I take my literary critical theory a bit to seriously no?
SORTING APPLICATION:
||HOGWARTS EXPRESS||
1. Name: Karen or my nickname is Kapo
2. Age: 25
3. Why shouldn't we squib you?
I thought of these questions in the shower, in the car, at work, in bed, before sleeping, while eating, in the subway and I even harassed my friends to tell me what they would answer. However, although I feel I came up with fine answers, the reason that I believe I should not be squibbed is because of how much I enjoyed it. I seek anything that further enriches and brings to life the Harry Potter world and from what I can appreciate, this community has the same desire to bring this world to life. I am a literature addict and I’ve read scores of books by authors from many parts of the world. Books have always had this strange life changing power on me and it doesn’t cease to amaze me the unique effect that the HP series has. I enjoy asking questions, reading interviews, scrutinizing the works and debating concepts from the books. I feel this community has a lot to explore and there is a lot I want to give back.
4. How much time can you and do you intend to actually contribute to this community?
Fortunately, I now am out of the university and I only have to work. Don’t take me wrong, I loved my school and plan to go back for grad school but I know that I did not have a lot of time for the internet then. Now I have been spending much more time online and I am learning quite a bit about it and myself. So, I feel that I can contribute about 5 hours a week. But I must be honest, I have already read several sorting applications, to get a feel for them and well, I like reading them. Even though I am not too experienced at being a part of an online community I’m slowly becoming really fond of the LJ dynamic. So, you can count that I will be around plenty.
||IN ESSENCE UNITED||
5. Have you read all 6 Harry Potter Books? Which one was your favorite?
Yes I have read all 6. My favorite is Prisoner of Azkaban. It is an intelligently written story that flows and captivates me. In other words, it doesn’t let me wake up from “the dream”. I feel that here Rowling’s style becomes clearly defined and the book’s structure is much better than in the previous two. Maybe she just had more experience, but I also feel she was enjoying the writing more. The story flows much better and this can be seen from the way that she pieced together the mystery, so smooth and witty. I really like the introduction of Sirius and Lupin into the series. In my opinion they were some of the most “human” or realistic characters in the story at that point. Harry’s past had been slowly creeping in, but now, here are the characters that make it so much more real. Sirius is very human to me, he has very common flaws but he also has amazing qualities and I must admit he is one of my favorite characters. Sirius was an interesting “bad guy”, irrational, passionate and mysterious. Through Lupin, Sirius and Wormtail the definitions of good and evil are expanded. With this the series starts dealing with “grays” and this added depth and complexity to the storyline and made it more interesting. Also I liked that Voldemort plays much more of a minor role, this is very different from the other books where he is the end point. I liked that new dynamic, it was refreshing. Besides that our and Harry’s view of the world is expanded to include dementors and all the creatures Lupin introduces. I love those creatures, specially the boggart. The classes are amazing; you can really feel what it would be like to be in there! Finally, a director I respect a lot, Alfonso Cuaron directed the movie!
6. Who is your favorite character in the Harry Potter books?
It was hard to decide, but I chose Hagrid. Hagrid has a certain charm and tenderness that I can’t resist. He is a good hearted character with depth for he has flaws, desires, a past and even “issues”. Also as a person he has many traits I admire and want to have, particularly his ability to see beautiful and positive traits where no one else does. And that he is afraid of very few things. True, he is a bit co-dependent, needing Dumbledore a little too much. But see, I admit I am a bit codependent as well, so I give him a bit of leeway. Maybe that’s bad… but it makes him more real to me! And I admire how although he gets angry he never hates. Sure he gets mad and hurt, but he I never get the impression that he truly hates anyone. Hagrid is also a picture of patience, faith and sincerity of heart. Although I don’t find Grawp a very interesting character very I admire Hagrid’s persistence, patience and ability to love. Besides, like him, I really like the dragons! True, he is a bit irrational and sometimes his decisions are not the wisest. But I like his ingenuity and the way he grows in the series. I would say that in the first book Hagrid is more like a child, but by HBP this has clearly changed.
7. Who is your least favorite character in the series?
Snape. (not Slytherin House!) I agree that Snape is very complex and has multiple sides but his traits and decisions make me dislike him. It’s precisely because of how intricate he is and “real” in many ways that I don’t hesitate to name him as my least favorite. The Snape I perceive from the books is unfair, vengeful and cruel. It is true that there are other characters, like Umbridge that are very cruel and unfair, yet, I think she is too one-dimensional, too much of a cardboard character, to really judge. Snape is not one-dimensional. I do see where the “Snape is still good” theories come from and give him a tiiiiiiiny benefit of the doubt. HOWEVER, I cannot bypass the words used in that horrible scene in HBP -“The sound frightened Harry beyond anything he had experienced all evening. For the first time, Dumbledore was pleading. (…) The three Death Eaters fell back without a word. Even the werewolf seemed cowed. Snape gazed at Dumbledore, and there was revulsion and hatred in the harsh lines of his face. ” (HBP 595) Despite all the theories, I can’t oversee that Dumbledore’s last action was to plead. Even Fenrir Greyback steps back. I still get a reaction of anger and sadness when I read this. For me Snape is a traitor and worse of all a selfish coward. I feel he hid behind Dumbledore and his motives were always and only egoistic. Furthermore, I was reading an interview with J.K. Rowling and one of her statements caught my eye-“MA: Has Snape ever been loved by anyone? J.K.R: Yes, he has, which in some ways makes him more culpable even than Voldemort who never has.” (www.mugglenet.com)This question was asked without any other context. This answer intrigued me because the way that I interpret it seems that Snape’s actions are more conscious. They are less result of an uncontrollable unfortunate past and more a choice. He is not “evil”, but his selfishness and fear are his ruin. He was always so centered in his own pain and wants that he was never able to accept opportunities to grow out of his fears and hate. And that pretty much sums up what I think is the source of many problems of humanity.
8. What is your least favorite part of the Harry Potter series?
It would have to be the many flaws that Sorcerer’s Stone has. I believe that one of the main strengths that make this magical world so alluring is that it is so easy to imagine. It’s so well built and congruent with today that it’s not hard to imagine how it could exist. But SS could have not stood by itself. At this stage the world lacks creativity and the characters are too simple, they are good or bad, nice or mean, rich or poor. I don’t think this makes the book innocent. For goodness sake, there is an almost soulless creature living in another man and protruding from his head. It is not an innocent book; it is an incomplex and inexperienced book. And I don’t buy the idea that it’s a children book so that’s ok, children need to be challenged. And I believe that the rest of the HP series proves precisely that. But SS alone was definitely not enough for me. I really dislike the way in which the unfolding of the central plot of SS comes in the last 80 pages. Although I enjoyed the descriptions and I like the first chapter, I think one can really tell that Rowling was starting the engine. The fact that the main story line unfolds right at the end shows her inability to formulate an adequate plot structure. I know several people that after reading that first book decided to stop precisely because of this problem. For me that took away from the quality of the book, and to me that’s important. As I mentioned, these kinds of issues I feel are distracting for me. To use the same words, they tear me out of the “dream”. To be fair, I’ve read first novels of Toni Morrison and Gabriel Garcia Marquez and they have the same issues. Still, that is why their first novels didn’t win Nobel Prizes.
9. What is your favorite spell?
The magic behind the Horcruxes. Its not my favorite as in what I would like to perform, (I think I would chose Expecto Patronum then) but I find it such an interesting take on such an old and repetitive human want and fear. The fear of death and the want to endure is such an ancient idea, pervasive in the human psyche. At first I was afraid of putting this down, because I felt I didn’t really understand why I was interested in the Horcruxes. But, in thinking this question through (This application helped me focus many thoughts!) I realized that it is because for me respecting life, in this case human life is a central part of my moral system. It is the base of where it all starts for me. The preservation and respect of life is a clear boundary between good and bad. The concept of the Horcruxes brings to life something I had imagined or thought of for a long time. What happens when you murder someone? Your soul becomes fragmented and this splitting is an act of violation. You lose a part of your soul. It is such a simple answer yet so powerful. I think that if people really took that concept in, took it in, thought about it this would be a more peaceful place. Also, I find it is intelligently ironic that Voldemort is seeking immortality through murder.
10. What traits and characteristics do you think define the true qualities of each of the four houses?
Ok so I wanted to be a bit different. As I mentioned before I have read a few of these sorting applications and the truth is that after a few when I got to this question I skimmed it a bit. This is because I saw many repeated qualities. Its not that I totally disagree with these assessments, as a matter of fact I have my own version.
The Gryffindors are the ones that let their hearts take the ultimate decisions.
The Ravenclaws are the overachievers that trust their logic and reasoning above anything else.
The Hufflepuffs are the ones that believe that hard work is the road to success.
And the Slytherins are the cunning and ambitious ones that crave power.
But, I am always left with the feeling that there is much more to it. Especially because I believe that I find obvious examples of brave Slytherins, intelligent Hufflepuffs, ambitious Gryffindors, and loyal Ravenclaws. I feel that the houses represent a spectrum. So! I also created this chart.
I feel that when thinking of the houses it is necessary to remember that Rowling took a conscious decision to have them represent the four elements. My spectrum is based on the idea of the four parts constituting the whole as well as the fact that there is an obvious fluidity of characteristics. I was especially interested in “plotting” the odd characters, like Pettigrew, Luna and Zacharias. Their primary characteristics don’t “obviously” fit into the ones usually mentioned. I hope the chart is mostly self explanatory. Yet, it is necessary to define what I mean by moral and humanistic. By moral I mean: one who has VERY strict self boundaries and definitions of good and bad. So if I say less moral I mean that their boundaries between good and bad are more fluid or relative, can be more case specific lets say. By humanistic I mean: an interest in the happiness and welfare of all living beings. I put S.P.E.W. and the Inquisitorial Squad to explain the differing concepts that I am trying to evoke. Notice in this chart I am not stating what is good or bad, better or worse. I am just trying to create a more broad way of looking at the qualities of the houses. If I put a character closer to a certain side or pointing towards another house I am suggesting the more he/she tends towards those characteristics. Yet, it is necessary to remember that the sorting hat is never wrong so, no matter how much the character might lean to another side, it still remains within its house. Although Wormtail is not as moral or humanistic as Dumbledore they still both Gryffindors. Hence, I believe that Wormtail still does have a set idea of good and bad. I believe that Dumbledore didn’t tell Harry that Wormtail was a good person to have a debt with for nothing. He is cowardly and easily controlled but his definitions of good and bad do not fluctuate too much. He is not like Snape who makes exceptions and changes his judgment of good and bad at his leisure. His definitions are more malleable, case sensitive. Luna also, she is not like Marietta, but she is still a Ravenclaw. She really trusts and believes in her logic and reasoning. Yet she is more detached from others, she is less interested in the happiness and welfare of everyone around her. Luna is more centered in herself and her ideas. Nevertheless, she still is willing to fight for what she believes is right. Marietta, like Luna, is not as concerned with the welfare of others but she in another point of the scale. And in this scheme Zacharias Smith is an excellent example of a Hufflepuff because he questions a lot. He does not easily accept set understanding of right and wrong. When we see him be “mean” it’s because he doubts Harry. But he never abuses Harry or anyone else; he is not mean just to be mean. He is a strong Hufflepuff! I hope this chart makes sense and I hope you enjoy it!
11. Describe the house qualities that you feel accurately reflect you. Please try to include traits from each of the four houses.
Like the Hufflepuffs I believe in hard work and my life experiences have proven to me that it is a big part of the road to success. For as far back as I can remember grades were always important to me. In High School I was a straight A student and the teacher’s pet abilities. Yet since elementary, whenever someone commented on how smart they thought I was I would always reply, no I am just a hard worker. I honestly believe that and know its one of my most important personal traits. However, like the Ravenclaws I am an overachiever. I also admire logic and a sound reasoning. Obtaining and admiring knowledge is my highest life goal. That is a big part of why I chose science, and more specifically genetics, as a field. I am not afraid to admit I want to be in an area that is at “the brink of knowledge”. Yet, I am very conscious of the results of science. Like the Gryffindors, my heart always takes the last and most important decisions. I believe that a scientist without a proper humanities education is one of the most dangerous creatures out there. Although I listen to logic a lot I respect my feelings much more. I believe that feelings are more pure and honest, so I often listen to them and let them tip the balance. I don’t think I could be a very good Occlumens, because another of my aims in life is to learn to not repress feelings. I feel that in my chart I would probably lie closer to the Gryffindors because I have found I have somewhat strict moral guidelines. But like the Slytherins I believe that obtaining power is the ultimate way of changing the world. It is especially true in a world where humans are human’s biggest threat. For as far back as I can remember I’ve believed that power would be the answer to many of my life objectives.
12. Given the choice, which house would you NOT want to be in?
Slytherin. Simply because it is too often that I let my feelings and tendency to overanalyze get in the way of my ambition. I’m not as focused and tricky and although I idealistically seek power I am too afraid of its downfalls.
13. What is your favorite Harry Potter quote and why? (You must choose just one quote.)
“Somewhere out in the darkness, a phoenix was singing in a way Harry had never heard before: a stricken lament of terrible beauty. And Harry felt, as he had felt about phoenix song before, that the music was inside him, not without: It was his own grief turning magically to song that echoed across the grounds and through the castle windows.”
There are many quotes I find insightful but when I was re-reading a bit to chose the favorite this one moved me the most. It brings together so much of the story in one moment. It weaves together feelings and the motifs of the phoenix, death, grief and beauty. Finally, I find the imagery and the message very beautiful.
||MIRROR OF ERISED||
14. Describe exactly what you would see in the Mirror of Erised.
I would see myself as the Secretary General of the United Nations. I would have a strong and confident smile that would show that I was at peace. I would be able to see I had brought opportunities to many people and had given them possibilities and choices. My mom would be happy, stress free and comfortable. My two cousins that are drug addicts would be clean and content to be themselves. My boyfriend would be proud of himself and doing what he wants. And we would have two beautiful kids! One of our own and one adopted.
15. What do you wish to accomplish in life?
I want to be an honest and just human being that was capable of facing all, or most, of her fears. I am convinced that the ultimate challenge and happiness comes from having the courage to look into ourselves and facing our personal “demons”. Hopefully in my lifetime I will be able to accomplish this. I want to be a woman of action that is not hesitant to enter and start projects. I hope to be academically content, having obtained either my masters or PhD. I want to live in at least 4 countries and of course obtain a job in which I feel fulfilled. Probably it would be one that balanced science with a human or ecological application. Finally, a family of my own that is healthy and happy. At the end of it all, I want to be at peace with myself.
16. What is your favorite book besides Harry Potter?
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Remember Plato’s world of ideas? Well I believe that Gabriel Garcia Marquez taps into this world in such an amazing manner that he manages to narrate a reality even more perfect and accurate than reality itself. The story basically follows the life of a family through 3 of its generations. For me this book is a treasure which holds the heart and reality of Latin America and portrays it in the most beautiful manner possible. I read this book in High School, back home in Mexico City, and it changed my understanding of my world and its essence. It allowed me the privilege of peeping into the shared cultural “unconscious” of my society and its mythology. When I left Mexico 5 years ago to start the adventure of living in a new country it became a refuge and a solace. It is hard to explain, it is just a magical book.
17. What makes a person respectable?
When discussing this question with friends, I came to the realization that for me the judgment of who is respectable starts at a definite foundation line. For a person to be respectable he or she has to respect life. A person that does not respect another human’s life for me is not respectable. What this respect entails in an everyday basis I don’t have so clearly defined, yet, I can say that a less respectable person is one that deliberately murdered another. That is the divisor that I start from. After this baseline I respect and admire a person that strives to know and be honest with him or herself. This includes the want to analyze and understand personal problems. I truly believe that the only person you can change is yourself and if there is anything that bothers you of others you first have to observe and better yourself. But truly changing causes changes in the ones around you and sometimes they include what bothered you.
18. If you could meet any single person, dead or alive, who would you choose and why?
If I were to choose someone to sit down and have coffee with I would choose Gabriel Garcia Marquez. He has always been somewhat of a creative idol to me and I would enjoy talking and facing him as just another human being. I’ve read many interviews with him yet they don’t humanize him enough for me. It would be thoroughly enjoyable to find out what he thinks and feels regarding current issues. When I was deciding who I would like to meet I often thought of people in the past. But history is so repetitive that I thought it would be better to ask someone whose history was closer to mine.
Besides I have so many questions for him; what he thinks of Castro, his Cuba, Mexico, Mexico City and our culture. I would like to ask him about Colombia, South America, the US and the situation in Iraq. Even parenting, television, movies, even suggestions on books to read! I would like to meet him as a fellow human. Maybe I would be able to understand if he did indeed just grab the ideas from Plato’s world or if they came from inside him. Meeting the genial writer of One Hundred Years of Solitude over coffee would certainly be a mind-blowing precious experience.
19. Do you consider yourself to be more of a thinker or a feeler? Give examples from your daily life that support your answer.
I am a feeler that likes to think of her feelings. As I mentioned earlier I listen to my feelings a lot because I believe there is more to them. For example, I have a roommate right now that I am finding a bit hard to live with. He is a nice funny guy, but he tends to not think too much about his jokes. He likes the kind of jokes in which he makes himself look better and comments on the other people’s, habits, intelligence, looks, you name it. Lets say, a day this week I came home from work and I was sitting in the computer with my fluffy pants, slippers, and a blanket writing this application. As soon as he came in he started joking about how I didn’t look like a responsible adult. I know he doesn’t think much about what he says most of the time, but it upset me. I felt silly, lazy and very uncomfortable. Yet later, I thought about this and realized that he is just picking on a one of my soft spots. I feel awkward in this new situation where I just have to work and come home and not do homework. It’s taking time to get used to and I am a bit insecure in new situations. Also, in my family, people that are not doing something “productive” were always seen as lazy. But then I stopped and again realized that although maybe to others filling this application might not seem “productive” or what a “responsible adult” would do, I don’t agree. I believe that I am doing something productive, that I am enjoying and I am entitled to! Then I let go of my upset feeling towards my roommate and went on filling my application. So, see I like to think, and if possible, learn something from my feelings. Does this make me a thinker or a feeler? I guess a feeler.
20. What do you think are your top 5 positive characteristics?
-I tend to believe the best of people. I’ve come to realize this is a double ended sword. Yet, this is a deep set idea of mine, I cannot think back far enough to see where it came from. This characteristic has brought about many positive gains, like impossibly high ideals to motivate me and many wonderful friends.
-Dedicated. This is the base of why I have always said I am a hard worker.
-I am curious.
-I can laugh at myself. Especially in science, and if anyone here is in research, you know this is an important one. One cannot take life to seriously, I have found it very useful to know when to just laugh and keep on trying.
-I put myself in other people’s shoes.
21. What do you think are your top 5 negative characteristics?
- I doubt myself too much. Doubting and questioning are good, but when doubt becomes insecurity that is where the line should be drawn. Yet, I cross the line a little too often.
-I am needy. As I mentioned above, I have a bit of a co-dependence problem, I admit it. I’ve trying to work on this, but I still attach myself too strongly to others. I think it comes a lot from growing up in Mexico and being an only child.
- Sometimes I am too gullible. Like I mentioned believing the best of people is a double ended sword. Sometimes I am easy to take advantage of.
-I complain too much. Having lived almost 20 years in Mexico and knowing how lucky I’ve been I sometimes look at myself and get angry at how much complaining I do. I am definitely too whinny.
- I sometimes give too much of myself to others and forget to take care of myself. This goes hand in hand with believing the best of people and being too gullible. It’s hard to strike a balance between taking care of others and taking care of yourself.
22. Who sponsored your application?
I feel like sorting elite is closing for applications soon so I really wanted to submit the application as soon as possible. Hence, I didn’t look for a sponsor.
23. (Optional) Please give us a link to where you have promoted this community in your personal journal. This is entirely optional, but if you do, your future house will receive five points once you are sorted.