Ron's Alleged Jealousy and Authorial Intention

[aurigae_prime <ZaraLyon@aol.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 52750

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "dicentra63 <dicentra at x>" 
<dicentra at x> wrote:
 
> 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?
> 

Well, I wanted to take this to TBAY but, never having been there 
before, I wasn't certain with whom I should make contact to impart 
the can(n)on I've found on Ron's jealousy.

At any rate, let me preface this post with the remark that I 
certainly can't build a case for "soul-eating, deadly sin jealousy" 
because I just don't believe that Ron's jealousy is so dark. I think 
it can get him into trouble if it's not checked, but I also hope that 
he's learned a lesson after GoF. Someone said a while back (apologies 
for not being able to give credit here) that perhaps GoF was Ron's 
low point, just as PoA was Hermione's. This is a belief that I cling 
to, because while Ron is hardly my favourite character, I never 
actively DISliked him before GoF. I would love to see OoP helping Ron 
climb off my Disliked List and maybe even onto my Liked List. And, 
all of the above aside, I just don't think that the average 14 year 
old is so corrupted as Dicentra asks us to prove. And after all, Ron 
IS the most average character in the series, isn't he?

Without further ado, to the can(n)on suggesting that JKR intends Ron 
to be jealous in GoF.

GoF, US paperback edition, p.389, The Unexpected Task:
"'Listen, you're not going to have any trouble. You're a champion. 
You've just beaten a Hungarian Horntail. I bet they'll be queuing up 
to go with you.'
In tribute to their recently repaired friendship, Ron had kept the 
bitterness in his voice to a bare minimum."

Now, is that really Harry judging Ron's tone? Is that Harry who's 
explaining exactly why Ron's trying not to be bitter? Or is it JKR? 
It wouldn't be the first time she's slipped from Harry's POV to 
explain Ron's actions. Compare with this passage from PS/SS.

SS, US paperback edition, p. 176, Halloween:
"Hermione had sunk to the floor in fright; Ron pulled out his own 
wand -- not knowing what he was going to do he heard himself cry the 
first spell that came into his head: 'Wingardium Leviosa!'"

So, I believe that JKR has simply endorsed Hermione's interpretation 
of Ron's behaviour.... he's jealous. And I can't recall the narrative 
being wrong before. HRH's interpretation of narrative events, yes-- 
but not the narration itself.


Cheers,
Rhiannon the RavenSlyth