Thoughts on Ron Weasley

[C M]

No: HPFGUIDX 72066

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "greatelderone" 
<greatelderone at y...> wrote:
>>>Not in the fashion of actively going de and handing them to 
Voldemort, but ultimately the one who inadvertently betrays his dear 
friends and places them in danger in a rash moment of weakness.<<<

Me:
First off, I completely disagree that Ron is/will be "The Pettigrew" 
of the group. If someone had suggested it to me halfway through GoF, 
I certainly would've considered it possible, but now? I don't see it, 
and not because I'm turning a blind eye. Mostly it's because the bulk 
of the weaknesses people have pointed to are being overcome by Ron 
with each successive book, making him less and less likely to ever 
turn traitor.

As to the theory that he'll "inadvertantly betray" his friends, well, 
if it's inadvertant, doesn't that make it a "mistake?" A mistake is 
not a betrayal. Harry made a rather massive mistake at the end of 
OOTP which resulted in a death and several injuries. Did he "betray" 
Sirius? Hermione? Ginny? Tonks? I think you see where I'm going with 
this.

  
>>>No [Ron] isn't [strong]. He was extremely susceptible to the jeers 
of the Slytherins and only remained because Angelina refused to allow 
him to quit and only overcame them during the last game against 
Ravenclaw.<<<

Me:
There are a lot of ways to be strong. The example you're citing is 
really more about Ron being insecure, which you noted that he 
overcame. And, heh, there's that word again: Overcame. Proved 
Angelina right, didn't he? But, honestly? Find me a 15-year-old who 
*isn't* insecure about some things and I'll rethink Ron's 'turncoat' 
potential.

Re: Strength. I'd argue that Ron has certainly shown tons of it (the 
climaxes of PS/SS, CoS, PoA and OotP come to mind).

 
>>>[Ron] is more of a follower. He for example never questioned Harry 
about his false vision while Hermione did so and didn't encourage him 
to go back to Snape and ask for occlumency lessons. Furthermore as 
prefect he never rose to the occasion of leadership and instead 
allowed George and Fred to boss him around.<<<

Gee, why wouldn't Ron question Harry's vision? Could it be because 
the last time Harry had one, it saved his father's life? I'm 
thinking, "Yeah." And not encouraging him to continue lessons that 
were clearly having a bad effect on him (referring here to Harry 
being pale and tense afterwards)? Wow, he is a jerk. Or maybe he's 
just a loyal friend who doesn't like seeing Harry go through any more 
crap than he has to. He's not analytical like Hermione; he doesn't 
sit around trying to figure out why Harry needs Occlumency lessons 
(for that matter, neither does *Harry*), so it doesn't occur to him 
that they're really all that important. Again, that doesn't make him 
a bad friend. It makes him a friend who doesn't "parent" Harry. I 
think it's pretty similar to most friendships between boys of any age.


>>>By making himself the guinea pig is more like it.<<<

Me:
Seriously? That's your argument? Then I'll respond in a similarly 
weak fasion: Hermione made herself one, too. Neener, neener.


>>>Only when Hermione [stood up for Harry]. And don't forget this is 
the same friend that became actively jealous of him for being picked 
for the triwizard tournament and didn't listen to his denials when he 
said he didn't put his name in and who was still jealous of his 
friends wealth and fame afterwards.<<<

Me:
I'm not sure which instance of "standing up for Harry" was being 
referred to, but I'll counter with the very recent incident with 
Seamus in the dorm, which Hermione had no part of and, therefore, 
couldn't have done first. Ron took up for Harry without a second 
thought. As for the fight in GoF, well that would be one of those 
things Ron needed to, and did, "overcome." Also, it's debatable that 
Ron's response to Harry being named a champion was all jealousy. In 
my opinion, there was some betrayal in there; the belief that Harry 
had figured out a loophole and not let Ron in on it.

Is Ron still jealous? I don't think so. At least I can't think of any 
textual evidence to support it. And even if he does harbor some 
resentment, I suspect it's dying fast. He's getting recognition on 
his own now (prefect, Quidditch) and, like many poor kids before him, 
he's going to start realizing that someday he'll make his own money 
with which he can buy all that stuff he wants (seeing F&G's shop 
doing well ought to help with that).


>>...Ron is the one who is still held in check by his prejudices and 
who is relatively immature.<<<

Me:
Ron's immature? Get right out of town. Again, he's 15! He's supposed 
to be immature. I think age and experience (not to mention Hermione's 
continued influence) will help change his less than savory ingrained 
beliefs.
 
>>>What? Ron has said over and over again that he hates being poor 
and that he thought that his father had a crappy and boring job which 
just shows how much respect he has for his father.<<<

Me:
Real life share time: I was less than "comfortably wealthy" growing 
up. That doesn't mean I hated my parents. Also, I thought both of my 
parents had crappy, boring jobs. Doesn't mean I didn't respect them.

Ron does think highly of his father. If memory serves, he once stated 
that his dad could've moved up in the MoM if he wanted, but he was 
happy where he was. That's not something you say about a person you 
feel hateful and disrespectful toward. Resentful? Possibly, but 
again, I think that's something that will go away with age and 
experience.

The bottom line for me is that the weaknesses that might have 
conspired to make Ron ultimately betray his friends are becoming 
fewer as each book comes out. Because of this, I consider it less and 
less likely that, if there's to be another "Pettigrew," it'll be Ron. 
He's a good, loyal friend who I suspect will fight with and for Harry 
until the very end.

CM