The Purpose of the Weasleys (was; Saving every Sickle)

[viewsonpotter]

No: HPFGUIDX 59315

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Jesta Hijinx" 
<jestahijinx at h...> wrote:
>Ron, at least, appears to suffer from 
> something common to the modern "Muggle" world which I am just as 
> condemnatory about as some of the writing here about the Weasley 
family 
> values taken from different perspectives:  he shows signs of money 
addiction 
> and an obsession (and I don't use the word lightly, if you look at 
some of 
> my past postings).....
> Ron is the 
> only Weasley we see fret openly or get weird about money - has 
anyone else 
> noticed this?  I'd like to think the others realize that their 
parents are 
> doing the best they can, they're really doing okay (they're all 
managing to 
> make it through Hogwarts, after all) and Charlie and Bill have 
independent 
> careers which they appear to enjoy and seem to be remarkably well-
adjusted 
> human beings.

Ouch!
Obsessed....hmmm. Ok, this is a fourteen year old boy who is the 
youngest of six brothers and gets everything second (maybe 3rd, 4th 
or 5th) hand. Even his pet is hand-me-down. How do you know Bill and 
Charlie weren't as 'obsessed' at fourteen. And how do you know Ron 
will not grow up to be as well adjusted and self fullfilled at their 
age? 

If Ron is *obsessed* with money why did he give all the Leprechaun 
Gold from the QWC to Harry? That, surely, is not a sign of a greedy, 
money-obsessed person?

In PS we see how Harry hates going to school looking like a freak, 
dressed in Dudley's old clothes. Ron feels the same way about his too-
short robes and lacey dress robes. We see him whining and complaining 
to Harry because Harry is his best friend. But AFAIR their first 
meeting on the train, far from complaining, Ron tried to cover up for 
his meagre lunch, and not having money for the candy cart.

I think Ron is a normal 14 year-old who has courage, loyalty and 
strength of character far beyond his years. (Yes he is my favourite 
HP character, how did you guess?)

Infact the only member of the Weasely family with an unhealthy 
obsession (I am not counting Mr. Weasley's facination with plugs :)is 
IMO Percy.

Percy is obsessed with his image, his position and power. He is even 
jealous of Harry for being on friendly terms with Fudge. Imagine if 
he had been in Ron's place - always in Harry's shadow. Do you think 
he would have shown Harry the loyalty that Ron does? I dont think.

But that is just my opinion :)

Shaggy