• Naruto: Gryffindor
• Sasuke: Slytherin
• Sakura: Ravenclaw
• Hinata: Gryffindor (she has many Hufflepuff traits as well, but I think her most notable trait is her showing courageous despite being a Shrinking Violet.)
• Kiba: Gryffindor
• Shino: Ravenclaw
• Shikamaru: Ravenclaw
• Choji: Hufflepuff
• Ino: Probably a Hufflepuff (though in my fic, I was going to sort her in Slytherin as a joke.)
• Rock Lee: Either Gryffindor or Hufflepuff (He embodies both PERFECTLY!)
• Neji: Ravenclaw
• Ten Ten: Hufflepuff by virtue of not being important.

Charismatic is a Slytherin trait.

Not based on the Slytherins I saw.

Slytherin really has all sorts.

Crabbe and Goyle had zero cunning, ambition or charisma.

Really, we should look to Dumbledore for what defines Slytherin. There are two types: the thuggish, looking for a person to show them a greater type of cruelty. And the the cowardly looking for protection.

Yes he used these to describe Voldemort's followers but 99% of Slytherin House are Voldemort followers.

At least 99% of the ones we know about. Presumably there are a lot more.

Malfoy was certainly ambitious. Snape was cunning. Voldemort was both, unfortunately for the rest of the world.

edited 20th Oct '10 10:59:54 PM by Lancer

Voldy was also quite charismatic.

Really, the best picture of a complete Slytherin who isn't a monster is Slughorn. He has connections all over the place, is an expert wizard and while not the most ambitious fellow, he nevertheless seeks out the powerful.

edited 20th Oct '10 11:11:42 PM by Nikkolas

Voldemort wasn't charismatic. He didn't have to be - he could always solve any problem he wanted by intimidation or force. Tom Marvolo Riddle was charismatic because it was a useful thing to be as a young halfblood in a blood-purity obsessed house.

People always talk about how manipulative and charismatic Voldie is in the books, even as late as the last one.

^^ Kinda nitpicking there. I meant Riddle when I said Voldemort because they are the same character.

The only difference is that in his youth Voldemort couldn't command everything and instead had to manipulate people.

Here's something though for you Sherlockians. My girlfriend is a huge Sherlock fan and insisted I watch the modern adaptation. I liked it but what I saw of the Granada adaptation (the one with Jeremy Brett) intrigued me much more.

So I've watched about the first fifteen or so episodes and have kinda compared and contrasted the Sherlocks. Namely I was trying to decide which Character Alignments they fit into. I couldn't find Holmes listed as anything anywhere on the site.

Brett's Sherlock, which differs from source material somewhat but is overall the same, would seem to be Neutral Good. He is a bit tactless but he does what he can to help people. This is through lawful means sometimes or he'll decide for himself what is best for people.

Modern Sherlock is more a True Neutral. He'll do whatever he feels like when he feels like it and this includes working with or against the law. However he only helps people because the mysteries intrigue him.

So how this relates to the topic at hand... I think the original Sherlock would be a Ravenclaw; a true intellectual.

Modern Sherlock would be a Slytherin on the other hand.

Any real Sherlock fans are welcome to say I'm wrong. As I say, I'm very new to all this and am primarily going off adaptation rather than source material.

edited 21st Oct '10 12:29:35 AM by Nikkolas