[HPforGrownups] Re: Magic Detection/ Ron and the dress robes/ Socks and Celebrity (and sweaters)

[Moonstruck]

No: HPFGUIDX 45011

Richelle said:

<<< While it's all a good theory, we still have only
Dumbledore's word for what he saw in the mirror.  Even
Harry doubted he'd told the truth, it was extremely
personal. >>>

Me:
I don't understand why JKR would throw in such a
strange and symbolically loaded comment if it didn't
mean something. Particularly when it's Dumbledore
doing the talking. And -- if Dumbledore's desire for
socks indicates his desire for love and respect based
on his true personality and not his reputation
(neither of which bare much resemblance to the other)
and that that desire is a representation of his
feelings of isolation, loneliness, and impressions of
less than genuine expressions of devotion -- the
confession is, indeed, extremely personal. I mean,
let's face it, Harry's not always incredibly quick
--especially in SS/PS -- to pick up the subtle nuances
of people's comments.

Richelle said:
<<< While I'm sure it's true that a great deal of love
and labor goes into these sweaters that Molly makes,
and they are individualized, but still they're always
the same.  Ron always gets a maroon sweater with an R
on it. >>>
 
I think somebody commented that there's a likelihood
that Ron has never informed Molly of his distaste for
Maroon. I think it all together possible that she
makes him these sweaters year after year thinking
they're just what he likes. Ron does have a tendency
to grumble about things that bother him, but not do
anything constructive to actually fix them. 

I think the most important aspect of this is that
Molly makes these sweaters out of her love for,
devotion to and need to protect her children. They say
it's the thought that counts and if Ron's never given
her any reason to believe that thought invalid, that's
really Ron's issue, not Molly's.

<<< I don't think Ron really is tossing away affection
by not appreciating the things his mother makes him,
he's probably just tired of it. >>> 

And that's the crux of the problem! He's grown to take
his family for granted -- not a rare mistake for a kid
to make, but he has such feelings of ambivalence
toward them that it strikes me as a dangerous path for
Ron to tread. Indeed, I believe that's why JKR
juxtaposes Fred and George's reactions to Ron and
Percy's. Let's face it, Percy could do with a little
humility and appreciation for the values his family
strives to instill in their children. Based on his
dismissive behavior toward his family in GoF, a
question mark hangs over his head as to were his
loyalties will lie and how that will effect himself,
his family, and the course of the war against
Voldemort. In many ways, he's a loose cannon -- and so
is Ron. I think much of that has to do with their
willingness to throw their family aside or belittle
the effects of their love.

That stands in stark contrast to Harry, who, having
never had anyone who loved him enough to make a
sweater just for him, is touched and appreciative of
Molly's gesture of acceptance. No, he hasn't grown up
getting these sweaters year after year, but he also
hasn't grown up with a great deal of love and
encouragement. Which do you think is worse? I can't
fully explain the significance of the variety of his
sweaters. Perhaps it indicates Molly's evolving
perceptions of Harry as she grows to know him better.
Harry hasn't had the luxury of growing up in the
Weasley household where Molly could watch him grow and
advance and understand the full nature of his
identity.

Plus, Fred and George -- perhaps the most mischievous,
but, in my opinion, most well-adjusted of the Weasley
children -- don't seem to object to getting the same
sweater year after year. They still appreciate its
significance. And they don't seem to have the identity
or self-esteem issues Ron and Percy seem to have.

But that's only my two cents.

-Jessica :-)



=====
"Oh, I'll settle down with some old story/About a boy who's just like me/Thought there was love in everything and everyone/You're so naive!/After a while they always get it/They always reach a sorry end/Still it was worth it as I turned the pages solemnly, and then/With a winning smile, the boy/With naivety succeeds/At the final moment, I cried/I always cry at endings"
- "Get Me Away From Here I'm Dying," Belle and Sebastian

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