Cutting Ron A Break

[Amy Z]

No: HPFGUIDX 26661

David:

> > I believe (without being exactly sure how) that something similar 
> leads to the IMO rather strange view that if you are pro-Ron you 
must 
> somehow be anti-Hermione.  Not a view that any of the trio 
themselves 
> would understand.

Ebony:
 
> I agree.  And to be fair (although I am in this camp), often those 
in 
> my ideological camp are anti-Ron at the exclusion of all else.  I 
> know why we do it, 

Why?  I'm dying to know.

I have the same bewilderment at people who strongly dislike Ron as 
others have expressed at people who don't enthusiastically love Harry. 
 Aside from all the reasons I personally like Ron, would love to hang 
out with him, etc., I'd probably be persuaded of his good points by 
the mere fact that =Harry= loves him.

Ebony again:
 
> I actually thought about this.  I think she ought to have stayed out 
> of it completely instead of playing mediator.

I agree, but I think she did a heck of a job at staying out of the 
middle.  From the start she tells Harry, "I'm not telling him anything 
. . .Tell him yourself (GF 18)," and except for a couple of attempts 
to get Harry to talk to Ron (and presumably off-camera attempts to get 
Ron to talk to Harry), she doesn't try to mediate.  The girl is wise 
beyond her years.
 
and again Ebony:

> Does anyone else think that Harry and Ron will argue again, or even 
> fight?  Any predictions?

We all respond out of our own histories, and I loved the fight 
incident for the same reason I hated it:  it vividly recalled 
conflicts between me and friends at around that age, which occupied my 
mind as much as, frequently more than, budding romantic interests, 
schoolwork, or any other aspects of my life.  I don't think there is 
anything unusual about a pair of 14-year-old friends having a 
falling-out for 3 1/2 weeks (it seems eternal in the book, I know, but 
it lasts only from October 31 to November 24).  This incident also 
added depth to both characters and their relationship.  In short, the 
whole thing made Ron more complex and less likeable (it did Harry 
also, though I'm more inclined to sympathize with him because I'm 
privy to his reasons), but in no way made me =dislike= Ron or think 
there is a major flaw in his character.

Amy Z

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 . . . They made their way into the entrance hall,
 which was completely devoid of mad axe-men.
                  -HP and the Prisoner of Azkaban
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