Ron's contribution; and SHIP: JKR & Ron/Hermione, H/H converging

[Penny Linsenmayer]

No: HPFGUIDX 49982

Hi --

David asked:
> In terms of companionship, emotional support, magical ability, 
> commitment, faith in the others, loyalty, and all those other 
things that go into friendship, do you think Ron is behind the 
other two, particularly Hermione?>>>>>>>>>

Well, aside from his being on the outs with Harry for the better part of a month or more in GoF, no.  [BTW, I've thought that having them get into a fight did actually make alot of sense, since it really isn't natural for friends to never have arguments or fights, and I think they were both at fault for prolonging the disagreement, though I've always thought Ron was initially in the wrong].  

Ron is a loyal friend, and obviously he means alot to both Harry and Hermione.  I'm not suggesting that he will suddenly be excluded in some way ....... but I think if the trends of GoF continue, he will be bound to notice that he isn't contributing as much to solving the mysteries (if that remains the central element of each individual book's plotline that is).  For example, in CoS, Hermione's detective work and Harry's observing the crumpled paper in her hand led Harry to put all the pieces together.  If you re-read the conversation, Ron contributes nothing to that solution; Harry is thinking out loud and he puts it all together.  Of course, Ron was around for the Aragog adventure, which contributed to the overall solution .... but for the most part, I'd say the mystery was solved by the tandem efforts of Hermione and Harry.  In PoA, Ron is out cold when Hermione and Harry together figure out what Dumbledore means for them to do.  In GoF, because of the Harry/Ron disagreement, you see Hermione and Harry working as a team on the First Task solution.  The Trio all work together and fail miserably at figuring out what Harry needs to do to accomplish the Second Task.  The Third Task preparation is also largely a team effort.  But, in several conversations in GoF, my perception is that Ron is throwing out wild theories left & right and that Harry and Hermione are more or less ignoring him, while they work out what it might all mean.  

So, no, I don't think that Ron is somehow less qualified to be their friend.  I think his loyalty is his strongest suit.  And obviously, his chess abilities do seem to indicate he's got some strategizing skills that could be put to use -- I don't know why we haven't seen this out of Ron since PS/SS though.  I think Ron already has dangerously low self-esteem and that if he rightly or wrongly perceives that he's not contributing as much as the other two, it will be hard on overall relations amongst the Trio.   

Pippin: <<<<<It's only that Ron has a tendency to think out loud, whereas 
Hermione, as we all know, keeps her theories to herself until 
she can prove them and Harry would just as soon not think 
things out at all, if he can help it.>>>>>>>>

Harry thinks things out loud in both CoS and PoA, as I mentioned above.  He is a procrastinator on the tasks for the Tournament in GoF, but he does reason things through and think about alternative possibilities once he gets going.  Not following you here.  

Pippin: 

<<<<Besides, why does it have to be Hermione's job to improve her 
boy-friend's self -esteem? Sure, she has the ability to be a  
nurturing person, but why does her romantic interest have to be 
focused on that? If she needs to baby someone--well, that's 
what babies are for, IMNSHO.>>>>>>>>>>>

Well, I think encouraging and supporting your partner is completely different from "babying."  In fact, I don't think Ron needs babying at all.  That's the last thing he needs.  What he really needs is to sort out his self-esteem problems and *then* he'll be ready for a romantic relationship with someone like Hermione.  At the present though, I think he would need to see himself as the dominant or more successful party, and he's sure not going to get that from Hermione.  I think if the two of them end up dating it will turn into a power battle, due to Ron not being confident enough in his own abilities to let Hermione shine in her own right.   

<<<<Maybe it's the feminist in me that doesn't like H/H. Ginny would 
already melt into a pile of goo if Harry looked at her. Why does 
Hermione have to be the same way?>>>>>>>>

Okay, I'm *really* not following you here.  Why is H/H premised on Hermione suddenly turning into an adoring, simpering, star-struck girl?  Uh.  No.  You see, that's completely the opposite of what most H/H proponents argue.  Most of us see them as both being strong enough people to enter into a partnership ..... Ginny would hero-worship Harry from appearances so far (it appears that her crush is based on "The Boy Who Lived," rather than Harry Potter, real boy).  Hermione would *not* hero-worship him.  That's the whole point.  Harry is the hero, and so there's that danger of hero-worship for whoever his romantic partners are.  But, Hermione would quite clearly not fall into that category, which is one of the many reasons that H/H has always appealed to me.

Maybe it's the feminist in me that gets all riled up about R/H.  It's been my experience that many R/H'ers have a tendency to focus on Ron's feelings and conclude that because Ron likes her, it's a given that there will be a romance.  "But, it's *obvious* that Ron liiiiiiikes her."  To which I say a big giant: "So.  What."  It takes two.    

Penny


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