What the Sorting Hat really asks
I’ve seen quite a few Harry Potter “What’s your Hogwarts house?” questionnaires. Take them if they entertain you, but the whole thing can be distilled to one question:
You are asked to perform a laborious task.
What is the first reaction that comes to your mind?
- Sure, no problem! It’s just work.
You are a Hufflepuff. - Where’s the fun in that?
You are a Gryffindor. - That’s beneath me. What’s in it for me?
You are a Slytherin. - I’ll bet I can automate this.
You are a Ravenclaw.
Scott / August 12, 2010 / 9:44 am / Commalink
I would have had Slytherin as “What’s in it for me?”
St. Chris / August 12, 2010 / 11:22 am / Commalink
True. Slytherin was originally “This is beneath me. Give it to someone who does that sort of thing.” The second sentence is implied by the first; I’ve changed it to “What’s in it for me?”
This made me think about the Weasley twins. They’re always looking for a personal benefit—so should they be in Slytherin? I think their intent is different (although we all have many facets, and they certainly aren’t paragons of altruism).
I originally had Gryffindor as “Aw, that’s not fun!” and thought to add “How can I make this entertaining?” (Fred and George’s true motivation). “Where’s the fun in that?” subsumes them both.