Gryffindor House Dichotomies: Opinionated, Pride, Moral Goodness
Potter fans around the globe take their Hogwarts Houses very seriously. How many times have you met a new friend or reader and the first question out of your mouth was, “What is your House?” Perhaps you’re like me and have arguments with friends about their House or your House or a mutual friend’s House, constantly disagreeing or debating the intricacies of each trait. I have a Hufflepuff friend who believes their secondary House is Gryffindor, but I vehemently believe it is Slytherin (yes, don’t come at me, I know “it is our choices” – just bear with me!) and we are constantly bickering over this. Our continued disagreement got me thinking about the dichotomies between Houses. Are Gryffindor and Slytherin essentially opposite sides of the same coin? Would this hold true for the other Houses?
After speaking to around 100 readers and friends, I have narrowed down each House pairing to what I believe to be the shared prominent trait. We conclude the series with a deeper look into Gryffindor House, the stereotyped good guys. Be sure to check out the other articles in the series for Hufflepuff, Slytherin, and Ravenclaw.
Gryffindor & Slytherin – Pride
Gryffindor and Slytherin appear to be the most natural of pairings but had surprisingly few come up in my research pool. Regardless, this combination is the most talked about and written about, given our protagonist and peer-aged antagonist embody these Houses and traits. The back and forth, push and pull between this pair was also the inspiration for this entire series. I very easily chose pride as the shared trait, and I think it’s quite obvious why.
Gryffindors’ pride emanates from their courage. Because they are often confident and self-assured, they are the first to speak up in awkward situations and most often the leaders of movements or moments. The chivalrous lion is brave, even in the smallest of moments, and a complex thinker (although very rarely a puzzle solver). Gryffindors are, at their core, the loudest and arguably most diverse group of people; it doesn’t take any special skill or talent to be yourself, it simply takes guts.
Slytherins’ pride expresses itself via their superiority (complex or otherwise, you decide). Because they are comfortable with breaking or sidestepping the rules, they are often at the forefront of confrontations or debates, arguing for their beliefs even if they know – internally or subconsciously – they are not in the right. The cunning and malicious snake is not afraid to step on toes and fingers to get where they want to go. Slytherins are proud of who they are, where they came from, and where they are going – often to their own detriment.
Gryffindor & Hufflepuff – Moral Goodness
I would bet that if you are a Gryffindor, a majority of your closest friends claim Hufflepuff as their secondary House. When folks value fair play, honesty, and equality, it is easy to see how these two Houses could get along fairly well. I chose moral goodness as the shared trait, a synonym for all of our respondents’ selections.
Gryffindors’ moral goodness comes from their devotion to justice. Because they value truth and honesty, they often stand tall and strong for everyone, particularly for the disenfranchised or marginalized. The impassioned lion will be at the front of every picket line, chanting and screaming for their beliefs, and they may even be the one who organized the demonstration. Gryffindors are strong believers in doing what they believe is right, rules or no rules.
Hufflepuffs’ moral goodness comes from their inner compass. Because they value fairness and equality above all else, they have a strong sense of what is right, what is wrong, and what is simply easy. The just badger will do everything in their power to ensure every situation and encounter is balanced, using their fierce protective instincts to be sure all involved follow the rules. Hufflepuffs always – always – play by the rules and inspire to carry others along with them rather than leave them behind.
Gryffindor & Ravenclaw – Opinionated
As far as Gryffindor pairings go, this was the least popular. I was surprised by this given that most of the folks I know lean Gryffindor or Ravenclaw, and both are quite popular Houses on the whole. I chose opinionated as the shared trait, and most respondents agreed, although they used other words to express the same concept.
Gryffindors’ opinionated nature comes from their righteousness. Because they are devout believers in standing up for what is right, they can often come across as arrogant. The boastful lion will loudly proclaim that they are correct no matter what, simply because they have the law of the land on their side. Gryffindors are good with the witty comeback and although they love a good debate, they often play with a slightly different set of rules.
Ravenclaws’ opinionated nature comes from their arrogance. Because they are always reading and learning and soaking in information, they can come across as a know-it-all. The haughty eagle is always ready for a debate and can sometimes turn folks off with their strong – but always thought-out – opinions. Ravenclaws are thoughtful and very often stubborn, which can frustrate even their most patient friends and colleagues.
