Why do you suppose Hogwarts' professors live the life of nuns?

Question

Notice how all the professors at least the principle ones that we get to know, are all single.

Answer 1

To show that they are dedicated to their professions. It is kind of the stereotype of the "old maid English teacher".

Also, because they are just secondary characters. The books would have been even longer if the author took you into the lives of the secondary characters in the form of backstories or subplots. And that would have been way too much information for readers to handle in the case of books so complex to begin with. While you are reading, you are learning new vocabulary, new realities, new laws and rules, and you have a very very large cast of characters. A reader -- especially a young adult reader -- simply couldn't have held all that information in their head and processed it. As a result, your secondary characters suffer in that they are not well defined.

For all we know, they aren't leading the lives of nuns. The stories don't give us any information one way or the other. Pax - C

Answer 2

Perhaps because traditionally teachers were generally not married, at least the female ones. Also considering the subjects they are teaching, the subjects themselves probably require someone with a lot of commitment which would make having a social life extremely difficult. Then again, we only see the teachers in school, we do not know what they do over summer vacation and, except for Dumbledore and Snape, nothing is really stated about their personal lives. These two are the only ones we can actually say something about. Dumbledore is probably wary of a relationship after his sister's death and Snape, of course, never got over loving Lily. The others may have very active social lives when school is not in session.

Answer 3

Someone asked what question I'd ask Rowling if given the chance, my Lord. I would have asked if Dumbledore never had any paramour in all his 150 plus years!

That is a real puzzle. I guess, Headmasters & Headmistresses must be 101% concentrated in their responsibility and obligations to the school that having distractions such as a wife and family was far from their sight.

One other thing, I believe most HMs started out as Hogwarts teachers and we know teaching usually produces spinters and bachelors up till their dying days. And only the most devout and worthy become HMs, my Lord.

Answer 4

Since the focus of the stories was on Harry & company, there was never a real need to look at the lives of the instructors outside of the school setting. But I highly doubt such people would have lacked for outside interests, since inquisitive, active minds need a variety of stimuli. Maybe someone will get the okay to write stories about the lives of the various Hogwart's teachers and headmasters/mistresses. that could be interesting, I would think.

Answer 5

Or, it could be because the story is mostly told from a third person limited perspective--we rarely see any scenes that are not from Harry's eyes, and, really, how often did you think of your teachers' love lives at that age? Some of the professors very well could have spouses or children we just don't know because Harry doesn't know.

Answer 6

They're probably all single because they devote so much of their time to the betterment of the students. Hogwarts is a rigorous school that requires a lot of time and attention. Hagrid likes Madame Maxime though.

Answer 7

I think mainly because they are supposed to be Harry's guiding light, and their main focus has to be on the students. If the professors had ouside interests, (like Lupin had in Tonks), their focus would be turned elsewhere.

Answer 8

I have wondered about this too. It must be since they live at hogworts during the school year. I have also wondered how much do they make a year? According to books Snape's house isn't to great, but it was his parents. So hmm

Answer 9

Well i suppose because most of them are old or weird.

the weird ones like trelawney would never get a date

and the older ones probably devoted their life to the mastery of magic and had little time to build any lasting romantic relationships.

Answer 10

their not necesarily single, in the book in doesnt mettion that their single or married, and in the case of dumbledore, i could see why he wouldnt want to be married or have a girlfriend, it would open an opertunity for people like voldemort to attack someone he loves