Prefects and points

[Arya]

No: HPFGUIDX 106061

"serenadust" <jmmears at c...> wrote:
If Ron's intended to be merely "sidekick/comic relief/best
mate/support to Harry, then JKR's gone rather badly astray in having
him chosen as prefect and having him finally overcome his Quidditch
demons without any help from either Harry or Hermione. If Ron is
simply meant to be a clown, then she's wasted a lot of page-time in
a book that was already huge. I'm convinced that the development of
his character in OOP indicates a story arc which will have Ron
coming into his own as an individual and who will have no need to
stand in anyones shadow.
----------------
Actually, I'd have to say she used Ron's not-so-shining performance as
a prefect to the effect of some comic relief and she's hinted at Ron
not really having "overcome" his (again, comical) Quidditch issues--it
was only 1 game of 4 he did well in and she hinted he might not even
make the cut from the next captain in book 6.  

I see her putting Ron under trial and him suffering for it at the
expense of our amusement.  Sure Ron will have another bright and
shining moment like when he sacrificed himself on that
Knight....eventually.  But that does not mean he needs a whole build
up.  He did that back in first year and he'd do it again without any
character developement---that is, unless he is challenged to stand by
Harry.  The book--good writing--needs tension and we the readers need
to feel a tension and on edge when Ron is put upon this choice.  I
think it is crucial to Ron's own storyline that he is challenged and
made to make a choice--at a most critical juncture--of what is right
and what is easy.  It's my firm belief that Ron is likely to give his
life in the end and go out in a blaze of glory.  

Arya