[HPforGrownups] Weasleys and the Problem of Money

[Carol Bainbridge]

No: HPFGUIDX 48070

sixhoursahead wrote:

>Ok, I searched for this and did not see anything, so fogive me if it
>has already been done.  But I have this awful horrible feelings that
>Ron Weasley and perhaps the twins are going to be tempted to the Dark
>Side or betrayal for money.

I've had that feeling about Ron since I first read GoF.  His attitude 
toward his poverty and toward Harry in that book have really bothered 
me.  I don't get the same feeling from the twins since they seem to handle 
things just fine.   Of course, they aren't best friends with the "famous 
Harry Potter" and that's got to take some of the pressure off.  The other 
Weasley I became concerned over is Percy since his ambition is pointed out 
quite a bit by Ron.  However, I don't see either of them intentionally 
going over to the dark side.  I can see them as dupes, though.  I can see 
them unwittingly playing right into the hands of LV because of these 
qualities of theirs.  Ron's occasional jealousy of Harry and his 
frustration with his lack of money (and being teased about it by Draco) and 
Percy's great ambition are just the things that could be used against 
them.  It's this very thing that has made me think at times that Ron is 
going to end up dying, a high price to pay for his inability to come to 
terms with his situation.  But I like to think it would be a noble end with 
him realizing what he's done and sacrificing himself for the greater good 
as he did in the chess game in SS/PS.

>I know I know, Ron would never do that.
>But JK definitely upped the significance of the Weasley's poverty GoF
>just when she has set the stage for "now is the time to see who will
>choose what".

I agree.  It's one of the things that has made me think Ron is going to 
make a big mistake for which he will pay the ultimate price.

>And also ron talks about how he believes the twins
>would do almost anything for money (though this may be alleviated by
>Harry's gift).

But that's Ron's interpretation of the twins.  I don't see the twins 
deliberately choosing evil in order to make money.  Now a joke shop I can 
see them with.  I can see them creating some pretty outlandish joke items, 
much as they have been doing with canary custard cremes.  I can't even 
really imagine the twins being duped into doing something really awful.  I 
think they know where the line is that they can't cross.

>But the amount of comments by Ron along the line
>of "Why is everything I own rubbish", are greatly increased.  Along
>with his bitterness at Harry's relative wealth (something we had not
>seen in any of the other books).  I think that without a doubt
>something is being set up here.

Again I agree.  And it's Ron's bitterness that makes him the most likely 
candidate in my view for becoming an unwitting pawn of LV.  Percy may be 
ambitious and the twins may bend the rules, but none of them have the 
bitterness that Ron seems to be developing.

>I mean we cannot just think that the
>Trio are going to go through these dark years ahead of them with
>absoulutely no threat to their loyalty and frienship with each
>other.  And Ron's attitude towards money in GoF, makes me nervous!

That was my first impression reading GoF the first time and it remains my 
impression as I'm rereading it now for the umpteenth time.  I like Ron very 
much, but I'm sure something's up with him.


Carol