Ron's Alleged Jealousy (was: Draco vs. Ron)

[susanbones2003 <rdas@facstaff.wisc.edu>]

No: HPFGUIDX 52739

Dicentra wrote in regards to Ron:
> Can you (or anyone else) build a case for it?  REAL jealousy?  Not
> wistful thinking and wishing things were different, but soul-eating,
> deadly sin jealousy?
> 
> --Dicentra
 
IMHO when you compare Ron to Harry, it's easy to see him as jealous 
but it's by degrees. The picture we get of Harry (I am going to be 
really careful here as I don't want you all raining down fire on my 
head) is that he is almost beyond jealousy concerning the things that 
bother Ron. Since coming to Privet Dr., Harry's never had decent 
clothes and never had any expectation of them. He's never had money 
of any sort before school. Never had any love or appreciation. I know 
he resents the all the "stuff" Dudley gets but it's not as if it eats 
at his soul. He just can't think that way. Ron, on the other hand, is 
extremely aware of all the things his family must do without, all the 
corners that must be cut to make it and they bother him as they would 
bother anyone. He also knows how much his older brothers have 
achieved, something Harry doesn't have to contend with. Ron is also 
quite aware of who Harry is and what he represents in the wizarding 
world, even if he can never understand how little that matters when 
Harry is on Privet Dr. I think Ron is quite normal, not sinful in his 
jealousy, He's an immature kid, just like most kids his age.
JenD