[HPforGrownups] About Ron (not shipping)

[Mary Shearer]

No: HPFGUIDX 34475


Mercia wrote:
 Much
> though I hated the 
> thought I began to wonder if Ron could eventually
> become so 
> embittered by his circumstances and these slight
> character 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. 

I've wondered too if Ron is headed for trouble.  Ron
is so impetuous, and his bitter moments are always
unexpected and quite jarring.  You're right - he does
voice his concern for George and Fred - and for Percy
as well, saying that he's not sure family ties are
strong enough to stand in the way of Percy's ambition.
I'm not sure where comments like that are leading, but
they have to be more than just throwaways. Perhaps his
worry about his brothers' strength of character is
reflective of his concern for his own.  This, it seems
to me, would speak volumes about Ron's personal
integrity.  Not one to be given over to
self-introspection, Ron's fear for his brothers might
just be (an unconscious) fear for himself.  He is
pretty pensive after that conversation about Fred and
George...he doesn't like what he sees, and that's
encouraging.

Ron's emotions are almost always right at the surface,
and he usually voices them honestly - positive or
negative, you always know where you stand with Ron. If
he becomes suddenly withdrawn or overly surly, red
flags should go up for his friends. However, Harry the
not-so-great communicator may miss the chance to bail
his friend out before he hits the downward spiral, and
I suppose that Ron's weaknesses could be exploited at
that point. 

For what it's worth, I don't think Ron will succumb to
evil as Peter did - but I do think that he will be
given the opportunity. We may go right to the wire
thinking that history will repeat itself ala
Pettigrew, but I think that in the end, (given that
things play out this way - who knows?) Ron will
survive his crisis of the spirit and emerge stronger
and surer of himself - perhaps a hero in his own right
rather than an admirer or a sidekick, and take his
place at Harry's side instead of in his shadow.

-Mary, who's got herself worked up into a proper
frenzy over poor Ron...that fifth book better come out
soon before I implode.

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