Anatomy of a Rift

[Steve <bboy_mn@yahoo.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 52084

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "abigailnus <abigailnus at y...>"
<abigailnus at y...> wrote:
> First of all, bravo, Dicentra, on a thought-provoking and 
> compelling argument.  I was all set to toss Jealous!Ron out 
> the window and replace him with a new and improved 
> Betrayed!Ron, but I'm afraid that I have one itsy-bitsy issue 
> to raise before I declare myself sold.  Not so much an issue 
> as a question, in fact, but a very important one.
> 
> What is the point?
> 
> What purpose is JKR serving by leading her readers by the 
> hand to the conclusion of Jealous!Ron, but in reality writing 
> text that supports Betrayed!Ron?  What narrative function 
> does this device serve?
> 
> ...huge edit...
>
> Abigail

bboy_mn:
 
Implied in your 'What is the point?' seems to be an underline
implication of 'What's the BAD point?'. Maybe it's not a bad point but
a good one.

First possibility, maybe this little subplot is self-contained. Maybe
it's not foreshadowing of specific future event.

It could be as simple as this-
1.) We are the best of friends.
2.) you (seem to have) betrayed me, I guess I'm not the friend I
thought we was.
3.) I am the most precious thing in your life. I guess we are even
better friend than I ever imagined we could be.
4.) end of subplot. The complete and final end with no implications or
foreshadowing.

To those who CAN see Jealous!Ron but can't see Betrayed!Ron, it seems
that your resistance is based on the belief that whatever!Ron has to
lead to a bad thing. That it has to be a dividing force. Jealous!Ron
leads to the Betrayer!Ron. You are subconsciously searching for the
force that tears them apart. Maybe the force you should be looking for
is the force that bonds them together.

Jealousy can lead to betrayal, but where can mistake-betrayal lead?

Well, if you don't llke my above 'it's all self-contained in this one
story and doesn't foreshadow anything' idea, let's try this as an
alternative.

First this thought was triggered in my mind by someone mentioning that
after the second task when Ron was getting some attention, Harry
assume Ron's pleasure in it was because Ron was getting to share the
limelight for a change. This person (sorry couldn't find that post
again) speculated the Ron 'joy' was really in the realization the he
(Ron) was the most precious thing in Harry's life, even more precious
the Harry's world class Firebolt Broomstick which was the first thing
Harry thought of.

So now we have a friendship that was tested. A friendship that was in
doubt, yet in the end, only proven to be a greater friendship than any
of them could have imagined. This is the glue that binds them. This is
the defining event that cements their friendship for all time.

This is the event that confirms the love between them (no not slash
love), and foreshadows Ron's self-sacrific.

Jealous!Ron leads to Betrayer!Ron.

But Mistakenly-Betrayeed!Ron leads to Now-Loved-More-Than-Ever!Ron
which in turn leads to
He-Who-Holds-His-Friends-Life-as-Greater-than-His-Own-and-Willing-to-Sacrifice-Himself!Ron.

Self-Sacrifice!Ron is not a new idea, it's been around for ages. So
why can't Friendship_Renewed_Greater_Than_ Ever lead to
Self-sacrifice!Ron.

That's the Point? I'd say, that's a pretty big point.


bboy_mn