Ron's money problems (was Re: Ron Week: More Questions)

[Indigo]

No: HPFGUIDX 16291

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Rosmerta" <tmayor at m...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at y..., arabella at s... wrote:
> > The material possessions issue is a little different; it cuts 
very  
> > deeply into Ron.  He makes comment after comment about his 
poverty  
> > and other people's comparative ease.  He's extremely unhappy about
> > his 
> > financial situation.  But I think it shows a strength, rather 
than 
> a  
> > weakness, that he is willing to admit this in such a forthright  
> > manner ("I hate being poor.")  In my opinion, that's a damn hard
> > thing 
> > to say, especially in front of your best friend who has money and 
> the 
> > girl you've got a crush on (that's IMO). 
> 
> I agree with everyone who's said Ron's become more rigid as the 
books 
> go on, but I think part of this has to do with his poverty. At 11, 
> you may be a little bothered by your used stuff, but by 14, you 
care 
> very much. 
> 
> The scene in GoF with his dress robes is played for laughs, but 
it's 
> heartwrenching for a teenager to be wearing loser clothes, and 
> especially to a big event like the Yule Ball. Yes, he was a jerk at 
> the Ball, but why be nice to Padma when, after all, "she didn't 
look 
> to enthusiastic about having Ron as a partner....and her dark eyes 
> lingered on the frayed neck and sleeves of his dress robes as she 
> looked him up and down." You can bet Ron didn't miss that look.

Oh, absolutely!   Not to mention, as you've already brought up, the 
way Ron reacted upon seeing the way out-of-date dress robes, and 
knowing he had no choice but to deal with them because they were the 
best he could do. 
> 
> And how must Quidditch-loving Ron feel to have his already famous 
> best friend zooming around on the best broomstick ever made while 
> he's got to ride something that gets passed by butterflies? 

My inclination here is to believe that Ron either uses a school 
broomstick, or that Harry lets him ride the Firebolt off-season if he 
promises to be careful wtih it.   Ron's always seemed somewhat 
supportive of Harry's Quidditch pursuit.  He even gives Harry gifts 
that are Quidditch related. 

> Yes, Ron needs to get over those feelings of jealousy and 
inadequacy, 
> but he won't really be able to do that until he gets out of 
Hogwarts, 
> gets a job and can start a life of his own. After all, Bill and 
> Charlie seem to be doing just fine (Bill's got enough swag to 
splurge 
> on a pair of dragon boots, after all), but look how the twins 
behave 
> in GoF. 

They'd apparently squirrelled some away -- which is why they were so 
upset that Bagman skanked them.   And it's possible that they figure 
they're poor, they may as well have fun before they have to grow up, 
buckle down, and get serious.  

The middle teens are the times when you feel the poverty the 
> most and can do the least about it, so my heart goes out to Ron. I 
> think we should cut him a little slack.

I feel badly for him as well.   Especially when Scabbers is revealed 
to be Pettigrew.   Not only was his pet a hand-me-down, and damaged 
goods at that -- but it turned out to have been a murderer in 
disguise!  
> 
> [And as an aside--why *are* the Weasleys still so broke? By GoF, 
> they've got three of the kids working 

Three? I thought Bill and Charlie were the only ones with jobs? Am I 
confused, missing something? 

and two of them out of the 
> house. I wonder if the parting of the ways will help or hurt 
Arthur. 
> If he gets booted out of his ministry job for insubordination or 
some 
> such, there'll be big problems at home.]
> 
> ~Rosmerta

I hope not! 

The poor Weasleys have it rough already [no pun intended!]

Indigo