Percy- a little odd?

[Rebecca M <rmatovic@ssk.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 48997


Personally, I don't think that rebel/conformist is the most important 
dichotomy in analyzing the Weasley's and how Percy is different.  
Pragmatism/idealism and tolerance for disorder are more dominant 
issues.  Also there's an issue about the degree of talent among the 
children, and there need for approval from authority figures versus 
their independence of mind (a slightly different quality than 
rebelliosness).

Arthur -- Most distinguished by his idealism: willing to sacrifice 
pragmatic pursuit of higher position to do what he loves, not only 
tolerates but embraces/loves/thrives on the chaos of a home with seven 
children.  Indepedent of mind.

Molly -- Most distinguished by her pragmatism (and more or less alone 
in this among the family), but also lovingly tolerant of her husband's 
idealism and the chaos of their life.  Less independent of mind.


Bill -- Most distinguished by brilliance coupled with independent 
spirit..  Also the most pragmatic (why else go to Gringott's?) of the 
children (and thus winning Molly's approval the most), but with a true 
independent spirit.

Charlie -- Probably most like Arthur of the kids -- pursues his love of 
dragons in an idealistic manner.  


F&G:  Very talented, but their love of a good joke supersedes any 
practical considerations (and their pursuit of what they love is part 
fits well with the family traits of idealism/independence).

All of the above are very fundamentally comfortable in their own skins.


Percy -- Pragmatic and the only lover of order for order's sake in the 
clan.  Not comfortable in his own skin because he feels at odds with 
his family based on his love and respect for order.  Bright, but not as 
talented as his two older brothers, or perhaps even as the twins.  
Works hard to compensate for his lesser talent. The only one who 
actively eskews independence in favor of deferring to authority. 

So it is his love of order and his comparative lack of idealism that 
make him seem out of place in his family.  

I think what we'll see with him is that he has some of the same 
personality traits as Fudge and company, but that he ends up doing 
something different with that basic material by recognizing the need to 
be a champion for good in  a crunch.  Fits with one of JKR's meta-
themes of innate characteristics being secondary to what one chooses to 
do with those characteristics.

Ron -- struggles with some of the same concerns about comparative 
talent as Percy.  More evenly split between the poles of idealism and 
pragmatism than other clan members.  Thrives in the loving chaos of his 
family, but not entirely sure he approves of it.  Potential to be very 
like Percy -- but doesn't crave approval as much as P.


Ginny -- A bit lost as the only girl and the youngest.  Craves approval 
like Percy.  Not comfortable in her own skin.  I'll bet she either dies 
or develops to be very like Molly.


Rebecca