Bad twins? (was Ron is like Percy)

[davewitley]

No: HPFGUIDX 89227

Debbie:
> 
> > > 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.
> > 
> Del replied:
> > 
> > Ha, but is it JKR or *Harry* who likes that kind of humour ? 

Debbie again:
> 
> I'm hoping this is the case, because otherwise Percy and the twins 
are just cartoons.  
> 
> I think if you examine the books carefully, there are signs that 
we as readers should not be too captivated by the twins' obvious 
charisma, but they are few and far between, especially in OOP.  
George's comment that they're "well shot of Percy" and the 
uncharacteristically ugly look that accompanies it may be the only 
hint in OOP, which otherwise showcases how their lawlessness can be 
made to work for the side of good.  I didn't care much for the 
Skiving Snackboxes, or the way they used the first-years as test 
subjects, but even I have to admit that they were put to very good 
use against Umbridge. 

David:

I think there are other signs in OOP.

First, IIRC, it's explicit that Ron's Quidditch performance 
improves, not when they lay off him, but when they leave.  That 
implies to me they are to be considered a malign influence on him.

Second, after the Pensieve revelation of James, Harry thinks of Fred 
and George and makes a comparison.  He goes on to deny that F&G are 
as bad as James, but he does make the connection.  Of itself that 
might not mean much, but to me it's important because I see bullying 
as an implicit series theme that has become explicit in GOF.

James' behaviour is one of the central revelations of the book, and 
I see it foreshadowed and echoed in a number of ways: Harry's 
behaviour towards Dudley, Snape's towards Harry, Sirius' towards 
Kreacher, Umbridge and Fudge towards Mrs Figg, and so on including L 
Malfoy, Bellatrix, Filch, Dumbledore, etc.

Harry's linking of the twins to James, however briefly, says to me 
that JKR is aware that they are exemplars on a range of behaviour 
from joking or self-defensive through insensitive to downright 
nasty.   Even if she ultimately comes down on their side, she's 
asking her readers what they think: what is the effect of behaviour 
such as the twins'?  By suggesting a line between James and the 
twins, I think she admits the twins are near that line.

David