Ravenclaws' snobbishness?

[lavinialavender]

There's an assumption - at least with me and my little circle of fandom, at any rate - that Ravenclaws' primary trait is brains, and the second is snobbishness.  Is that second trait canon?  Does it only stem from Penelope's line in the second book?

Comments

[mafdet]

I think it varies. Padma Patil certainly seems like a bit of a snob. So does Penelope, but it could just be her reaction to "Crabbe" and "Goyle" being lost. She might be a really nice girl most of the time.

OTOH, Luna isn't really a snob; and Terry Boot and Anthony Goldstein don't give that impression either. The Ravenclaw House traits are wit and intellect, or, as I like to think of it, intellectual curiosity and creativity. I think snobbishness is an individual trait rather than a house one per se.

[a_wormwood]

I agree with this. After all, if I were to call any House 'snobbish' I would say Slytherin, because of their pureblood ideals. They are 'better' and 'above' those of inferior blood/blood traitors.

If it appears that Ravenclaws are snobbish, it may or may not be connected to their wit. There could be another reason, yes, but coming from a grammar school in an area of comprehensives, those at the grammar were known as snobs because of their attitude of themselves: they were better because their intelligence was superior.

[snale]

I think this trait rears its head when Ravenclaw D.A. members seem shocked and suspicious that Hermione is so clever and yet was not sorted into their house.