Gryffindors are largely defined by their courage, but they are also impulsive, passionate, and transparent. We see in canon many instances of our Gryffindor examples acting with very little thought to consequences, driven mostly by their emotions and their (usually clouded) perception of the situation. Gryffindors are typically choleric and tend to wear their hearts on their sleeves rather than attempting to guard their emotions. They value honesty and honor above most other virtues, though this is sometimes to their detriment, particularly in matters of business and politics. Their courage and devotion to honor often leads to arrogance, and Gryffindors often find themselves having bitten off more than they can chew. Gryffindors prefer direct questions and clear answers, and can therefore appear impolite. They have no interest in playing games of mind or politics, and often find themselves in a disadvantage in an argument against a Ravenclaw or a Slytherin, trapped in a labyrinth of logical argumentation. The most emotional of the four houses, Gryffindors are heart-driven, which results in moments of fierce devotion and passion as well as occasional disloyalty. This makes them often inconsistent in motivation. Their tendency to avoid consideration of consequences and allow themselves to be driven by passion makes Gryffindors the most likely of the four houses to be romantically disloyal and cheating, although their devotion to honesty makes it difficult for them to be underhanded or sneaky. A Gryffindor’s fighting style relies on brute strength and technique, rather than strategy. A Gryffindor places no value in stealth, and one accurate portrayal of a Gryffindor warrior would involve a man wearing bells in his braided hair, under the philosophy that a Gryffindor would have no need or desire to sneak up to an enemy. Gryffindor house finds its enemy in Slytherin, and its greatest ally in Hufflepuff.
Famous Gryffindors include Beowulf, John F. Kennedy, Jake Sulley (Avatar), Peter Pan, Jack Shepherd (LOST)
Ravenclaw is the most cerebral of the four houses. Unlike the passion/emotional-driven Gryffindors, Ravenclaws find their motivation in logic and academic argumentation. This is not to say that they do not value honor, honesty, friendship, love, ambition, or any other quality in which the other houses excel, but that the reason for any Ravenclaw’s devotion is a foundation in sound argumentation. Ravenclaws value art, beauty, etc. on the grounds that there exists a logical explanation for the intrinsic goodness and necessity of these right-brained things. A Ravenclaw finds it difficult to take things at face value or as a matter of blind faith – they must be able to explain intellectually the reason for any system of beliefs. Ravenclaws are not as stubborn and unyielding as the proud Gryffindor, but will not change their minds unless they are convinced through sound argument. In the political arena, Ravenclaws excel through an excellent grasp of labyrinthine laws, able to use political subtleties and vaugaries to succeed in achieving their goals, as well as the ability to make absolutely convincing airtight arguments. Ravenclaws look down upon the Gryffindor motivation by passion and Hufflepuff motivation by morality and loyalty, as they interpret them as occasionally blinding to the objective truth, which is the compass by which they live. Their academic nature makes them generally detached and can make them appear cold and unfeeling. Ravenclaws are excellent analysts and very thorough in their approach. This makes them excellent strategists.
Ravenclaws’ devotion to logic and need for convincing explanation can make them appear cold and unfeeling, as they are seldom convinced by emotional appeals. Ravenclaws generally value intense mental stimulation over emotional passion, and are unlikely to take a mate outside of Ravenclaw. Ravenclaw house finds its enemy in Hufflepuff, and its greatest ally in Slytherin.
Famous Ravenclaws:
The House of Huffelpuff is typically defined by the characteristic of loyalty. Huffelpuffs are typically trusting in nature, unlike the suspicious Slytherin, and are more likely to follow the inclinations of their hearts than the cerebral Ravenclaws. Hufflepuffs are likable and fun, and make friends easily. These friendships are a matter of highest importance to a Hufflepuff, who would give their very lives with little thought for the welfare of a friend. The Huffelpuff loyalty extends to ideals as well as personal relationships, and Huffelpuffs are the most stubborn of all the houses; once their faith is placed in something, it is unshakeable. Hufflepuffs make the most dependable allies, as they are extremely unlikely to waver once their loyalty has been pledged. For this reason, however, and because they place such a high value on relationships, Hufflepuffs are slow to trust and open up, especially to members of other houses. They expect the same loyalty in return. A Hufflepuff is the least likely to cheat on a spouse, and almost always mates for life.
A Hufflepuff typically has low self-esteem, as their greatest strength is intangible rather than measurable; while Gryffindors excel in battle, Ravenclaws excel in academics, and Slytherins excel in politics, Hufflepuffs seldom receive awards for unflinching friendship, and their loyalty goes largely unnoticed. They are frequently self-sacrificing, and are willing almost thoughtlessly to put others best interest before their own, often at their own expense. The almost blind loyalty of a Hufflepuff is often a weakness as well as a strength, as it can result in a Hufflepuff being used.
Huffelpuffs are dedicated to hard work, whether in their relationships, or in their professions, and are likely to succeed from the sweat of their brows. Hufflepuffs can be classified as over-achievers, as they dedicate themselves tirelessly to whatever goal they desire. More than any other house, a Huffelpuff is likely to throw themselves behind a political agenda. Hufflepuff House finds its ally in Gryffindor, and its greatest enemy in Ravenclaw.
Famous Hufflepuffs: Ren Stevens (Even Stevens), Jesus, Ruth/Naomi, Samwise Gamgee (Lord of the Rings), Westley (The Princess Bride), Cordelia (King Lear)
Slytherin is associated with several negative connotations, but like the other three houses, Slytherins have both strong and weak characteristics. It is not true that you can’t trust a Slytherin – you can almost always trust a Slytherin – to do what’s best for himself. They are able to work in a team toward a common goal, as long as that goal is to their benefit as well. A Slytherin’s actions are seldom single-minded, and often have several motivations. Their strength is in their wit, and they are able to succeed by outwitting others. Slytherins consider every possibility and determine the best course of action based on all the options; this makes a Slythering an excellent strategist, like the Ravenclaw. Slytherins are also willing to get their hands dirty, doing the unpleasant work that no one else wants to do in order to achieve their goals. (In a somewhat silly example, in a zombie apocalypse, a Slytherin would be able to kill a friend turned into a zombie more readily than the other houses). Unlike the self-sacrificing Hufflepuff, a Slytherin is almost always motivated by personal gain. This extends to their political affiliations and friendships, as they will do most anything for the furthering of those.
Slytherins are thorough and meticulous, and despise laziness and cutting corners. Nothing is of greater importance to a Slytherin than achieving goals, and they will not bow to morality or ethics if it inhibits that ability. In personal relationships, a Slytherin’s loyalty is strong, but different from the Hufflepuff’s. Slytherins are dedicated to a friend’s best interest rather than the relationship itself. Unlike a Hufflepuff, a Slytherin is willing to make personal sacrifices if it is for the best; ie., a Slytherin will betray a friend’s trust if it is in that friend’s best interest to do so. Their problem solving method involves asking numerous questions, lulling the other party into a sense of security, and piecing together the answer one bit at a time, unlike the direct Gryffindor.
Unlike the brash Gryffindor, who will attempt to get his way through brute strength, Slytherins are deeply analytical and achieve their goals primarily through analysis and manipulation. They excel in the political arena because of their determination to succeed despite the costs. Slytherin finds its enemy in Gryffindor, and its greatest ally in Ravenclaw.
Famous Slytherins: Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird), Machiavelli, Josiah Bartlet (The West Wing), James “Sawyer” Ford (LOST),