Ron- A Mommy's Boy?/ Mirror of Erised

[aldrea279]

No: HPFGUIDX 38729

Agh, there's so much stuff I want to post about on this on-going Ron 
debate, but I can't possible read all of this/type it all up tonight, 
seeing as how it's late and I have school tomorrow.  So I'll just 
settle with throwing this out there and giving myself more to read. =P


Barb: his mother tries to guilt him into being more ambitious 
than he is (she also berates the twins for not being prefects) so 
it's possible that he's reacting to his mother's pressure when he 
sees himself in the mirror covered in glory; in the end, perhaps 
pleasing his mother is really his heart's desire, and he knows what 
would please her, even though it's possibly not in his nature to 
deliver those particular things.
 
Penny: Hmmm... well, I guess we interpret these things differently. 
If the Mirror shows a person what his/her deepest most desperate 
desire is, isn't it a bit odd to think that a person wouldn't have 
his/her own independent desires, apart from wanting to please someone 
else superficially? 

Barb: Not at all. Ron frequently speaks of how his mother would react 
to something. Molly's opinion is clearly very important to him. Many 
people go through their entire lives trying to please their parents 
and do not ever give much thought to what they really want to do. 
Perhaps this is really why Ron seems somewhat aimless at this point 
in his life; he's not really focussing on what HE wants as much as 
his mother.

Naama: But surely if his deepest desire was to please his mother, 
this is what he would have seen in the Mirror? Molly hugging him, 
telling him he's her favorite, etc. What he sees is himself crowned 
with glory. I think we should accept this as is: Ron has a deep 
desire for more attention, recognition - the obverse side of which is 
his tendency to jealousy. It shouldn't be downplayed. 


Okay, I don't think Ron is trying to please his mother- I think he's 
trying to better himself and his family.  He's always making comments 
about being poor and hating that fact.  Well he's only 11 when he 
stands in front of the mirror, and at that time Hogwarts is a very 
big thing in his life. He's just come to this big new school, and 
although Ron isn't very driven on most things, he does seem to want 
to please those that he sees as worth pleasing.  And so, with 5 older 
brother's to follow, I see it as natural for him to wanting to do 
well at Hogwarts.  Ron reminds me alot of my little sister.  She's 
the last of four, she does have some shoes to fill, and she acts 
about it the same way as Ron:  needs to be badgered to do her homework
(and other things), complains about most things, bickers alot, and 
can throw a fit when she has a mind to.  But she's exceedingly family-
oriented and loyal when it comes down to it, though she can make a 
mountain out of a mole hill, as the saying goes.  Very much like Ron
(infact, same age as Ron when he stood infront of the mirror).

Agh, I see that I've rambled away from my point.  But getting back to 
it, Hogwarts- big thing to this 11 year old trying to come into his 
own, and in doing well at Hogwarts(as Ron sees himself in the Mirror, 
at graduating age and with so many accomplishments), perhaps Ron also 
sees that that would lead to a road to better things: a good job, a 
good income, finally some money and(since everyone finds Ron somewhat 
glory-hungry)perhaps some glory for his family?  He's 11, and Ron 
doesn't seem to be the planning ahead type- so perhaps when he looked 
into the mirror, on that one night during his first year at Hogwarts, 
what he really wanted was to excel there and be patted on the back by 
everyone.  But that was just on that one night.


I do think Ron is ambitious, but he completely lacks the necessary 
drive.  I really wonder what the Sorting Hat said to him, he seems to 
have some of the makings of a Slytherin, also- except for his loyalty 
and total lack of ruthless determination.  I firmly believe that Ron 
has yet to find his own calling.  The Twins seem to resemble Ron in 
the aspects of rules and authority, and they have finally found 
something they can excel and exceed others in: they're toy making 
business.  I think Ron is also looking for something that he will 
find joy/excel greatly in, and I hope he finds it like the Twins did.

But going back to the Mirror- I don't think it shows your deepest, 
darkest,most desperate heart's desire.  I think it shows the one 
thing you are most wanting *at that moment*.  When Harry first sees 
the Mirror, he sees himself surrounded by family- understandable, 
considering how he's been raised by the uncaring Dursley's and has 
just recently discovered his parent's past and their deep love for 
him.  Ron sees himself as exceling greatly at Hogwarts- also 
understandable, as he has just entered Hogwarts standing under his 
brother's shadows.  But when Harry faces the Mirror again, he sees 
himself finding the Stone in his pocket- because that was what he 
most wanted(*at that moment*)- to get the Stone and protect it from 
evil.  The Mirror showed Quirrel as just wanting the Stone, but I 
doubt that was his deepest darkest desire- it was just what he was 
wanting the most at that moment.  If it had showed his deepest 
desire, it might have showed him breaking free of Voldermort(if there 
was any good left in him) or himself exceling greatly for Voldemort 
and recieving his praise(since he was such a loyal servant as to 
allow Voldie to posses the back of his head).

So I really don't see why you should read so much into what the 
Mirror showed that one night to Ron and Harry.  And I'm going to end 
this here because I need sleep. =P

~Aldrea