Ron: prejudices, meanness

[Penny & Bryce Linsenmayer]

No: HPFGUIDX 16310

Hi --

Amy Z wrote:

> First of all, I think his prejudice against giants is negligible--his
> feelings for Hagrid aren't affected in the slightest by his learning
> that he's half-giant, and he shows no qualms about Dumbledore's plans
> to send envoys to the giants.

He makes an *exception* for Hagrid (probably because he's only
half-giant), but IMO he clearly retains the prejudiced attitude toward
giants as a whole.  From Chapter 31 --
________________________________________________-

"And Fudge reckons Madame Maxime attached Crouch?" Ron said, turning
back to Harry.

"Yeah," said Harry, "but he's only saying that because Crouch
disappeared near the BeauxBatons carriage."

"We never thought of her, did we?"  said Ron slowly.  "Mind you, she's
definitely got giant blood, and she doesn't want to admit it ---"

"Of course she doesn't," said Hermione sharply, looking up.  ......"
__________________________________________

Harry dismisses Fudge's assumption on the grounds that it just has to do
with geographic proximity.  Ron, OTOH, is quick to think of her giant
blood in *support* of Fudge's conclusion.  I think Ron also makes an
exception for Lupin, but we never really have cause to know whether he
retains an overall distrust of werewolves, do we?  If it hasn't come up
again, I don't know that it's reasonable to just *assume* that he has
dropped his prejudice against werewolves as a class, especially in light
of the evidence that he has not completely dropped his prejudice against
giants as a class (despite making an exception for Hagrid).  He clearly
retains his general thoughts about house-elves too.

I agree with Ebony --  Growing up in a prejudiced environment is not an
excuse for continued prejudice.  Ron gives me the impression that he
doesn't *get* it.  He's no different than the people who dearly love the
family member who's gay but think it's okay to crack jokes about
homosexuals or make other blanket generalizations about that community.
Some people are able to make exceptions on a personal level but do
retain the overall prejudice against the larger group.  I think Ron
falls into that category.  And, I must say, I really think this spells
trouble for any Ron/Hermione romance that might develop.  It seems like
such a fundamental sticking point that it will cause alot of trouble in
any romance between the two.  I don't imagine Hermione is going to
handle that trait all that well.

Several people have pointed out that Ron is willing to put his
prejudices aside willingly & quickly.  But, thinking to yourself, "Oh,
so & so is a "good" [fill in racial ephithet]; he/she isn't like the
"others" is not abandoning one's overall prejudicial attitude toward a
group.  It's just making individual exceptions.

> On the racism spectrum, Ron is your garden-variety white guy who would
> never say a racist word but doesn't get what black folks are
> complaining about; Draco is a junior member of the KKK.

He has plenty to say about giants -- see above.

> Meanness:  wow, I thought I had a low tolerance for sarcasm, but I
> never
> would have characterized Ron as "mean."  Can someone give some
> specific
> examples, aside from the Yule Ball fight, which I will grant you was a
> mean moment?

1.  His fight with Harry in GoF.  His remarks are rather cutting.
2.  (Paraphrasing as no PoA on desk): "It's too bad Scabbers was just
*eaten,* he really used to love these [whatever the candy/sweet was]."
[And, by the by, this was the same moment when Harry was in the process
of making amends with Hermione!]

I'd have to think more to come up with others.  But, I think he does go
beyond sarcasm with more frequency in the latter 2 books.

Penny


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