Ron vs. Draco

[Tom Wall <thomasmwall@yahoo.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 52617

Susanne wrote:
<snip>
While Ron has his less than 
nice moments, he also has many
more likable qualities.

I reply:
Well, I agree that Ron has many 
likeable qualities - after all, 
we get to see his likeable
qualities. We don't get to see 
any of Draco's better qualities, 
since his role thus far seems 
basically to serve in the 
capacity of Harry's prime 
antagonist at Hogwarts.

But we do see that other people, granted, mostly Slytherins, do seem 
to like him:

"When Harry, Ron, and Hermione entered the Great Hall for breakfast 
the next day, the first thing they saw was Draco Malfoy, who seemed 
to be entertaining a large group of Slytherins with a very funny 
story."
(PoA, US paperback, Ch.6, p96)

"The Slytherins were shouting about Hagrid.
'They should fire him straight away!' said Pansy Parkinson, who was 
in tears."
(PoA, US paperback, Ch.6, p118)

"'How is it, Draco?' simpered Pansy Parkinson. 'Does it hurt much?'"
(PoA, US paperback, Ch.7, p123)

We also know that Draco had no problems getting a date for the dance, 
unlike Crabbe and Goyle.  And there are numerous other examples, be 
they bits and pieces only, to indicate that Draco is liked and 
admired by other students.  So, I wouldn't say that he's necessarily 
unlikeable for everyone. 

But it is unquestionable that HHR don't like him, and since the 
series is mostly written with them as the protagonists, it's not 
difficult, IMO, to understand why he seems to be so disagreeable. 
Undoubtedly he and HHR are thorns in each others' sides, for sure. 

IMO, it's all in the matter of the perspective one tries to take. I 
personally don't think that Draco's evil, but I do think that he's 
not very nice. But OTOH, if you try to see things from his 
perspective, then with some diligent canon searches, it's possible to 
see how he could be considered likeable.

-Tom