Prefects and points

[delwynmarch]

No: HPFGUIDX 106003


Arya wrote :
> I do think there is something to be said for the fact that
> JKR answered this question with Ron looking like the one in the 
> wrong.  
> If it was a reader, like you or I who made this comment, it would be
> our posibly biased view or image of him leading us to this 
> conclusion; but it's JKR answering a frequently asked question in a 
> situation where she isn't rushed to answer or put on the spot--she 
> has time to check things over, think things over and to just 
> perfectly word her answers and upload to her own site (and correct if
> she is wrong).  So, the notion that JKR (as I think Cathy said) is 
> "wrong" and giving Ron a bad rap is possibly a bit presumptuous of us
> readers. 

Del replies :
Except, as others have pointed out, that she *did* make a mistake. She
accused *Ron* of not knowing his rules, when in fact it's *Ernie* who
made a mistake. Ron confirmed Ernie's mistake, along with Draco, and
Hermione didn't contradict them.

I don't even know why she got on Ron, he wasn't even mentioned in the
question. It *really* looks like she was out there to give Ron in
particular a bad rap.

Later Arya wrote :
> And I personally see JKR's comment fingering Ron and only Ron as "not
>  a very authoritarian" prefect who knew the rules as a confirmation 
> that JKR intends Ron to be not the brightest prefect in the bunch--

Del replies :
That's the thing that bothers me most. There were *four* Prefects out
there who didn't seem to know that Prefects can dock points. 2 of them
are admittedly very bright (Hermione and Ernie), one would just have
loved to dock points off other Houses so it's quite certain that he
wouldn't forget such a piece of information (Draco), and then there's
Ron. Yes, it *is* in character for Ron not to pay attention, or not to
really want to do his job seriously. But the point is : he wasn't the
only one who didn't know. So why (WHY ???) did JKR get on his case,
and on his case only ? There's only one word for it : unfair.

Arya wrote :
> I've always seen Ron as the comic relief of the trio (not a 
> burgeoning general who's ought to be Head Boy and a Quidditch 
> Captain) and the constant defense and insistance to build him up as 
> an equal or even higher character than Harry is baffling to me. 
(snip)
> Oh there are all sorts of legions of Ron-o-philes out there who will
> come out now and protest his worth and wit but, IMO, that's a lot of
> speculation on what he *could* be and not on what he is.  
(snip)
> but I think some Ron-defenders need to just posibly conceive of the 
> notion that he really is just meant to be the sidekick/comic 
> relief/best mate/support to Harry the-books-are-titled-after-me 
> Potter.  

Del replies :
Do you know why I would HATE (and I mean HATE !!!!) for Ron to be
"just comic relief" ? Because Ron is the only one of the Trio who is
normal. Hermione is a gross exxageration of the smart kid, and Harry
is the typical hero who always gets things right. But Ron is like most
of us : not overly intelligent, not overly studious, not overly lucky,
and not the hero of the game. *But* he has ambition, he *wants* to
become someone, to prove himself, just like most of us. So if he
turned out to be there just for fun, the message I would get out of it
all would be : "Sorry, if you're not born special, you will never
become so. You'll always be just a joke. You'll never be the hero of
anything. It's not even worth trying, because it won't happen." And I
just happen to HATE that sort of message. It would right away turn me
off HP (both the books and the character).

Del