Warner BrosJust when you thought you had all your Harry Potter theories figured out, this guy throws in a whole new idea behind the sorting hat.
A Reddit user explained how the Sorting Hat sorts students based on what traits they value, not the ones they possess.
Straw_Boats wrote:
I’d argue is sorts a child based on their values. Specifically, a child who believes Bravery and Courage are the most important traits would go to Gryffindor, where as a child who values Intellectualism and Love of Learning above all else would go to Ravenclaw. The key difference is that a child need not possess that trait, but merely value it.
To be fair, there are many parts of the films that point to this conclusion.
For example when Harry confesses to Dumbledore that the Sorting Hat only put him in Gryffindor because he asked it to, and the mighty wizard responds:
It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.
There are plenty of other Hogwarts students who don’t live up to the attributes of their assigned house when they are first sorted, but they slowly become that way because it is what they value.
Neville Longbottom was far from brave when his 11-year-old self bumbled into the Hogwarts dining room, but oh my did he blossom.
Just a reminder that Gryffindor are brave, Slytherin are cunning, Hufflepuff are humble and friendly, and Ravenclaw are intelligent.
It seems a bit unfair to judge a person’s entire personality based on their 11-year-old selves.
