JKR priorities/characterisation - Ron's development

Wed Jan 2 23:38:39 UTC 2002

No: HPFGUIDX 32605

Me, referring to a list of HP characters that I will justify/walk away from another day:

>>Do you think I am right about who is to be developed as a character in future books and who not? 

Amy:
> I would add Dumbledore to your list.  The answer to the question currently haunting Harry and us--how did Dumbledore know that Snape was trustworthy?--will probably be almost as illuminating of Dumbledore's character as Snape's.  I also thought he got much more complex in GoF, so I have hopes that that trend will continue.

Amy, could you say what you mean about Dumbledore's increased complexity in GoF?

Amy again:
> Anyway, in the basic question of what JKR puts the highest priority on, I'd be hard-pressed to say whether it's plot or character.  One thing's sure:  she does an amazing job of not sacrificing either to the other.

I'm beginning to move away from a simple priorities view, but I still think that while characterisation details such as body language and timing of speech (someone should do a study of all the occasions when Harry 'added hurriedly' or 'quickly said') are handled very well, I'm suspicious that JKR doesn't always think through the characterisation implications of *situations* which are presented for plot purposes, particularly when she hands the reader an argument from silence as when Ron would see Hermione sitting alone.  The reason I'm changing my view is that while the detailed characterisation is done within a very demanding plot framework, the ultimate plot mystery *is* character: who is Harry, why did Voldemort attack him, what sort of person was Lily.  Although it is still possible that the resolution of these mysteries could turn on 'mechanical' developments (for example the Department of Mysteries concept presented in the Lexicon), I'm fairly hopeful that the ever-present theme of choices based on character and in turn shaping it will be found to underlie the events of Harry's early childhood.

Me again, alluding to Penny:

>>I will try to get back to characterisation another time, particularly the very deep comment that Ron is becoming more himself.

Amy:
>I liked the comment too, and as a loyal C.R.A.B. member, I must respond.  I don't want to start a round of "I was so ____ at age ___ and then became more _____," but I am sure I'm not the only person who reflects on her life to this point and sees many past entrenchments, conversions, and slow evolutions.  Ron is not terribly likeable in GoF; he is jealous, overly eager to impress, quick to judge, and hot-tempered.  Why see this as an entrenchment and not, say, a crisis preceding a conversion?  

>One can look at any 14-year-old and say, "yep, he was just like that when he was 4," and look at that 14-year-old another 10 years hence and say "yep, he hasn't changed," but IMO, we all become more ourselves *and* change.

I have two comments on this.  One is that I believe that there are two crises for Ron in GOF - his fight with Harry and his fight with Hermione.  After these crises he shows signs of understanding that there are aspects of his personality which he wants to change, or at least behave better on.  He still struggles with feelings of jealousy towards Harry, and this is both realistic, - jealousy doesn't just disappear because it has been identified - and grounds for hope - he *does* struggle instead of giving in.  He has made his decision, that Harry's friendship is worth more than his own warped perception of ideal humanity (to be the focus of attention - how JKR lambasts this desire as unmitigatedly destructive at every turn!), and that, if held to, will be far-reaching for his character.  His change in attitude to Hermione is less clearly delineated, but I believe he is on the road to recovery here too, as his request for Krum's autograph (again after a struggle) suggests.  Note too that he gets his brief day in the sun after the second task, and when Hermione takes him down, he does not seem to resent or resist it.

It is my observation that adults dealing with children that they know well, seeing them struggle with temptation, can focus on disciplining the child for being tempted, instead of commending their efforts, however grudging or feeble, to resist it.  We are impatient in wanting them to move on, and so hinder them.  At least Ron, as a fictional character, is immune to reader pressure.

My second comment is that for change to be meaningful, some part of the person changing must remain the same.  Otherwise we are dealing not with the development of Ron, but with his replacement, lock, stock, and barrel, with a completely different, unrelated person.

I feel there is more to be mined from the idea of change that is consistent with character, but my ideas run out so I will come to a .

David
-- 

__________________________________________________________________
Your favorite stores, helpful shopping tools and great gift ideas. Experience the convenience of buying online with Shop at Netscape! http://shopnow.netscape.com/

Get your own FREE, personal Netscape Mail account today at http://webmail.netscape.com/