Ron and the Mirror of Erised

[viewsonpotter]

No: HPFGUIDX 60901

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "jenny_ravenclaw" 
<meboriqua at a...> wrote:

I wrote:
> > My contention is that if Ron is greedy or 'obsessed 
> > with wealth' as another poster put it a while back, he would not 
be 
> > averse to accepting gifts. Infact he would exploit Harry's 
genrosity 
> > to the full. The fact that he is so sensitive about taking, what 
he 
> > percieves as charity points to his pride and self respect.>

And Jenny replied: 
> Why exactly do you think Ron would exploit Harry's generosity?  I 
have 
> yet to see him do that and as much as Ron gets sensitive about his 
own 
> issues, I'd be truly shocked to see him turn on Harry in such a way.

No no no no no. That is not what i meant at all. (havent you tumbled 
to the fact that Ron is my hero:)?
I meant: Ron has a lot of pride and self respect. If he didnt, he 
would be very happy to exploit Harry's generosity. The fact that he 
doesn't shows that he values his self respect and friendship far more 
than wealth. 
 
Jenny wrote:
> I see in my post that I clearly used the word "mediocre", 
not "poor".  
> I did not say Ron had bad grades - I said his grades were nothing 
> special.  There is no canon to support Ron having particularly good 
> *or* bad grades, but there is canon to support the fact that Ron is 
> not much of a studier.  We know that both he and Harry would copy 
> Hermione's answers if they could (SS, I think), which certainly 
shows 
> me they (Ron included) don't study as much as they should.

Ok, maybe another miscommunication. I took 'mediocre' in the sense 
of 'on the lower side of average.' For me mediocre would mean mostly 
Cs and Ds (i guess the grading system is similar both sides the 
Atlantic?), whereas i see Ron and Harry getting mostly Bs and maybe a 
C or two (in Potions definitely) And yes, they are both lazy and get 
out of studying as far as possible. I see them as the kind of kids 
who fool around most of the year and then really have to cram for the 
exams. But aren't most kids like that at thirteen-fourteen (sorry 
dont mean to make a generalization, but i know i was)
Also, i feel their lackadasical attiude is thrown more into focus 
because it is usually compared to Hermione. I mean most of the scenes 
where academic work is being discussed include Hermione, infact, she 
is the one who usually initiates these conversations. So from her 
POV, the entire student body would be lazy - right? 
 
Jenny wrote:
> It's interesting that you just asked me if there was canon to 
support 
> Ron's grades, yet you use an example here that cannot be supported 
by 
> canon.  If JKR chose specifically to mention that Ron couldn't 
shake 
> Imperius, I'm willing to bet there's a reason and that it *will* 
come 
> up again.  I'm not concerned with whether or not Neville can throw 
> Imperius, but red flags went up when I read that it's hard for Ron 
to 
> do so. 

See I thought you were quoting Ron's mediocre grades as a fact.(sorry 
about that) Thats why i asked if it was canon. Neville's example is 
meant to be non-canonical for that very reason: we have no proof that 
Ron is the ONLY one who had trouble shaking off the curse. There 
COULD be others. Ron could have been used as an example of how the 
curse affected the average (mediocre)student. But, yes. It could also 
be a foreshadowing of Imperiused!Ron. It would fit JKR's style. 

> I don't know where along the line I started bashing Ron like this!  
> Really, I think Ron has a lot of potential, but, as we all know, he 
> needs a hell of a lot of maturing.  If Ron leaned to deal with his 
> insecurities, I'm sure he could throw off the Imperius Curse, but 
as 
> of now, he lacks the focus and the confidence he needs to do so.

Agreed. Ron has tremendous potential. We have seen that he has 
courage and resolution in the face of danger, I'm sure he wont 
disappoint us when faced with more complex choices

Cheers
Shaggy