Ron: Desire for Distinction or Success

[Penny & Bryce Linsenmayer]

No: HPFGUIDX 7656

Hi --

naama wrote:

> First of all, I'd like to make a distinction between wanting
> distinction (fame, a lot of attention and so on) and wanting to
> excel.
> As I see it, Ron feels the lack of distinction; Harry is driven to
> excellence through fear of failure.
> I think these two types of "ambition" arise from different kinds of
> insecurities. Harry has real self-doubts. That is, he is not sure
> about his own worth, in his own eyes. That explains why he is so
> uncomfortable with being famous. If you have deep-seated doubts about
> your inherent worth, being famous generates enormous anxieties
> arising from the huge discrepancy felt between self-image and
> projected image (which may explain why many rock or film stars go
> nuts at the peak of their success).

I think this is a useful way to look at it on some levels, although I
suppose I would say that a quest to excel (whether motivated by a need
to prove one's doubts about self-worth or by a need to be someone
"special") is a healthy sort of ambition in most cases.  It can
certainly be overdone -- Percy is a good example of overdone drive to
excel.  But, for most people, an ambitious drive to succeed in one or
more areas can be a positive motivator.

I would say a need for distinction is indicative of less self-worth than
the former though.  Perhaps we just have a different way of looking at
it, but it seems to me that if someone is seeking out "distinction"
(recognition), they are inherently dissatisfied with their lot in life.
This sort of person wants others to *recognize* & *approve* of him,
which then increases his self-worth.  It's not, in my mind, a mark of
self-confidence at all.  It's a sign that this person can't just be
satisfied with himself, until others give him the stamp of approval so
to speak.  It also seems to indicate someone who can't be satisfied with
the mere achievement of a goal in & of itself; he/she is only satisfied
if such achievement is accompanied by "glory" & the approval & praise of
others.

> Ron has no such self-doubts of inherent worth. His frustrations arise
> from NOT receiving attention, from not being important, from not
> getting distinction. I wouldn't even call this insecurity, really. He
> feels secure in his own worth; what he doesn't feel secure about is
> how he is appreciated by others.

I guess I just don't see examples that show that he has self-confidence
& self-worth.  I see someone plagued with doubts about his talents &
skills, worried constantly that he won't measure up to his older
brothers or his best friends.  Perhaps you could point us to some
examples from the books that support that he is in fact comfortable with
who he is & what his talents are.  I see him as someone who is very
frustrated.

> It is very easy for him to accept attention (see the scene in GoF when
> he enjoys the attention after the third task).

Um ..... I always saw that as evidence of his incredible need to receive
the *most* attention, he inflated his role so obviously.  He wanted so
much to shine & be the one getting all the attention for just once.

> As I see it, he has the very normal resentment of
> not being noticed very much. Its very common with adolescents, as
> probably most of us will agree from their own experience.
> This is why Ron, although he wants attention, is not really driven to
> excel.

I think he is driven to excel, he just doesn't recognize it yet.  We
didn't see overt evidence of Fred & George's ambitions until GoF, and I
feel fairly certain that we'll see more & more of Ron's desire to prove
himself in later books.

I liked Ron very much in the first 3 books, but his role in GoF made me
very uneasy.  I think Ebony expressed similar sentiments.  Like Neil, I
do like Ron (shipper preferences aside) but .... I have grave doubts
about his ability to withstand pressure & enticements that play on what
I see as his greatest weakness, his desire for fame, glory & riches.

Penny


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