Hey everyone,
Welcome to another installment of Harry Potter Theory. In this video, we’re going to be
discussing one of the staples of Hogwarts- the sorting hat.
The sorting hat at Hogwarts is first introduced to students at the sorting ceremony- a riteof
passage where students are assigned to the house that will be their family for the duration
of their time spent at the school.
The role of the sorting hat is simple: Assign hogwarts students to their houses. There are
four houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin, and each of these 4 houses
value different qualities in people.
The hat is a sentient being that originally belonged to Godric Gryffindor. Before being
sentient however, it was just a regular hat- then it was enchanted by Godric and the other
3 founders of Hogwarts: Rowena Ravenclaw, Helga Hufflepuff & Salazar Slytherin.
To perform it’s task of sorting students, the hat uses legilimency, which is the art
of magically navigating through a person’s mind. Someone who is proficient at practicing
legilimency is referred to as a legilimens. The hat will navigate the layers of the wearers
mind, and, after careful consideration, announces it’s decision loudly so that all can hear.
After founding the school, the four founders encountered a bit of a dilemma when it occurred
to them that they would have to figure out a way to sort students by house when they
were no longer alive. However, this dilemma was short lived as Godric Gryffindor quickly
provided a solution to their problem with his hat.
The founders of Hogwarts recognized that they each valued very different virtues, virtues
which ended up leading to the defining attributes of each house. It was important to them that
the houses they founded would continue to follow by the beliefs from which they were
based. These virtues or inherent characteristics can be summed up in the Sorting Hat’s own
words:
“By Gryffindor, the bravest were Prized far beyond the rest;
For Ravenclaw, the cleverest Would always be the best;
For Hufflepuff, hard workers were Most worthy of admission;
And power-hungry Slytherin Loved those of great ambition.
“
It has been speculated that the hat has a tendency to place students in houses based
on the qualities they value, and not necessarily the qualities that they actively personify.
Additionally, the hat can detect nascent qualities in a student, and generally places them in
the House that will challenge them the most, putting their character to the test.
But one thing that I’ve often asked myself is- is it possible to BEAT the sorting hat?
Since it uses legilimency, are you able to influence the decision that the sorting hat
ultimately makes? Or is it left entirely up to the hat? Pottermore gives us a little more
info on this:
The Sorting Hat is notorious for refusing to admit it has made a mistake in its sorting
of a student. On those occasions when Slytherins behave altruistically or selflessly, when
Ravenclaws flunk all their exams, when Hufflepuffs prove lazy yet academically gifted and when
Gryffindors exhibit cowardice, the Hat steadfastly backs its original decision. On balance, however,
the Hat has made remarkably few errors of judgement over the many centuries it has been
at work.
So, the hat is stubborn- and IT knows best, this leaves little room for the hat to consider
what YOU want, or where you feel YOU fit. This means that no, you cannot influence the
hats decision in any way. I would imagine that if you were an older witch or wizard,
and practiced occlumens, then you could somewhat influence the hat’s decision (since it uses
legilimency)- but I’m willing to bet that no brand new students at Hogwarts are experienced
occlumens’.
Additionally, there are several indicators from the text which seem to suggest that once
the hat has made its decision, there is no available recourse. First, when Ron discusses
what he would do if he were sorted in to Slytherin:
"I always knew Salazar Slytherin was a twisted old loony," Ron told Harry and Hermione as
they fought their way through the teeming corridors at the end of the lesson to drop
off their bags before dinner. "But I never knew he started all this pure-blood stuff.
I wouldn't be in his house if you paid me. Honestly, if the Sorting Hat had tried to
put me in Slytherin, I'd've got the train straight back home....”
And next, when Draco discusses his recourse if he were somehow sorted in to a house other
than Slytherin:
"Well, no one really knows until they get there, do they, but I know I'll be in Slytherin,
all our family have been – imagine being in Hufflepuff, I think I'd leave, wouldn't
you?"
Since both boys mention ‘leaving’ the school altogether, this tells me that once
the hat has made up its decision, there is no turning back. That is your house- whether
you like it or not.
One other thing that should be mentioned is that every so often, a hatstall will occur.
This is when the sorting hat takes longer-more than 5 minutes to be exact- to make its decision.
This generally only occurs every 50 years or so, and is very uncommon. A ‘hatstall’
occurs when a student has a personality that could be considered equally suitable for more
than 1 house- as if this is the case the hat needs to examine the student more closely,
which takes more time.
Harry Potter, among other students were ‘near hatstalls’ - meaning the hat took longer
than usual, but not quite 5 minutes. When Harry is first sorted, he wants nothing more
than to be in Gryffindor, and verbally expresses that he has no interest in being sorted in
to Slytherin:
Hmm," said a small voice in his ear. "Difficult. Very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see.
Not a bad mind either. There's talent, A my goodness, yes -- and a nice thirst to prove
yourself, now that's interesting.... So where shall I put you?"
Harry gripped the edges of the stool and thought, Not Slytherin, not Slytherin.
"Not Slytherin, eh?" said the small voice. "Are you sure? You could be great, you know,
it's all here in your head, and Slytherin will help you on the way to greatness, no
doubt about that -- no? Well, if you're sure -- better be GRYFFINDOR!"
And while it seems like the hat is taking Harry’s decision in to its consideration-it
really isn’t. All that happened after Harry uttered ‘Not Slytherin’ was the hat making
up its mind (entirely of its own volition), that Gryffindor just happened to be a better
fit. It was really nothing to do with what Harry wanted. So if you want to be in a particular
house at Hogwarts, you better hope that the values of the house correspond with your own.
And if you can’t handle where you’re sorted, then just pack your bags, because the hat
isn’t changing its mind.
And that’s it for this video! If you enjoy the content, please like the video and subscribe
to the channel. Until next time, YER A WIZARD ARRY