[HPforGrownups] Re: The Purpose of the Weasleys (was; Saving every Sickle)

[Jesta Hijinx]

No: HPFGUIDX 59571

Hey Leah:

>Jesta mentioned:
>Ron is the only Weasley we see fret openly or get weird about money -
>has anyone else noticed this?
>
>Leah (me ) replies:
>I don't think we can really know how much the other Weasleys complain
>about their situation.  I think we get an especially close look at
>Ron because of his relationship with Harry.  If Ginny were part of
>the trio (yes, I know, then it would be a quartet ;-D) we may hear
>that she thinks: "everything I have [is] rubbish" (Ron GoF).  We also
>know that she confided to Diary!Tom about the state of her secondhand
>things.  I don't believe that Ron is any whinier than the others,
>but, as readers, we just have a more personal relationship with Ron,
>so we hear more of his private misgivings.
>
>Leah
>(who is on pins and needles for another 17 days)
>
I think that you do have one point, which is that we see more of Ron than 
anyone else.  However, we as the readers do get to spend some time in the 
Weasley home, and get to "be around" Percy, Fred, George and Ginny somewhat.

Percy's focus and drive is all about doing well - not making money as the 
main source.  Note he never talks about how he's going to get promoted at 
the Ministry to make lots of money; rather, not that these motives are 
necessarily superior, just other, he's focused on impressing the boss.

Fred and George do have solid, concrete plans for what they're going to do 
for a living once they leave Hogwarts - oh, sure, their mom may think 
they're nuts, but they don't plan to go home and eat their magical sweets 
and loll about all day - they may be dealing with the realities of family 
economics differently by figuring "we'll have a plan that doesn't require us 
to depend on them either for money or approval - we'll be a big hit and be 
able to do something we love doing while making some sort of living at it".  
They don't seem to expect to strike it rich, just to earn a decent living 
and be on their own.

Bill and Charlie aren't all bitter and maladjusted - they got out there on 
their own and are doing it, at careers which may not be hugely lucrative as 
yet, nor allow them to send much home (though privately I think Bill sends 
along a bit now and then) - they're well-adjusted, cool young men who 
obviously love their mum and dad a lot.

In other words, I see the feelings more appropriately channelled.  Some of 
that may be a factor of Ron's age, and some of you may be slightly right in 
saying I'm expecting too much of Ron's maturity level.  What I think I *am* 
reacting too is the fact that, tacky modern american culture aside, it 
really is not proper/cool/the thing/good manners to speak of one's familial 
monetary situation in front of others.  Ron has no choice in many situations 
- others bring it up first.  But I'd love to see one brief expository scene 
wherein Ron and Harry have a heart to heart that's open and direct about 
money - where Ron says he's always felt ashamed, etc., and Harry says that's 
okay in an embarrassed adolescent way - at least your family don't lock you 
under the stairs.  I'd trade all my money to have my parents back.  That 
sort of thing.  Nothing too sloppy because they're adolescent males.  :-)  
But just to put it out there.

a minor gripe for me, although I think it exists in this state to provide 
on-going textual tension:  Harry really *could* do more for the Weasleys if 
he put his mind to it.  I find all this "pride" the embarrassing part, 
actually. He could send an occasional anonymous gift to one of the Weasleys, 
and opine that it must have come from Bill or Charlie; he could "accidently" 
spill a few Knuts or Sickles in Ron's room on one visit to be found on the 
next break.  I've done it and had it done for me throughout the course of my 
life.   There are ways to help people if you put your mind to it - and I had 
to cheer when Harry bought everyone the Omnioculars and savagely brushed off 
protests.

Felinia
(*sorry if this makes less sense than usual - I'm getting a really bad 
headache*)

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