Quidditch/ jealousy was,Re: [HPforGrownups] Re: New Quidditch Team

[dk59us]

No: HPFGUIDX 91332

Hello,

I don't think we really disagree much on this.

Eustace_Scrubb asked:
As a result of Harry's elevation to Captain, might we
see a re-emergence of the jealousy that he has felt towards Harry in
earlier books?

Susanne commented:
Sure. I'd imagine Ron might feel a burst of jealousy, just
like Harry felt jealous, when Ron received the prefect
badge.

If Ron became captain, Harry would probably feel envy, and if
someone completely different were chosen, both boys might
feel a bit slighted.

What I'm trying to say is, that jealousy is perfectly
normal, and I don't think there is a person on earth who
hasn't had that feeling, occasionally.

I didn't see Ron's jealousy in book 4 as anything unusual or
shameful. In fact, I was surprised it didn't pop up a lot
more early on, considering their age.

Same with Harry in book 5.

After some initial nastiness, both boys seem to be able to
work through their feelings, without starting to hate each other,
or plan to join the DE at the next opportunity, to get back at the
other.

And I'm aware that you may have not been getting into this
subject at all with your post! :)

Now, Eustace_Scrubb again:
Well, yes and no, I suppose.  I agree that jealousy is a completely
normal feeling, especially amongst friends of Hogwarts age.  Not at
all shameful unless it leads one to do bad things.  Which it hasn't
thus far (aside from some quite normal snits that haven't lasted).  I
wonder though whether there might be a cumulative effect on Ron that
might at some point cause him to do something he'll regret the next
minute, but which he might not be able to undo so easily; I'm not
suggesting that this is likely, just a possibility.  Small squabbles
sometimes have large consequences.

Susanne again:
I guess I'm just reacting to this often mentioned
jealous!Ron image that usually goes along with him turning
into a completely nasty character, as if having this emotion
automatically makes it impossible for someone to also be a
good person ;)
And as if Ron were the only person in the HP series, who had
ever fallen prey to jealousy.

Eustace_Scrubb:
I understand your frustration.  I wouldn't for a moment expect Ron to
suddenly become a bad guy (or even an ambitious, aloof git like
Percy), but good people lose perspective sometimes when they feel
jealousy or temptation or unjust persecution or any number of other
normal emotions.  I mean jealous!Ron coexists with brave!Ron and
strategist!Ron and funny!Ron and 6th_son!Ron--these aren't
one-dimensional characters (well, not the main ones, anyway) and
that's why readers are attached to them.

And I also guess that as we get closer and closer to
the last page of Book 7, the stakes are going to be considerably
higher than they were in Book 4 and small errors in judgement may have
greater fallout.

Susanne:
And yes, I do think both boys, or at least Ron, would see
something different in the Mirror of Erised, nowadays.

Eustace_Scrubb:
Again, I think we pretty much agree here.  I think it's highly likely
Ron would see something different, which might make all of the above
beside the point.  What Harry would see--now there's an interesting
question:  now that he's seen a bit more of his parents in the
Pensieve, and since that wasn't all to his liking, would he still see
his parents and family?  If so, would Sirius be with them now?  Or
would the vision be completely different...say, a world without LV and
without a prophecy hanging over his head?  I think he may well have
quite enough to be going along with without worrying about Quidditch
strategy.

Regards,

Eustace_Scrubb