Ron Week - NOW We're Talking!!!

[inyron at yahoo.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 16192

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., morine10 at a... wrote:

> > C. What does Ron's position in the family have to do with his 
actions 
> > and attitudes?  Does Ron show any classic "middle child" 
behaviors in 
> > canon?
> > 
> 
> This is arguable, but I feel that Percy displays more of the 
typical "middle 
> child syndrome" than Ron does.  Percy is an overachiever which is a 
typical 
> attribute.  Also, middle children can sometimes feel alienated from 
other 
> siblings.  I don't think that Ron feels this way as often as Percy 
does.


If I remember my Adler correctly, (who admittedly speaks of first and 
laterborns, and not middle children,) later born children are 
described as being competitive and ambitious, using their older 
siblings as pacesetters, and always striving to catch up with them.  
This makes sense in regards to Percy, being the 
behavioral/status/scholarly overachiever playing to Bill, and with 
the twins, who probably dream being as good at Quidditch as Charlie, 
and as well liked as maybe Bill and Charlie. (cause, ya know, I'm 
pretty sure Bill was well liked.)  And, as Ron realizes, they're all 
pretty much succeeding.  Which is where the next part of Adler's 
theory comes in- if older siblings excel at something in particular, 
laterborns may simply give up trying.  He might have the ability to 
do well, but why bother?  His older siblings have stopped being 
pacesetters and become hindrances.  

As it has been pointed out, chess is really the only thing he's shown 
as having aptitude for.  Percy isn't good at chess.  I'm going out on 
a limb and suggesting George and Charlie and Fred aren't either.  
Bill is, but he's not superchesschampion! And I'd guess he played 
more of a teaching/pacesetting role, hence the achievement there.  If 
the Weasly's had just left some other areas open, we'd be seeing more 
Ron-abilities.  

Poor Ginny, eh?  Except the giving up isn't for all laterborns, just 
some.  She might still be willing to give it the old Weasly go.


inyron

who really hopes she's using her apostrophe's right in this post, or 
at least in this sentance.