Ron: GoF: Betrayed or Jealous?

[jenny_ravenclaw]

No: HPFGUIDX 42749

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "bboy_mn" <bboy_mn at y...> wrote:
 
> When Harry's name came out of the goblet, Ron felt betrayed. He felt 
like Harry had a secret, Harry had a way to fool the age circle and he 
didn't let Ron in on it. True, there is an element of jealousy in the 
sense that, he didn't let Ron in on it because he wanted all the glory 
for himself. But I still say that the really hurt was the sense of 
betrayal of their friendship. Harry had the secret, in Ron's eyes, to 
getting past the age ring, he knew Ron wanted to put his own name in, 
combined with Ron's own sense that he was Harry's absolute best 
friend, and then Harry left him on the outside. Harry failed to 
confide in the one person who was his truest and deepest friend. I 
don't think Ron's pain was in Harry getting the glory one more time, 
it was in his belief that Harry held their friendship in such low 
value that he couldn't be bother with sharing the secret with Ron.>

I must disagree with you here.  I feel that JKR has carefully made us 
aware that jealousy of others is an issue that Ron deals with.  He 
hates being poor and he hates sharing everything with his siblings.  
He craves an opportunity to shine and feels cheated when he does not 
get it.  This is not so obvious in SS, though we find out right away 
that he feels a bit neglected that his own mother can't remember what 
kind of sandwich he likes.  In PoA Ron is clearly pleased to share his 
story about Sirius standing over him.  He enjoys that everyone is 
interested in *him* for a change, instead of Harry.

It is in GoF when his jealousy starts to really kick in.  He is 
embarrassed on the Hogwarts Express when Draco makes fun of his dress 
robes and has trouble shaking it off for the the rest of the ride.  To 
me that meant that one of the reasons Ron hates Draco is because Draco 
seems to have all the money in the world while the Weasleys have next 
to nothing.  By the time Harry's name comes out of the Goblet, Ron is 
frustrated with always being seen as the sidekick and just one of the 
Weasleys.  If he feels betrayed, it is because he is already jealous 
of Harry.  Harry's parents left him a small fortune, Harry is an 
excellent Quidditch player, Harry's scar makes him forever famous... 
it is too much for Ron.  He feels that Harry being chosen as champion 
is just one more thing that Harry can do; one more thing that Harry 
will be famous for.

Ron is not the best at communicating his feelings, so instead of 
admitting that he is wildly jealous of Harry, he misplaces his anger 
and blames Harry for keeping a secret from him.  It is not until much 
later in GoF when Ron finally says "I hate being poor!"  It is a bit 
of a breakthrough for him, because until then, he often expressed 
himself by showing anger at others: why didn't Harry tell him about 
the leprechaun's gold, and so on.   

I'm curious to see how Ron will continue to handle his friendship with 
Harry in the next books.

--jenny from ravenclaw