tWhile many may argue that Spock is clearly a Ravenclaw (Science and learning, duh) I would say that he’s actually a Slytherin, and here’s why.
Spoilers for pretty much all of Star Trek that involves Spock. Just in case you weren’t clear on that.
Spock was always one of my favourite characters and his cool, analytical thought process really spoke to me even as a child. He is smart, snarky, and serious about his scientific studies. All of that may indicate that S’chn T’gai Spock is a born Ravenclaw, but you would be wrong my friend. Spock may be a dedicated NerdTM but he also willing to follow logic wherever it takes him. Even if it means breaking the rules.
Exhibit One:
In the reboot movies Spock gives the Vulcan Science Academy the middle finger in the most Vulcan way possible. When his mixed heritage is insulted and he is discriminated against (in a roundabout way) he responds in one of my favourite ways ever.
It’s the perfect blend of respectful and disrespectful. It’s the most Slytherin response possible and it is beautiful. He balances the line between tradition and free expression in a way that every Pureblood Slytherin (and otherwise) would understand, moreover he doesn’t about meeting expectations for people who are rude to him. He has a reputation which is important to him but he only cares about their opinion so long as it is based on his abilities.
Exhibit Two:
In Star Trek: Discovery, which is an awesome show and you should totally watch it if you aren’t, Spock is struggling with his sense of self. He has a break with reality after mind melding with a being called “the red angel” and loses his ability to comprehend time linearly. The only way to fix his problem is to break Federation policy and go to Talos IV. He had previously been on the planet where they discovered a race of beings with the ability to alter other beings perception of reality. The Talosians help Spock reset his perception and Spock and his sister Michael return to Discovery with a partially mended relationship.
In fact, both Spock and Michael were very Slytherin during this entire episode. Even after this episode is concluded Spock continues to be snarky and willing to bend the rules to get things done.
Exhibit Three:
TOS Spock is snarky, deadpan, and while he has no desire to take the Captain’s chair he is willing to do what is necessary to be the best first officer in the fleet. He even goes so far as to hijack the Enterprise to return his former captain, Pike, to Talos IV. His former CO Captain Christopher Pike was injured during a warp experiment and is confined to a wheelchair. Pike is incapable of speech as well as completely paralysed and is forced to communicate in only “yes” or “no” responses.
Spock seeks to provide Pike with a better future by returning him to Talos IV where the Talosians can give him an altered reality. Spock cannot explain to Kirk, his current captain, why he must take the ship to a planet that is forbidden to Starfleet, and instead uses subterfuge and persuasion to convince Kirk to trust him.
In summation:
Spock uses big words, a high charisma roll, and unfailing logic to cunningly get things done. He’s the ultimate Slytherin. Also, I love Spock. I named my cat after him, though you didn’t need to know that….
To those who will say Spock can’t be a Slytherin because he isn’t ambitious I would say, he is ambitious be he’s also reached his goal. Spock wanted to be the best science officer in Starfleet. (Watch the Mirror Universe TOS episode if you don’t believe me.) Just because he isn’t gunning for the top doesn’t mean he doesn’t have ambitions. If anything, Spock achieving his goal while still being loved is the ultimate Slytherin move.
OOC - I must admit, I am not a Potter person. I’ve always placed Spock in Ravenclaw, and on face value that’s right where he fits. But this argument is sound. It is logical, and it makes perfect sense. Well done.
I’ve always had an issue with the ‘all evil wizards were in slytherin’ thing. Theres other things besides ambition that drive people to be evil. Where’s the hufflepuff who thinks society is broken and unfair and decide to burn it down and build a better one from the ashes, or will do anything to keep their loved ones safe even if it means hurting others? Where’s the ravenclaw who starts practicing black magic and experiments on others because of an intense morbid curiosity? Where’s the gryffindor who is convinced their protecting people but are actually hurting them, or can never back down from a fight even if they know they’re wrong? Yes, lust for power and ambition are reasons to become evil, but not the only reason.
You seriously gotta stop putting all the evil characters into Slytherin, for fuck’s sake.
Look, here’s the reason why this is important to me, and it’s more than “bohooo, leave those poor Slytherin kids alone.”
All the houses are associated with certain traits, and for most houses, these are traits that are usually associate with a positive meaning - Gryffindor has bravery, Ravenclaw has wisdom, Hufflepuff has loyalty.
The traits associated with Slytherin are:
Resourcefulness
Cunning
Ambition
Determination
Self-Preservation
Fraternity
Cleverness
Most of which, you may notice, are usually not considered particularly positive traits to have, and an open gate to arrogance and hubris. Cunning, ambition and cleverness especially are usually considered to be bad traits to possess. [Cue a thousand evil snake puns]
So honestly, it’s easy, if not even tempting, to associate every bad person with Slytherin. Bad people usually have some kind of goal in mind when they do bad stuff, which directly leads us to accusing them of having ambition as their dominant trait (regardless of what their actual dominant traits are).
But here’s the thing: The older I get, the more clearly I see that all these aforementioned traits are good things to have if they are used ~correctly~. To say it like that: A good Slytherin is a person that is smart, driven and careful, and that is a very powerful combination. Imagine having a friend like that, and it would be a blessing, rather than a curse. Slytherins are the kind of people that will be already thinking about a hundred ways of getting out of a ditch while still sitting at the bottom of it. They are the kind of person you want to have with you when shit gets real, because they will probably pull something completely unexpected out of their ass and hit everyone in the face with it. (They’ve probably been sitting on that one for a while, too, just in case.)
All the qualities of the different houses need to be in balance, or they will lead to one’s downfall. Gryffindors, for example, will lead themselves and others into danger simply because they depend on their bravery rather than on their smarts - something that would never happen to a Slytherin, who are self-preservation first. Ravenclaws might get lost in their quest for knowledge for knowledge’s sake, while Slytherins will always try to use their knowledge for a practical purpose. Hufflepuffs might be so loyal and nice that others will trample over them - Slytherins will be loyal if you give them a reason to be so, but never try to abuse a Syltherin’s friendship, or you will suffer (greatly).
Honestly, Slytherin traits are great if you think about it, and it would be great if people could actually appreciate that.
the stupidest thing in the entire harry potter series was when they go down to the slytherin dormitory and it’s all dark and slimy and freezing and shit. as if lucius malfoy would let his son live in squalor like that. the house with the highest concentration of spoiled purebloods are happy to live under the goddamn lake? no.
wow this is the #1 best harry potter criticism i have ever read
