Ron's Courage

[Linda]

No: HPFGUIDX 58502

Dave wrote:

> Ron, on the other hand, is much more emotional and much less 
logical.  We
> see it over and over again - The Devil's Snare is the example that
> immediately comes to mind.  Ron isn't brave, but will 'body guard' 
Harry
> and Hermione to a fault ("eat slugs" is the best example I have 
right
> now).  Ron's whole family seems to be like this; even Jinny 
Weasley is
> like this - she stands up to Draco in Flourish and Blotts the 
second or
> third time we see her in the series.


Now I, Linda, with my two knuts:

          I'm afraid that I have to disagree with you on a 
fundamental level. IMHO, you are overlooking a basic part of the 
Weasley family. It's almost a certainty that Arthur was working 
aginst LV during the first war, and most probably Molly was too.(not 
exactly canon but implied) They have three adult sons that are 
intelligent and compassionate.(Setting any Percy betrayal theories 
aside for the moment) I'm sure that both Bill and Charlie had 
moments in their school years when they earned their mothers wrath 
as Fred and George have. Children need to grow out of their 
childishness. When push comes to shove, even Fred and George take 
their schooling seriously. What better example of having been 
raised well can you site than a pair of twins whose life ambition is 
to make people's days just a little bit brighter? I don't think 
Ginny has been developed enough as an individual to really draw any 
kind of conclusion about her one way or the other. As for Ron, I 
think I have a different definition of courage than you do. I think 
of courage as the ability to do what needs to be done despite fear 
or, indeed, because of it. In this context, Ron could actually be 
seen 
as the most courageous of the group. He harbors the most fears, both 
internally and externally. He has a pronounced fear of Spiders yet 
offers only a token verbal resistance to following the spiders into 
the forbiden forest before following through, quite willingly it 
would seem, with what he perceives as doing what needs to be done. I 
actually see his character's shining moment as the moment he 
realized Lockhart would leave Ginny to die. Once again fear is the 
mitigating factor-fear of loosing his sister. So we have two 
examples of external fears-one which he overcomes and one which 
stirs 
him to action. However I do feel that Ron's greatest fear is 
internal. He fears that he will forever be just Ron, the youngest 
brother who was nothing special. I really hope that JKR gives him 
the chance to conquer the internal fear before the series is over.

Sorry I'm rambling. It's late.

   My point is that the Weasley children were raised right. They 
know the difference between what is right and what is easy and will 
make the right choices. IMHO, finding the courage to act upon that 
choice will not be a problem.

   -Linda