About Ron (not shipping)

[meglet2]

No: HPFGUIDX 34460

I had a scarily nasty thought about Ron this morning. Into my mind, 
when I wasn't even thinking about HP, flitted the number of times we 
hear Ron's resentment about his family's poverty. 'I hate being poor' 
sort of thing. I started to wonder if these could be hints of 
a 'fatal flaw' that could render him corruptible, particularly when 
added to his unrecognised jealousy (unrecognised by himself that is) 
of Harry and his fame, and his psychological need (revealed in the 
mirror or Erised) to gain status in his own right. 

The first group of friends after all had their unexpected traitor in 
the midst who was corrupted by Voldermort. Much though I hated the 
thought I began to wonder if Ron could eventually become so 
embittered by his circumstances and these slight cahracter flaws that 
he would turn to the dark. It's sort of what he fears for Fred and 
George in GoF when he thinks they have become so obsessed by money 
and that could be either a sign that he himself will have the 
strength to resist or a dramatic irony preceding his own fall. I 
really, really don't want to think this, but it would make for some 
very profound strands in the story and could be the sort of area JKR 
wants to explore. She does have a way of reversing all previous 
expectations. 

So go on, folks, please, please prove me wrong.

Could I just add how much I have enjoyed, as a newbie, reading some 
of these discussions, even if I haven't joined in much yet. I 
particularly appreciated the whole bunch of replies to the 'Harry 
Potter a worthwile series?' post. I am a Christian minister working 
with students and have had to defend my appreciation for 'Harry 
Potter' on such grounds on various occasions. The posts provided me 
with loads of ammunition for future debates. I just wish I could feel 
the original poster had read a word of them, let alone come to any 
better understanding. I work in Northern Ireland so I have few 
illusions about the power of religious bigotry. 

meglet2/Mercia