Ron is like Percy (was Chapter Discussion...)

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 88447

Hi Elfun-Deb,

I had a couple minor comments I wanted to pass along to you about your
 Chapter Discussion post at HPforGrownups. You'll find my comments
embedded farther down in this post.

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "elfundeb2" <elfundeb at c...> wrote:

> > 
> > 9. In past discussion, Mrs. Weasley has come under a lot of fire 
> > for her behavior when she discovers that Ron has been made a 
> > prefect.  ...


> Elfundeb2:
>  
> Ron?
> 
> ...edited...
> 
> The last questions here are very interesting.  I think Ron's 
> temperament much more models Percy's than any other member of his 
> family, though outwardly he allies himself with the twins in order 
> to avoid the merciless teasing that the twins have historically 
> heaped on Percy (there's no evidence that he's actually like the 
> twins or he would have been nicking food from the kitchen long 
> before Hermione found the entrance in GoF).  

bboy_mn/Steve:

How many people do you think we will find who agree with US that Percy
and Ron are very much a like? 

I've always held that view, but mostly get arguments whenever I bring
it up. It's true they don't act the same outwardly, and so people
refuse to see that there is a similarity between them. I think you
said it perfectly, they have similar temperaments; most notably, I
think they are both STUBBORN as mules.



> > 
> > 10. We already know why Harry wasn't selected for Prefect, but 
> > do you feel that Ron was a good choice?  
> >

> Elfundeb2: 
> 
> Certainly plot-wise Ron and not Neville needed to be the new 
> prefect.  I thought it worked rather well in a number of ways.  
> ...edited...   
> 
> I think Dumbledore had good strategic reasons for selecting Ron as 
> prefect that had more to do with his awareness that, ...Ron is going
> to be involved in the war and that various factors ... had left Ron
> badly lacking in the self-confidence he would need in the coming 
> battle. And it worked.  ...

bboy_mn/steve:

Many times I've defended the choice of Ron as Prefect. If not Ron they
who? Ron has, time and time again, shown that he can take initiative
and decisive action under difficult circumstances, and that he isn't
afraid to put himself in danger to protect others. 

If you had a group of first years who were confronted by difficult and
dangerous trouble, of all the Gryffindor boy's, excluding Harry, who
would you want there to defend them? I can't think of a better choice
than Ron.

Whether for good or bad, Ron HAS distinguished himself, that something
that Dean and Seamus have not done. No one other than Neville has ever
demostrated the ability to take initiative in difficult circumstances
(excluding Harry again), and under present conditions, I would
certainly take Ron over Neville when I came to a crisis.


> > 
> > 11. Is the twins' slightly malicious needling of Ron motivated by 
> > his Prefect badge or by their mother's fawning adoration?  What 
> > can we learn from Ron's wistful reaction at their attitude?  Does 
> > Ron want to be like Fred and George?  Is he?

> Elfundeb2:
> 
> I've long argued that Ron is *not* like the Twins.  Nor do I think 
> he wants to be like them; he wants to find his own niche.  
>  

bboy_mn:

I would gladly argue the same point. Moving slightly into the realm of
my own internal fiction, I've always pictured the Weasley boys in
their younger days with the Twins constantly getting Ron into trouble
(or hurt), and Percy being the older brother that Ron ran to for
comfort and protection. In the beginning Ron hangs out with the Twins
because they are more fun and well liked, but they are not very
comforting or nurturing, I think that role fell to Percy being the one
older brother still at home. 

I also think that Ron see the advantages of being friendly with the
Twins, being on their good side; so he is constantly seeking the
approval, but even more than that, he is constantly avoiding their
DISapproval. I think this 'approval seeking' is a characteristic Ron
shares with Percy, although, Percy is less likely to avoid the Twins
disapproval, because any attempt to be viewed as favorable as the
Twins by his own family and peers is a ship that sailed off a long
time ago. 

So Ron and Percy are both approval seekers but each in their own
separate disfunctional way. Many of you have read my posts about Percy
playing the disfunctional family role of the 'Good Son', for those who
haven't, note that I believe that Percy's main problem is that he is
trapped in a downward spiral of 'approval seeking', and believe it or
not, much of the approval he seeks needs to some from Ron and the
Twins, which only proves just how sadly disfunctional the role is that
Percy has buried himself in.

Ron on the other hand, still has a chance to break the disfunctional
cycle before he becomes as deeply entrenched as Percy. Once the Twins
are gone from Hogwarts, Ron becomes much more comfortable with
himself, and that's when he begins to show his true potential. Without
having to fear the Twin approval/disapproval, Ron is free to attempt
things without the impending fear of rejection. 

Just a few general thoughts.

bboy_mn