[HPforGrownups] Re: Ron's "poor me" syndrome.

[Sherry Gomes]

No: HPFGUIDX 106185

Alla:

> Is  it a mortal sin for Ron to complain about his poorness? Surely 
> not, BUT it does get very annoying. I am expecting Ron to put 
things 
> in perspective by now.


Katie:
 
Ron's minor complaints may annoying to you, but I find them  
realistic and at times almost endearing. I read over your list of 
quotes and couldn't help but think, "so what?" Ron's life *IS* hard. 
I don't think he's a constant complainer. (I agree quite firmly with 
Del on all this, except on the matter of Molly and Arthur, who I 
think are remarkably loving parents even under difficult 
circumstances.) And if you can't talk about annoyances with your 
friends, who can you talk to? Give me an ordinary, sometimes 
slightly self-pitying buddy over a "chin up! can-do!" type any day. 

-Katie

Sherry

Yes, I find Ron's complaints, actually somewhat endearing, just part of him.
They never seem to annoy Harry.  Also, Ron has his poorness thrown into his
face and mocked repeatedly by people like the Malfoys.  When this happens he
always tries to attack the person, and it's Harry and Hermione holding him
back.  It doesn't seem to me that he's ashamed of his family and their
circumstances, just complains from time to time, to his best friend, which
should very much be ok.  

I've been going through a difficult situation for the last year.  I don't
want someone, a friend, to be totally down with me, but I don't want someone
to give me the ah, it will be ok, type of line either.  I always see Ron's
complaints just as conversation, his humor as a true necessity to keep Harry
amused.  I find Hermione's know-it-all attitude far more irritating, because
I hate to have someone always telling me what to do.  I'd have tuned her out
a long time ago.

Both Ron and Hermione have had an incident in the books, where they have
gone, alone with Harry, into a dangerous situation--Ron in CoS and Hermione
in POA.  Both have acted bravely and loyally.  They both have strengths and
knowledge Harry does not.  He wouldn't be where he is now, if either of them
hadn't been who they are.

Sherry G