We’ve sorted the Crawleys into Hogwarts! And yes: we’ve taken their pureblood status into account.
Downton Abbey ended its American run last night with the Crawley’s touching down in Londontown for Rose’s coming out celebration. The crown prince was naughty and high-jinks ensued, but in the end, no one was imprisoned or died or started a war, so it can be said that for once things were looking up, and all was well.
We’re already feeling withdrawals from the magic of our favorite nighttime soap’s departure, so to stretch out the English class a bit further and give us another excuse to bring out the sherry, we’ve psychoanalyzed our beloved Crawley family and sorted them into the Hogwarts house where we feel they would most belong. (And a special thank you to Angelica Yap for the fabulous image of Lady Mary getting sorted with Professor McGonagall her granny!)
So, without further ado, we present part one of our Sorting Hat: Downton Abbey edition. Which of your favorite Crawleys would you find yourself rubbing elbows with in the Great Hall?
Lord Grantham – Hufflepuff
We can be a little harsh on the old pops when it seems like year after year, Robert is dead-set on preventing Downton’s progression into the modern world. So, it’s easy to forget that behind the Earl’s often blubbering exterior, lies a truly kind man with a generous heart. Robert is a traditionalist, yes — he values his place in society and he fears falling into irrelevance — but he has also been shown to be incredibly inclusive and tolerant of new ideas. He protects Thomas after his season 3 scandal, and he embraces the chance to dance to Rose’s surprise jazz band.
Robert is a truly empathetic man, and when he is able to overcome his own selfishness, he shows what a loyal and just man he can be, despite the social norms of his day. He treats his servants like human beings, and has stood by Bates through thick and thin from the very beginning, even when it was not only impractical, but downright difficult to do so. Like his daughter Edith, his insecurities are his downfall, but he learns from his mistakes, and he always gives Downton his all, unselfishly putting the future of the estate before what might be best for him, and being the first to embrace Matthew as the heir to Downton despite everyone else’s hesitation.
Lady Grantham – Ravenclaw
A naturally clever woman, Cora has had to learn to adapt in life more than any of the other family members. From American socialite to English Countess, her wise and witty nature has carried her through to successfully adapt into the British aristocracy.
Kind and practical, she’s the most realistic of her family members, and her American nature makes her a little bit more easygoing, willing to go with the flow and accept change. She loves her family more than anything, and is smart enough to understand that she must accept their choices as well as their faults to keep the family together.
Lady Mary Crawley – Slytherin
Both ambitious and cunning, before falling in love with Matthew, Mary’s pragmatist nature left her resolved to lead a life of self-preservation amongst England’s sometimes ruthless aristocracy. Matthew brought out the best in her, challenging her to both let her guard down and treat others with compassion, and though we always knew our Lady Mary was a fierce, spirited little thing, we came to learn that behind her unreachable porcelain exterior, she truly has a good heart.
A clever girl turned resourceful woman, her traditional values have evolved over the years. Once intent on preserving the social hierarchy that guaranteed her a pampered life, her love of Matthew and her friendship with Tom have challenged her to look towards the future. Recovering from Matthew’s loss turned her into a true leader at Downton, and now as ambitious as ever, Mary is willing to do whatever it takes (including wrangling up some pigs) to preserve her family’s estate and Matthew’s vision for her son. At once both cold and compassionate, Mary has never been afraid to be an independent thinker, and always shouldering the obligations of everyone’s hopes on her shoulders, this season she has proved once again that she is the picture of poise through the pain.
Lady Edith Crawley – Squib
Poor, poor Edith. It’s not that she’s not clever, or resourceful, or even brave. While she may have started off in the first season creating her own problems with her own self-doubt and jealous nature, by the time the war ended, she had emerged as a lovely person with just the absolute worst of luck. Her first love left her at the altar “for her own good,” and the second was (probably) kidnapped by Nazis in Germany. Can this girl ever just catch a break? At least the twenties have given her a killer sense of style.
This season with the pregnancy drama, she’s really been put through the ringer, but she seems to have emerged a stronger, more thoughtful person by season’s end. We have no doubt that come next season, this lady’s going to be boldly shaking up Downton with her own brand of progression. Edith’s finally done accepting her lot in life, and we’re excited to see how far she’ll go now that she’s decided to make things happen for herself.
Lady Sybil Crawley – Gryffindor
Daring and determined, our darling Sybil was never afraid to be the bold, progressive little sister in the Crawley family. The original politician in the family, Sybil didn’t mind shaking up social conventions and standing out; most importantly, she just wanted to make sure her life mattered and meant something.
Never content to be just another pretty English rose, Sybil was a beauty that epitomized bravery throughout her life, always making the decisions she wanted to make, thinking them through carefully, and considering what was best in her life, rather than what society expected from her.
Turn to page 2 to find out where our favorite Crawley in-laws have been sorted!
Matthew Crawley – Hufflepuff
Lady Mary may be the spirit of the show, but for the first three seasons of Downton Abbey, Matthew Crawley was the heart. Kind and considerate, Matthew reminded the Crawleys of the type of person they all had the potential to be. His patience with Mary’s foibles knew no end, and his willingness to adapt and embrace his new family’s way of life was admirable.
And yet, despite his endless tolerance, Matthew never allowed himself to be turned into a doormat; he was loyal, yes, but fair too. He knew where to draw the line with Mary, admitting her faults while admiring her virtues, and knowing that he deserved to be loved, while pushing Mary to admit to her warmer side. Like all true Hufflepuffs, Matthew Crawley was a determined man if there ever was one: he fought for Downton’s future the way he fought for Mary’s love — wholeheartedly, and like a true gentleman.
Tom Branson – Gryffindor
Our beloved Branson really came into his own at Downton Abbey as Tom, after Sybil’s death. Despite his political views, he’s adapted well to his new family, and his blooming bromance with Mary has definitely brought out the natural leader in him. He’s fair and can’t help but be pragmatic about the world; he understands that the Crawleys are good people, and that Lord Grantham is a fair employer, but he struggles to justify their lifestyle with the wide gap between the aristocracy and the British poor.
He’s still fiercely loyal though, and defends the people he loves until the end, even when he can’t seem to justify their lifestyle to himself. Both realistic and witty, Tom’s humor, like Mary’s, often seems to come from an inherent sadness he can’t seem to shake. It’s obvious that out of everyone, he has changed the most during the series. As a young man, he was fairly reckless, putting his own hopes for what he believed to be right above what was reasonable, especially in regard to winning over Sybil. He’s mellowed out much more since his wife’s death though, and though he still aspires to be a daring man, his love for his daughter forces him to rethink what would truly be best for her in life.
Lady Rose MacClare – Gryffindor
More daring than dutiful, Lady Rose isn’t so much brave, as she is simply fearless. Rebellious in a way very different from Sybil, Rose wants to drink up the world and all there is in it to fully experience life’s pleasures. Though not politically minded, Rose is a free spirit who, like so many young people, believes in social progression. She relishes in being a little scandalous, because to her, it is the older generation that needs to rethink their values.
Kind and inclusive, Rose not only cherishes those she loves, but she might also be the only person at Downton who places no regard whatsoever on class standing. Though her social high-jinks with the lower classes are partly to purposely rebel, Rose also seems to truly see the beauty and value in everyone’s life, to the point of romanticizing the life of a servant. A determined little lady, Rose can be stubborn where her loyalties lie; she demands to be taken seriously, though her light-hearted nature and open spirit rarely coincide with the upstairs lifestyle.
Isobel Crawley – Hufflepuff
Perhaps the kindest, most selfless person at Downton, this is the woman who while desperately heartbroken over her son’s death, took a complete stranger into her home in the hopes of saving him from a destitute life. This is the same woman who patiently put up with Ethel’s terrible cooking for months, and who nursed Violet back to health after many sleepless nights.
Incredibly determined, she will stop at nothing — even to the point of enduring humiliation — to get her way, as long as she feels it is the right and noble thing to do. She exasperates Violet and Cora with her supreme ethical righteousness, mostly because she is always at least partly right. Incredibly inclusive, Isobel sees the good in everyone, and believes everyone should feel fulfilled in life. She takes the initiative to encourage Tom to take up his politics again in season 4, and is selfless enough to want Mary to find love again despite her own heartbreak.
Dowager Countess of Grantham – Slytherin
A favorite both at Downton and amongst fans, Violet Crawley’s witty, pragmatic nature has made her a class standout, and the leading voice of wisdom at the Abbey. Self-interested as well as self-preserving, Violet’s traditional views often clash with the newfangled ideas of the emerging generation, but as clever as she is, she knows when to embrace change and go with the flow. Ever resourceful, she pushes her family to be the best, classiest versions of themselves they can be, and truly embodies the British spirit of keeping calm, and carrying on.