The Sorting Hat Analysis

The Sorting Hat Was Wrong

Hermione is a fan favourite in J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone”. Hermione is surrounded by people who are viewed as some of the bravest witches and wizards in the wizarding world throughout Rowling’s series. Yet, Hermione herself in the first book is not brave. Hermione is probably, at this point in the series, one of the least brave characters in Gryffindor. Hermione utilizes her knowledge and brilliance to help her through the tough things that occur during the book. Once there is any notion of danger, Hermione shuts down. One of the most prevalent and most valued traits of a Gryffindor is to be brave. This begs the question of, is Hermione truly a Gryffindor when the hat sorts her into the

Young witches and wizards are all placed in houses depending on if you have certain traits. Ron, Harry, and Hermione were all sorted into Gryffindor. The Sorting Hat said that, “[y]ou might belong in Gryffindor, / Where dwell the brave at heart, / Their daring, nerve, and chivalry / Set Gryffindors apart” (117). The main traits that every Gryffindor is supposed to possess is bravery. They are supposed to be people who are “daring” enough to go out and save the day. They are people who have the “nerve” to finish a task or help someone who is in need no matter what they may face as well. Hermione isn’t someone who has those traits yet. She seems to be more fitting as a Ravenclaw. The Sorting Hat said, “Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw, / if you 've a ready mind, / Where those of wit and learning, /Will always find their kind” (118). Ravenclaws are incredibly intelligent. Their valued traits are those of “learning”. Hermione definitely has a lot of “wit”, but she just doesn’t have the “nerve” to face the things that come her way. Hermione shows this time after time. She is given a chance to show just how brave she is, but she doesn’t do that. She shows that she just doesn’t quite

In the last of the challenges to get to the Sorcerer’s Stone, it was a logic puzzle. Hermione was able to solve the puzzle with ease. Her brilliance was what got her through the last stage. Harry was unable to solve the puzzle because he was a true Gryffindor with his main traits being loyalty and bravery. Hermione was able to figure out which potions were able to do which thing because she has her main traits being her intelligence and her cleverness. Hermione even knows that she doesn’t have the same traits as Harry when they have this conversation, “’Harry – you’re a great wizard, you know.’ ‘I’m not as good as you,’ said Harry, very embarrassed, as she let go of him. ‘Me!’ said Hermione. ‘Books! And cleverness! There are more important things – friendship and bravery and – oh Harry – be careful!’” (286) Hermione is very clear that she values things like friendship and bravery, but she also is aware of the fact that she doesn’t really have those traits. Harry says to Hermione that he is not as good of a wizard as Hermione and she denies his claim. She knows that she is not nearly as brave as Harry or Ron are. She separates herself from them by describing herself with “Books! And cleverness!” (286) She is someone who is studious and incredibly smart, which is what someone who is a part of the Ravenclaw house would have as