In defense of Ron

[Rita Winston]

No: HPFGUIDX 5034

I know that there has already been a lot of discussion on this 
thread, and especially Penny already made the same points that I want 
to make. I feel so strongly about those points that I am being 
repetitive anyway!

--- In HPforGrownups at egroups.com, DrMM <drmm at f...> wrote:

> One of the biggest complaints people on this list have about Ron is 
> the fact thathe's fundamentally insecure.  

It isn't a complaint, it's an observation. 

> As a result, most of these people appear to find Ron an obnoxious 
> and unappealing character.

I didn't know that there was anyone who found Ron obnoxious until I 
read eggplant's posts on this thread.

> However, I find this somewhat endearing.

I wouldn't say that *I* find it endearing, but it does lead me to 
worry about him and hope he finds his happiness.
 
> I've decided to state my opinion as to why I think Ron's 
> insecurities are perfectly understandable and realistic

Who said they weren't understandable or realistic?
 
> In Ron's case, this leaves him no arena to try that one of his 
> siblings hasn't already tried.

That's why I keep telling the universe that Ron should learn to play 
a portable musical instrument, or else become a quick sketch artist. 
Those are arenas that none of his brothers have succeeded in, and 
they are skills that earn the admiration of one's fellow party 
guests. 

> His lack of studying is probably a result of his attempting to 
> distance himself from Percy -- I'm firmly convinced that he has 
> the ability; 

I don't believe that Ron has more of a lack of studying than any 
normal kid -- me (when I was in school) for example. He just *looks* 
like a lack of studying compared to Hermione. And near the end of SS, 
JKR tells us that both Harry and Ron got good marks (she said 
something like "to their surprise").

> (it appears) he doesn't even consider trying out for the Quidditch
> team (Charlie's already the Quidditch hero).

I believe that he tried out for the Quidditch team at the beginning 
of second year, which is when he began eligible (Harry being made 
eligible in first year was one of those special Harry Potter 
privileges that normal people don't get), and again at the beginning 
of third year (I believe that there are new try-outs each year). But 
neither time did he do well enough to take the place of one of the 
people already on the team, the team that Fred and George and Harry 
are on, which must be a constant irritant to him, an irritant that it 
is very noble that he doesn't sulk at Harry about or hang back from 
cheering for Gryffindor.

Btw, I don't know why Gryffindor no longer has reserves. It used to 
have reserves: one of the Chasers (Alicia?) in Book 1 was described 
as having been just a reserve last year. And the other House teams 
have reserves.