Ron & Hermione - Birds of a Feather

[naama_gat at hotmail.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 16377

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Milz" <absinthe at m...> wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at y..., morine10 at a... wrote:
> > In a message dated 4/10/01 11:09:20 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
> > pennylin at s... writes:
> > 
> > 
> > > I think this is very possible.  Why is this necessarily a bad 
> thing?
> > > What if she's just ambitious & has a strong desire to succeed
> > > academically because it will open doors for her down the road?  
> She may
> > > be driven in the academic arena, but is this any worse than 
> wanting
> > > success in other areas of one's life (such as socially or 
> athletically)?
> > > 
> > 
> > And how, I ask, is this any different from wanting recognition 
among your family and peers for your accomplishments?  How is it any 
different from wanting financial stability? 
> > 
> How is it that one person's wants make them more susceptible to the 
> Dark side than those of someone else?
> > 
> > I for one do not think that Ron and Hermione are all that 
different.
> > 
> > ~Moey
> 
> You make a very good point!!! Ron's wants and desires are given a  
> negative spin, whereas Hermione's are viewed in a positive way. 
> However, both of their ambitions are driven by the need for a 
feeling 
> of self-worth. 
> 
> I don't know who is more susceptible to the Dark side or if they 
will even venture in that direction (I like to be surprized or 
disappointed). But neither of them has been offered a chance for 
their dreams to come true. Ron came the closest with the Mirror of 
Erised. 
> But even he, refused to return to it the next night. Hermione 
hasn't. 
> 
> I agree with whoever said that it is a shame that we never got to 
see 
> Hermione's Mirror of Erised.
> 

I don't think either Ron or Hermione are "susceptible to the Dark 
Side" at all. So, as far as I'm concerned, comparing their ambitions 
is interesting in itself - not as a prelude to deciding which one is 
likely to "succumb" to Dark Side temptations.
Having made this clear, I can now point out that the great difference 
between Ron and Hermione in their ambtitions, is that Ron does 
absolutely nothing to fulfill his ambition. He wants to shine - but 
he doesn't make exceptionall efforts in any area that we can see - 
not school work, not Quidditch, not even playing practical jokes.. 
He feels miserable at times, but I'm not sure whether he doesn't care 
enough , or has too little faith in himself, to make an effort
Hermione, OTOH, grits her teeth and puts all she's got into 
accomplishing what she has set herself to accomplish. I don't see it 
as an unhealthy obsession, but as a determination to succeed coupled 
with sincere intellectual interest.


Naama