Ron: Desire for Distinction or Success

[Cassandra Claire]

No: HPFGUIDX 7663


Penny wrote: 
> > I guess I just don't see examples that show that he has 
> >self-confidence & self-worth(snip)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.
> >
> 
Naama wrote: I don't think that Ron is self-confident. I am trying to 
distinguish   between being confident about your "talents & skills" 
(which are  externals) and having a sense of self-worth. Its not the 
same thing,  IMO.   I don't have positive examples, only negative 
ones, like the fact  that he isn't jealous of Harry's and Hermione's 
abilities. What triggered his jealousy was that Harry got to be the 
centre of  attention one time too many. 

That's true...From GOF, chapter 18, Hermione talking to Harry about 
Ron: "It's always you who gets all the attention, you know it is...I 
know you don't ask for it, but Ron's got all those brothers to 
compete against at home, and you're his best friend and you're really 
famous, he's always shunted to one side whenever people see you and 
he puts up with it and never mentions it but I suppose this was just 
one time too many."

That "one time too many" business made me think that the Goblet of 
Fire business was hardly an isolated example of Ron being jealous of 
Harry; simply that up until that point, he'd chosen to bottle it up 
(I liked that whistling teakettle analogy someone used a while back.) 
I'd say he IS jealous of Harry's abilities, if not Hermione's, and 
always has been; Goblet was just the first time it got out of his 
control.

Naama wrote: "I see it differently -  as a very natural and common 
behavior which  practically anybody would have adopted in the same 
situation. Who doesn't like attention and admiration?"

Harry, for one, has learned to mistrust attention and admiration that 
are unearned.
 
Naama wrote: "But in my picture of Ron grown-up he has  grown out of 
his petty discontents and becomes what he really is -  stable, 
cheerful and unambitious (you know, the ultimate family man,  
perfectly suited for Hermione. <g>)"
  
And in my picture of Draco grown-up, he's a cute, likeable guy in 
leather pants. We all have our fantasies. *grins evilly*

Cassie