In Defense of Percy (WAS In Defense of Fred and George)

Penny Linsenmayer pennylin at swbell.net
Tue Aug 27 01:34:47 UTC 2002


No: HPFGUIDX 43191

Hi --

I must make just one small point here ....

Eileen said:

> 
> Now, I find it quite telling that in the
> Potterverse, "Shut up!" seems 
> to be a gentle inoffensive almost endearing form of
> adress among boys. 
> (And in my family as well, I must say.) Our first
> Percy/twins exchange 
> reminds me of this. Fred and George make fun of
> Percy's pride at being 
> a prefect, and Percy tells them to shut up. I
> wouldn't say there was 
> much resentment between them
> at that point. Later in the book, there is the
> heartwarming sweater 
> scene, where it's obvious that Percy has dropped in
> because he wants 
> to be with the rest of the family, and that Fred and
> George really 
> treasure their older brother.

Nicole responded:

<<<<<<<And what does Percy want to do?  He wants to sit with
the prefects.  Fred and George have to order him to
sit with his family.  So who is that's not valuing
their family connection in this scene?>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Eh, eh, eh.  Careful!  We don't know what Percy *wants* to do.  There's no indication that he planned to sit with the prefects or that he *wanted* to sit with the prefects.  No.  All we know is that the Twins *assume* he would want this, but as Eileen noted, it's clear that Percy dropped in because it was Christmas morning and he wanted to be with his family.  The Twins don't *have to* order him to sit with the family.  They jovially tease him in a way that suggests that he'd better not think about it being any other way, and I have to say that this is a nice dynamic between the brothers.  I would say that all the brothers are valuing the family connection in this scene.

Eileen again:> But things change. As Elkins once asked, can you
> picture Fred and 
> George making Percy spend Christmas with them now?
> Not in GoF, at any 
> rate where Percy's brothers keep as far away from
> him as possible. 
> Now, the whole Ron/Percy dynamic is fascinating
> enough, but I would 
> suggest that it bears little relation to the
> F&G/Percy dynamic. 
> There's a lot more emotion between Ron and Percy.
> There are great 
> displays of pride, cruelty, loathing, and love
> between those two. I 
> once ventured that I believe Ron and Percy to be
> very similar in 
> character. On which of course I was asked for
> details. But it is a 
> post I've never got around to writing.

Nicole's response:

<<<<<<There is no cannon evidence to support the idea that
they would not have wanted Percy to be around them at
Christmas.  Sure, Percy annoys them but when do they
ever say, "God, I wish Percy would just go away and
leave us alone forever?">>>>>>>>>>>

I think you're looking for canon evidence that is *direct* and clearcut.  No, you're not going to find it.  But, there has been a subtle ongoing change in the Weasley family dynamic, IMO, in the course of the 4 books, and I'd have to agree with Elkins and Eileen that things are deteriorating by GoF.  It's not completely the fault of any one family member by any means.  But, things are not all sweetness and light by this point.  

Penny
P.I.N.E. Founder
(who hopes that Eileen will write her post comparing Ron and Percy, though she should be sure to consult Debbie's excellent post on this topic (Message 38730), which, IMO, might be one of the most thought-provoking HP4GU posts ever ...)  











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