J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series is set in a magical world where young witches and wizards attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The students are sorted into four houses – Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. Slytherin house has a controversial reputation in the books, often associated with dark magic and evil wizards. However, Rowling’s depiction of Slytherin is more nuanced and complex. This article will examine how Rowling describes Slytherin house and its members throughout the seven books.
Slytherin’s Founder and History
Slytherin house was founded by Salazar Slytherin, one of the four founders of Hogwarts along with Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff and Rowena Ravenclaw. According to Hogwarts legend, Slytherin wanted to be more selective about which students were admitted to Hogwarts, favoring those from all-magic families rather than Muggle-borns. After dissent with the other founders, he left the school but not before secretly building the Chamber of Secrets, which was home to a deadly basilisk intended to purge the school of Muggle-borns.
As a result, Slytherin house gained a reputation for valuing blood purity and discriminating against Muggle-born students. Rowling describes Slytherin’s history succinctly when introducing the houses in the first book:
You might belong in Slytherin,
Where they are just and loyal,
Those patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil;
Or yet in wise old Ravenclaw,
if you’ve a ready mind,
Where those of wit and learning,
Will always find their kind;
Or perhaps in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve, and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart.
This excerpt highlights the perception that Slytherins value ambition, cunning and pure wizard blood over brave, just or learned values.
Slytherin’s Symbolism: Serpents and Green
In keeping with Salazar Slytherin’s connection to serpents, the Slytherin common room and dormitories are located in the Hogwarts dungeons. Slytherin colors are green and silver, and their symbol is a serpent. Rowling often uses snake imagery when describing Slytherins and their surroundings. For example, when Harry Potter is sorted into Gryffindor in the first book, Rowling writes:
Harry noticed that the caretaker, Filch, was eyeing him beadily. He was a scrawny man with a droopy, jowled face and dust-colored hair. As they left the chamber, they heard the drone of hundreds of voices from the Great Hall, where the rest of the school ate their dinner. But Professor McGonagall showed the first years into a small empty chamber off the hall. They crowded in, rather closer than they would usually stand, peering around nervously.
“Welcome to Hogwarts,” said Professor McGonagall. “The start-of-term banquet will begin shortly, but before you take your seats in the Great Hall, you will be sorted into your houses. The Sorting is a very important ceremony because, while you are here, your house will be something like your family within Hogwarts.”
The repeated snake references emphasize Slytherin’s crafty, mysterious reputation from the start.
The Slytherin Common Room
When Harry and Ron sneak into the Slytherin common room disguised by Polyjuice Potion in the second book, Rowling further utilizes snake imagery to set an eerie, foreboding atmosphere:
The Slytherin common room was a long, low underground room with rough stone walls and ceiling from which round, greenish lamps were hanging on chains. A fire was crackling under an elaborately carved mantelpiece ahead of them, and several Slytherins were silhouetted around it in carved chairs.
The greenish lighting and carved snake motifs create a cold, sinister ambiance. Throughout the books, the Slytherin common room and dorms are associated with concepts like darkness, stone, dampness, and being underground in contrast to the warmth and light of the other houses.
Slytherin Traits
So what traits define a Slytherin in Rowling’s world? Ambition, resourcefulness, determination and fraternity are valued in Slytherin house. Pure-blood supremacy is also emphasized by some members, though not an official house policy. Slytherins tend to be proud, traditional and have a sense of entitlement that comes with belonging to an ancient, noble wizard house.
When Draco Malfoy is sorted into Slytherin, Rowling writes:
Harry was strongly reminded of Dudley. He didn’t think he could stand seven years of Malfoy.
The last person to be called up was Blaise Zabini, who became a Slytherin. Professor McGonagall took the hat away and silence fell over the Great Hall.
This passage associates Draco and other Slytherins with Harry’s snobbish, unpleasant cousin Dudley from the start.
Rowling often uses words like “haughty,” “drawling,” “strutting” and “condescending” when describing Slytherins like Draco, conveying their arrogance and sense of superiority. Slytherins are not portrayed as unintelligent, however. They value cleverness and ambition, which are often needed to ascend in their house hierarchy.
Negative Portrayals and Bullying
Throughout the books, Slytherins are most often portrayed negatively compared to the other houses. They take pleasure in taunting rivals, especially Gryffindors and Harry in particular. Draco and his gang frequently bully Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville Longbottom. Draco calls Hermione a “Mudblood” to belittle her Muggle-born status. Rowling depicts this bullying occurring within Slytherin as well, with older students targeting vulnerable younger ones.
Some key examples of Slytherins portrayed as cruel, brutal or racist include:
- The Blood Supremacist Slytherin gang that includes Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson
- Death Eaters like Bellatrix Lestrange who take delight in torture and murder
- Professor Snape, who torments and undermines Harry and other non-Slytherin students
- The bigoted, sadistic professor Horace Slughorn who favors pure-bloods
Through these and other characters, Rowling establishes Slytherins as largely elitist, bigoted and derisive of students from other houses. They feel entitled to power and privilege based on coming from old, pure-blood families.
Slytherins Who Break the Mold
However, Rowling does portray some Slytherins who contradict these negative characteristics. These nuanced depictions provide balance and show that not all Slytherins conform to their house’s questionable reputation.
Some examples include:
- Andromeda Black, who marries Muggle-born wizard Ted Tonks and defies her pure-blood supremacist family
- Horace Slughorn, who despite favoring pure-bloods, joins the Order of the Phoenix against Voldemort
- Regulus Black, who sacrifices his life to obtain one of Voldemort’s Horcruxes
- Narcissa Malfoy, who risks everything to get to Hogwarts and save her son
While these characters exhibit some Slytherin traits like self-preservation and fraternity, Rowling shows they are ultimately capable of courageous, selfless acts.
Slytherins Play Important Roles
For all their vices, Slytherins do play pivotal roles in the Harry Potter story arcs. Draco facilitates the Death Eaters’ invasion of Hogwarts. Snape’s information allows Voldemort’s downfall even at the cost of Dumbledore’s life. Narcissa Malfoy lying to Voldemort that Harry is dead enables his ultimate defeat. Rowling shows that while their motives aren’t always noble, Slytherins do impact the plot through their resourcefulness, cunning and determination.
Slytherins’ Complex Relationships with Other Houses
Rowling explores the nuances that exist between Slytherins and other houses. Gryffindors and Slytherins have an intensely rivalrous relationship characterized by competition and mutual dislike, stemming from the history between their founders.
Ravenclaws dislike Slytherins’ dishonesty despite valuing their intelligence. Hufflepuffs strongly disagree with Slytherins’ bigotry and cruelty. Rowling however shows that inter-house relationships can evolve over time. Regulus Black overcame Slytherin prejudices through his friendship with a Hufflepuff. Andromeda Black married a Muggle-born despite her Slytherin elitism. Draco’s path indicates he matured past blind Slytherin arrogance.
While painting in broad strokes at first, Rowling ultimately shows the diversity within Slytherin house as with any Hogwarts house. They are not wholly good or evil, but a complex mix of qualities used for different ends.
Slytherins Role in the Battle of Hogwarts
During the Battle of Hogwarts at the end of the series, Rowling portrays Slytherin’s reputation in flux. When given the choice to fight for or against Voldemort, the Slytherins largely choose to evacuate, not participating on either side. Rowling writes:
A great malevolent hiss echoed through the room. Several people screamed. Hagrid was clearly visible, blasting away at several spiders trying to climb into the castle through a hole in the wall: one massive arm flailing, the other wrapped around Fang the boarhound.
This paints most Slytherins as self-interested survivors, lacking the courage to stand up for what’s right. However, some like Slughorn return to the battle after escorting younger students to safety. Draco’s friend Zabini also fights against the Death Eaters. While not heroic, Rowling shows select Slytherins ultimately reject blind self-preservation when it counts.
Conclusion
J.K. Rowling’s depiction of Slytherin house and its members is sophisticated, utilizing common tropes but also allowing for development and nuance. On the surface, Slytherins often appear as vindictive, arrogant bullies. However, complex characters like Snape and Narcissa show that cunning and ambition have their place in defeating evil. Slytherins play key roles on both sides. Over time, some abandon prejudice and risk themselves for higher causes. While Rowling portrays Slytherins negatively in many cases, she provides balance through those who transcend rigid house stereotypes. Ultimately, Slytherins exhibit human virtues and flaws like any Hogwarts house.