Dumbledore was a SLYTHERIN (NOT a Gryffindor) - Harry Potter Theory

Summary

This Harry Potter Theory video explores the possibility that Albus Dumbledore, known as a Gryffindor, might have been better suited for Slytherin House due to his ambitious and cunning nature. The video discusses Dumbledore's early life, his relationship with Gellert Grindelwald, and his later decisions to avoid positions of power. It suggests that despite his Slytherin-like traits, Dumbledore's core values and individuality transcended house stereotypes, and his mentorship would have remained impactful regardless of his house affiliation.

Takeaways

• 🏰 Dumbledore's Sorting: The script discusses the possibility that Albus Dumbledore might have been more suited to Slytherin House than Gryffindor, based on his traits and actions throughout the series.
• 🧙‍♂️ Dumbledore's Ambition: It highlights Dumbledore's ambition and arrogance in his youth, traits often associated with Slytherin, and his desire to travel and be recognized as a brilliant wizard.
• 🌐 Dumbledore's Early Beliefs: The script mentions Dumbledore's early prejudiced beliefs and his fascination with the Deathly Hallows, which he shared with Gellert Grindelwald, indicating a darker side to his character.
• 🔮 Change in Perspective: As the Harry Potter series progressed, the initial dichotomy between Gryffindor 'good guys' and Slytherin 'bad guys' was challenged, showing more complexity in characters like Snape and Dumbledore.
• 💡 Dumbledore's Resourcefulness: The script points out Dumbledore's resourcefulness, his ability to plan and manipulate situations to achieve his goals, which are traits often linked to Slytherin.
• 🧙‍♂️ Dumbledore's Cunning: It emphasizes Dumbledore's cunning nature, showcasing how he used his intelligence to manipulate people around him to serve a greater purpose.
• 🚫 Dumbledore's Rejection of Power: The script describes how Dumbledore consciously avoided positions of power, fearing his own ambitions, which contrasts with typical Slytherin traits but also shows self-awareness and growth.
• 🔑 Dumbledore's Core Values: Despite his Slytherin-like traits, Dumbledore's core values of love, compassion, and the pursuit of good were always present and drove his actions.
• 🤔 Individuality vs. Stereotypes: The script argues that house affiliations do not define an individual's character, suggesting that Dumbledore's individuality would have remained intact regardless of his house.
• 👑 Dumbledore's Mentorship: It suggests that Dumbledore's mentorship and guidance to Harry and others would not have been significantly different had he been in Slytherin, as his impact extended beyond house boundaries.
• 🌈 Dumbledore's Philosophy: The script concludes with Dumbledore's belief in the complexity of good and evil within everyone, and the importance of the choices individuals make, reflecting his nuanced view of morality.

Q & A

Why might Albus Dumbledore have been more well-suited to Slytherin House according to the video?

The video suggests that Dumbledore's traits of ambition, resourcefulness, and cunningness align more with Slytherin House, especially during his youth, and that he had a desire for power and was influenced by prejudiced ideologies, which are also associated with Slytherin.

What is the significance of the four houses in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?

The four houses represent the characteristics and traits most valued by each of the founding members of Hogwarts: Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin. They are named after the founders' surnames and serve to divide the student population.

How did the early Harry Potter series portray Gryffindor and Slytherin houses?

In the early series, Gryffindor was portrayed as the house of 'good guys,' including protagonists like Harry and Dumbledore, while Slytherin was depicted as the house of 'bad guys,' including antagonists like Draco Malfoy and Lord Voldemort.

What revelation from wizardingworld.com challenges the traditional view of Slytherin House?

The revelation that the powerful and benevolent wizard Merlin was a Slytherin student suggests that not all Slytherins are prejudiced and that the house has produced individuals who have greatly benefited all of wizardkind.

What aspects of Dumbledore's character were revealed to be Slytherin-like?

Dumbledore's ambition, arrogance, and early desire for power and control, as well as his openness to prejudice, were revealed to be traits more commonly associated with Slytherin House.

How did Dumbledore's ambition manifest in his early life?

Dumbledore's ambition was evident in his plans to travel the world and his belief in his own brilliance as a young wizard. He also resented his responsibility for his sister, Ariana, feeling that his talents were being wasted.

What is the significance of Dumbledore's relationship with Gellert Grindelwald?

Dumbledore's relationship with Grindelwald highlighted his early desire for greatness and power, as they bonded over the idea of uniting the Deathly Hallows and subjugating Muggle kind, showing a darker side to Dumbledore's character.

Why did Dumbledore turn down the position of Minister for Magic?

Dumbledore turned down the position multiple times because he did not trust himself with that much power, recognizing his past weaknesses and temptations towards power.

How did Dumbledore's resourcefulness manifest in his actions throughout the series?

Dumbledore's resourcefulness was shown through his meticulous planning and use of the people and resources around him to achieve his goals, such as arranging his own death to save Draco Malfoy and manipulate events to his advantage.

What is an example of Dumbledore's cunningness as portrayed in the video?

Dumbledore's cunningness is exemplified by his manipulations of those around him, including training Harry to be a 'pig for slaughter' and manipulating Newt Scamander into an unlikely hero role during Grindelwald's uprising.

What does the video suggest about Dumbledore's character regardless of his house affiliation?

The video suggests that Dumbledore's core values of love, compassion, and the pursuit of good were independent of his house affiliation, and that his individuality and personal agency would have driven him to make similar choices regardless of being in Gryffindor or Slytherin.

How does the video address the potential impact of Dumbledore being sorted into Slytherin?

The video proposes that while Dumbledore being sorted into Slytherin would add an interesting layer to his character, it may not have significantly changed his actions or the outcomes in the Wizarding World, as his character was defined by more than just his house affiliation.

What is the 'butterfly effect' mentioned in the video, and how does it relate to Dumbledore's house affiliation?

The 'butterfly effect' is a concept from chaos theory that illustrates how small changes can lead to significant outcomes. The video uses it to speculate on the potential changes in the Wizarding World if Dumbledore had been sorted into Slytherin, but ultimately concludes that the impact might not be as drastic as one might expect.

What does the video suggest about the relationship between house stereotypes and individual character?

The video suggests that while house affiliations carry certain stereotypes, they do not define an individual's entire character. Dumbledore's complexity and individuality would have remained intact even if he were sorted into Slytherin.

How does the video discuss the influence of Dumbledore's mentorship on Harry?

The video posits that Dumbledore's mentorship would have extended beyond his own house and that his guidance empowered Harry regardless of his house affiliation. The impact of his mentorship was not tied to being in Gryffindor or Slytherin.