Ron and the Weasley Family - Part II of the late, late, Susan McGee's posts

[Schlobin at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 16224

 Ron Weasley and his family…..
 
“The Weasleys are one of our most prominent pure-blood families”  Albus 
Dumbledore on the Weasleys in the chapter Dobby’s Reward in the CoS.
 
“It’s Arthur’s fondness for Muggles that has held him back at the Ministry 
all these years.”
Molly Weasley in the Parting of the Ways in the Goblet of Fire
 
 
Ron Weasley cannot be understood  without his family. He is the sixth son and 
the sixth child of seven.  
 
His parents are  Arthur and Molly Weasley. Arthur is the Head of Misuse of 
Muggle Artifacts Office at the Ministry of Magic. Molly works inside the 
home, manages the household, and takes care of the kids. His siblings are:
Bill Weasley who is “cool” with a pony tail, an earring, dragonhide boots 
and might be mistaken for a rock star. He works for Gringotts. Charlie 
Weasley who  works with dragons and makes an appearance in PS to offer 
Hagrid's dragon a refuge. Percy Weasley, prefect, head boy, stuffy, pompous 
minion of Barty Crouch, Senior; Gred and Forge, the twins, the jokers, the 
mischief makers, and rule breakers and his only sister Ginny Weasley who 
figures prominently in CoS and has a major crush on Harry.
 
Ron is often gloomy and discouraged about his family. He cannot see how he 
can live up to the legacy of Head Boys, Prefects and Quidditch stars. He 
feels alone and isolated within his family. The Mirror of Erised shows 
“nothing more or less than the deepest, most desperate desire of our 
hearts…….. Ronald Weasley, who has always been overshadowed by his brothers, 
sees himself standing alone, the best of all of them”  (Dumbledore in PS/SS)
 
He has endured constant hand me downs. “You never get anything new either 
with five brothers. I’ve got Bill’s old robes, Charlie’s old wand, and 
Percy’s old rat.” (Ron, Chapter 6, PS/SS).
 
Fred and George are mostly seen in the books as delightful, fun loving kids. 
Yet Ron’s experience with them has not been quite so perfect.They changed his 
teddy bear into a spider and left him with an intense irrational fear of 
spiders (and having just realized and overcome my own phobia about dentists I 
can relate). They gave him a sweet that burned a hole in his tongue. They 
told him that the sorting ceremony involved wrestling with a troll. In some 
ways, it's hilarious, but it was hard for Ron, who like the other kids, was 
understandably nervous about the Sorting Ceremony.
 
Ron can’t stand Percy, and cooperates with Fred and George in teasing and 
harassing  him. 
For example, in reference to Percy's report on cauldrons for the MoM Ron says 
" That'll change the world, that rpoert will. From page of the Daily Prophet, 
I expect, cauldron leaks."
 What is more telling about Ron's opinion of  Percy is that Ron speculates 
that Percy might do what Crouch, senior did --- sacrifice a member of his 
family for personal power and ambition.  

Ron clearly feels that his mother does not pay him enough attention. I myself 
wonder if  Mrs. Weasley was overwhelmed with the twin cyclones, and was too 
exhausted to focus very much on Ron. She forgets that he hates maroon and 
gives him a maroon sweater and dress robes. Ron laments being forgotten... 
“She always forgets I don’t like corned beef” (Ron to Harry in PS/SS) “You 
don’t want this, it’s all dry,” said Ron. But notice, while he is feeling 
overlooked he is also loyal and protective "She hasn’t got much time, “ he 
added quickly “you know with five of us.” 
How many kids did she have when Ron was three? (speaking of being 
overwhelmed).
 
Harry envies Ron his family, and the experience of growing up in a wizard 
family. 
When he arrives at the Burrow, Harry notices a pile of comics which all 
seemed to feature The Adventures of Martin Miggs, the Mad Muggle, and 
says….”This is the best house I’ve ever been in. (CoS, chapter 3) Ron who 
had been nervous about Harry's feelings about Ron's poverty is relieved. 
(Okay so I couldn't figure out another way of mentioning Martin Miggs.......)
 
 Ron’s feelings about his family may change over time, and so may his image 
in the Mirror or Erised. When he begins to excel at certain things, he may 
stop feeling overshadowed by his brothers. 
 
Ron will always have the love and concern of his family. When he fights with 
Harry in the GoF, he can go hang out with Fred and George. He can fall back 
on his family. The depth of family feeling among the Weasleys comes out often 
in crisis. For example, Ron’s reaction to the news that it is Ginny who the 
prisoner in the Chamber of Secrets, and Percy stumbling into the icy water in 
the GoF (looking younger than usual) to reassure himself of Ron’s safety.