Full Metal Alchemist characters at Hogwarts?

[timepiececlock]

voleuse made a post theorizing about the breakdown of houses in Harry Potter (always a fun discussion) and reminded me of some theorizing I was doing about a week ago about how one could break down the characters of FMA into the HP houses. Especially Edward and Alphonse.

I am tempted to put Al in Gryffindor, but if subtlety is the testor (as Voleuse suggested), he's a lot more subtle than Edward. And yet--although Edward is often not subtle, he is when he needs to be or when something depends on him being subtle, and I can't decide if he belongs in Slytherin or Ravenclaw.

Both boys could conceivably be in Ravenclaw given that they're child prodigies, but Edward clearly loves to be sneaky and loves to win, which makes me want to put him in Slytherin. There's also the fact that both of them are always seeking to fullfill their desires-- they risked forbidden alchemy to bring back their mother, and their both willing to do so again to restore themselves.

And yet, they both study like crazy and work for what they want (although Edward sometimes slacks off if Al isn't there to push him along), and they are both determined and loyal-- so they could Hufflepuffs. Then again, as alchemists and scientists and planners, they might both be sorted into Ravenclaw. After all, though Edward may be just a little smarter, it was Alphonse who finished the state's written alchemy exam in the time alotted.

Or you could take into the fact that they're both absurdly brave and determined. Gryffindor.

See? It's hard. And even discussing it bring out the inherent flaw in the 4 house system-- a person may possess all of the significant traits at once, in equal measure. What then? Whichever one you'd then sort Al or Ed into reveals your personal interpretation of which one seems more likely... that's hardly a concrete analytical decision.

I guess, after thinking about it, if I had to sort them, I'd either put both of them in Ravenclaw, or I'd put Alphonse in Ravenclaw and Edward in Slytherin. Nah. I'd put them both in Ravenclaw-- we can't break them up after all.

EDIT- This is how I'd sort the other major characters:

Mustang: Slytherin (though he came *this* close to being a Gryffindor in my head)
Scar: Gryffindor
Winry: Hufflepuff
Hughes: Hufflepuff (and best friends with a Slytherin-- arent' they a pair)
Hawkeye: Hufflepuff
Armstrong: Gryffindor
Scieska: Hufflepuff (bordering on Gryffindor)
Izumi: Ravenclaw
Hohenheim: Ravenclaw
Archer: Slytherin

Comments

[hecatehatesthat.livejournal.com]

Oh, damn. I -- the mind boggles. They could go anywhere.

I didn't read that post on the house breakdowns, so I may be using somehwhat different criteria, but I can't imagine Scieszka anywhere but Ravenclaw, and I'm inclined to say I'd put Hohenheim in Slytherin, but really, I don't think we know enough about him or his motivations to push him either way. Hopefully we will get more of that in movie.

As for Ed and Al -- I can definitely see Ed in Slytherin... but you're right, we can't break them up, and they would both do well in Ravenclaw. They are SO SMART. Not quite smart in the same way, though -- as you point out, Al finished the written test and Ed didn't, and Al was a year younger. He's the one who's really dedicated to the book learnin', Al is -- but Ed is the one who figures things out. Ed is perceptive, and that's what makes him too smart for his own good -- what 12 year old boy should be capable of thinking that a man who'd been kind to them had destroyed his own adorable daughter? And Ed knew instantly. Al could have figured it out, but he wants to see the good in people too much.

Damn I love those boys.

Also, I agree about the inherent flaws of the 4-house / personality system.

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

Scieszka was hard to think about. Yeah, Ravenclaw does seem a given, but she's also hard-working and incredibly loyal. But she's also determined and brave (frightened out of her mind cause the aliens are coming to get her, but still brave.)

and they would both do well in Ravenclaw. They are SO SMART.

I think ultimately that's their most defining feature-- heck, it's what got them into this mess in the first place. That might be just one more reason why I love this show-- the two main protagonists may look cool but they're total nerds inside, both of them. It's cool to have a hero you can love for being smart-- and then to thoroughly explore the good and the bad of that.

what 12 year old boy should be capable of thinking that a man who'd been kind to them had destroyed his own adorable daughter?

And there's the bad. I agree-- it's horrible that a twelve year old, one raised happily by a non-abusive parent, could have the insight to guess other parents capable of such horrible things.

You really pegged Edward with the insight thing-- that's how he guessed the situation with Majahal too. I do love how Al is as insightful about Edward as Ed is about everyone else, though. Much funny.

Also, I agree about the inherent flaws of the 4-house / personality system.

I think Alphonse has all the combined personality traits of a Gryffindor, a Ravenclaw, and a Hufflepuff in equal measure, with extra talent (different from a personality trait) in the Ravenclaw direction. Edward has all the combined traits of the above three and Slytherin in equal measure (damn those talented well-rounded genius types!), plus the extra talent in the smarts.

So I guess Ravenclaw it is then. Plus, you just know Edward would be bored in Gryffindor or Hufflepuff. He could be like the Harry Potter-esque aventurer of Ravenclaw.

[zauberer-sirin.livejournal.com]

I´m all okay about Roy being in Slytherin because I´m a Slytherin myself, but I think he is more of a Ravenclaw (with a dash of a Gryffindor spirit).

And imagine poor Hawkeye, a Hufflepuff dating a slytherin, that would be a first in Hogwarts.

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

Actually, of the ways I thought of ranking Roy, Ravenclaw was third-- I figured him as Slytherin first, Gryffindor second, Ravenclaw third. Mostly because, while he is smart and an alchemist and obviously consisders himself a scientist, his priorities are more of the Slytherin/Gryffindor nature. I would put him in Gryffindor if it weren't for the fact that Roy clearly enjoys some aspects of being sneaky an manipulative. Sure he's doing it for a good cause, that doesn't mean he doesn't enjoy parts of it too. At least in regard to people like the Elric brothers.