[HPforGrownups] Re: Ron is like Percy (plus more Weasley thoughts)

[elfundeb]

No: HPFGUIDX 89134

> Sophierom:
> 
> While I love these ideas, particularly Debbie's characterization of 
> Ron and Percy as "bookends driven apart by the noisy, attention-
> getting twins," I think we should not overemphasize the similarities 
> between the two brothers.  As JKR has made abundantly clear 
> throughout the series, it is individual choice that really makes the 
> person.  bboy_mn's insight that Percy is trapped in a dysfunctional 
> cylce is a very astute and sensative analysis, but ultimately, I 
> believe that JKR would argue that it was Percy's choice as an 
> individual, not some inevitable reaction to family dynamics, that 
> led him to become a pompous twit.  I also believe that Percy has 
> the choice to return to his family and provide a real service for 
> the Order (and I think he may very well do this in the end.) 
> 
Debbie:

I'm not sure I can respond to this without igniting the contentious debate that erupted long ago over whether the twins are bullies.  (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/43024)  Although there has been much debate about the subject, I believe that the twins' treatment of Percy over the years went beyond sibling rivalry and practical jokes.  The twins knew of Percy's sensitivities, yet persisted in baiting him.  For example, I thought the Humongous Bighead joke was cruel.  

So, when George says that they're "well shut [shot in the UK edition] of him" I feel that it's a bit of the self-fulfilling prophecy, as in "if that's how he's going to react to criticism, we're well rid of him" when they have been feeding his alienation all along.  Fred and George are written in OOP in such a way to suggest that JKR approves of them very much.  She seems to have a taste for slapstick humor, and for those who engage in it, even when it's hurtful to others.  While ultimately everyone is responsible for his/her own actions, our actions can also affect others' actions, intentionally or unintentionally.  Percy's rift with his family hurts everyone, Molly especially, and I don't sense in the twins any acknowledgement that their own actions contributed to the current state of affairs.  

I admit to not liking the twins much, and a big part of it is that while they're quite funny on the surface, they create those laughs by preying on the sensitivities of those who can't or won't fight back in kind.  That's bullying, and I can't approve of it. 

> But so far, what makes the similarities between Ron and Percy so 
> important -and I believe the case for their similarities was very 
> strongly presented - what makes these similarities so important is 
> how the brothers use these similarities to create such different 
> personalities. The idea that both of these Weasleys have taken their 
> analogous character traits and behaved so differently makes a 
> fantastic parallel to Harry and Tom Riddle.  
> 

Percy is in a very different position from Ron -- he is the oldest of the younger children, with an apparently significant age gap between Percy and the next oldest brother -- and Ron is the youngest.  Percy probably spent most of his pre-Hogwarts years in a position of (relative) responsibility for 4 younger siblings, while Ron, as the other end of the bookend had no similar responsibilities.  The differences between their personalities are fairly typical for oldest vs. youngest children.

For what it's worth, I agree that Percy is not likely to be *Evil*, certainly not in the DE sense.  He has made some bad mistakes, but there is still a chance for him to return to the family.  I have every expectation that Percy will try to atone for his sins, but wonder if his pride will prevent him from outright apologizing; instead, he may do something from the inside in an attempt to make amends.  It's for this reason that I think Percy's story could have a very tragic outcome.

Debbie
who has some old posts on this topic:
Percy as Tragic Hero:  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/58796
Bullies (Round Two):  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/65818

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