Harry & Jealousy

[fourfuries at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 26770

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., meboriqua at a... wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at y..., blpurdom at y... wrote:  
> > 
> > However, we discover in GoF that the thing that Harry is most 
> jealous  of once he is a Triwizard champion is Ron's ordinariness.
> Harry is jealous of Ron's family, but 
> he also is jealous of Ron's unremarkableness, which makes Ron very 
> discontented (as evidenced by the Mirror of Erised)[snip]but I also 
> know Harry is destined for much bigger and more important things. 

Not to be a snit, but I think the discussion would be improved if we 
note that it is Envy, not Jealousy, that Harry feels.  We envy things 
that others possess, but can only be jealous regarding things that 
belong to us.  Thus, the jealous husband considers himself to be 
defending "his" territory, just as the "jealous god" Jehovah is 
protective of his position in the eyes of "his people", the wandering 
Israelites.

Envy, on the other hand, is a more dangerous thing, as it has no 
justification.  It is, like lust and greed, one of the Seven 
Reputedly Deadly Sins, and must be guarded against.  Ron is envious 
of Harry's notoriety, Harry of Ron's anonymity.  How they handle 
these natural but dangerous impulses determines the extent to which 
envy is a theme worth discussing.

4FR