Harry and the Weasleys (Was Cutting Ron A Break)

[caliburncy at yahoo.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 26685

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., catherine at c... wrote:
> The thought has never crossed my 
> mind that Harry could be jealous of Ron and his family - and I'm 
> pretty convinced that he is not.  In fact, apart from Harry's little 
> burst of jealousy over Cedric and Cho, which was not something that 
> seemed to eat away at him as Ron's jealousies do, I would have said 
> that jealousy was an emotion which doesn't bother Harry to much at 
> all.
> 
> Sure, he thinks that Ron is lucky to have a family like the 
Weasleys, 
> and probably finds it hard to understand why Ron doesn't seem to 
> appreciate them.  I'm also pretty sure that he would like to spend 
> more time at the Burrow (most of my favourite scenes which are of 
> substantial length are those which take place a the Burrow – I think 
> it's wonderful).   However,  just look at Harry's own position in 
> the  household, compared to Ron's – it seems much better in many 
> ways:

<snip extended list of proof>

This is such a nice and well-argued position that I feel a little 
guilty disagreeing with it, but I must.  The problem here is that 
jealously, at least in all of my observances and experiences, is an 
emotion and therefore not rational.  (All those persons who wish to 
contend that all emotions are really just immensely complex rational 
decisions are invited to read "Notes from the Underground" by 
Dostoyevsky and discuss with me off list.)  Whether or not Harry's 
position is better than Ron's is not really a determining factor in 
whether or not Harry is jealous of Ron.  Facts are colored and changed 
by our perceptions.  Harry may therefore perceive his position as 
worse even if it is not.  For one example, he may see that he has Mrs. 
Weasley's motherly affection, but also see that she will never be his 
mother like she is Ron's.  Therefore, in his mind, he could have 
reason to be jealous--though in fact it is not really the reason which 
led to the jealousy, but the jealousy that caused him to come up with 
that reason.  There is often a sense that someone has something that 
you will never have, and no matter how much the Weasley's incorporate 
Harry into their family, it is entirely possible that Harry will never 
feel like a true part of their family.  I'm not trying to say Harry 
*is* jealous of Ron's family (I think he very well might be, but 
that's not the point), rather that the actually factual preferability 
of one person's position over the other is not really a factor where 
jealousy is concerned.

Again, at least in my observations and experience.

-Luke