Percy (Was: My "one" most rock solid OoP prediction

[talisman22457]

No: HPFGUIDX 60475

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Catlady (Rita Prince 
Winston)" <catlady at w...> wrote:
 
> "Percy" was the family surname of the Earls of Northumberland. 
> Hotspur, whom someone mentioned recently while comparing Harry 
Potter to Shakespeare's Prince Hal, was Sir Henry Percy, the son of 
Henry Percy, first Earl of Northumberland.

Talisman responds:
  Indeed, Catlady.  Hotspur in particular (of historical and 
literary fame) was a treasonous self-promoter and a notorious Scots-
killer, and any namesake of his could not be expected to fare well 
in Rowlingdom. If you suggest this is compatible with Percy 
Weasley's character development to date, I agree.
   In my original message(#60434) my main point was to argue against 
arrowsmithbt's (mssg #59804) using the name of Weasley to explain 
Percy's presumed character flaws, and merely added the suggestion 
that he/she explore the personal name. There are many "good" 
and "bad" Percys out there.
  I wasn't going to respond to hickengruendler's opinion that J.K. 
named Percy after that "flower of knighthood," Perceval (#60438). 
The idea that Percy is on the wrong track is so uncontrovertial that 
I didn't want to ask people to read a defense of the notion. But, 
now that I am here, I can only say that while Percy is very lucky to 
be somebody's favorite Weasley, he can't seriously be considered as 
a heroic figure without some textual support.  The bare assertion is 
about as convincing as saying that since Dumbledore's name starts 
with dumb, he must not have any idea what's going on.
  Wolfram's Perceval is a transcendant character who pierces a vapid 
status quo to achieve an authentic life and restore the alienated 
wasteland he moves in. He is courageous and humble; indifferent to 
status and the champion of the weak.  
  Percy Weasley is a humorless(CoS 286-8), officious (CoS 428), 
pompous(PoA 63), arrogant(PoA 92), overly ambitious(GoF 534), 
compassionless(GoF 141) boy who is hopelessly trapped in the 
Crouchian ideology he espouses. (Add "passim" to all of the above, 
because they are only quick examples.)  
   Whether Percy survives the series may have more to do with J.K.'s 
carnage index than anything else. Whatever his fate, Rowling has 
been developing his flawed character too long (and making him the 
butt of jokes because of it)to suddenly evolve him into a hero.  If 
he manages any good at all, it will be after a traumatic 
comeuppance. 
Talisman
P.S. To Catlady: a Moly is a magic herb (pronounced "Molly") given 
to Odysseus to ward of the spells of Circe. (Verify in any 
dictionary.)