About Ron (was Re: envy vs. jealousy?)

[delwynmarch]

No: HPFGUIDX 116032


Paul wrote :
"But I remember that Ron was totally hostile towards Harry for the
Tournament and towards Krum for Hermione."

Del replies :
Oh but those 2 things are *completely* different !!

Where Hermione is concerned, I totally agree that Ron is *jealous*.
Not only does he (unconsciously) wish to have Hermione, but he also
won't accept that anybody else gets her. This is jealousy all right :
Ron wants Hermione just for himself.

But I still argue that where Harry is concerned, Ron is only envious :
he wants to have the same chance at being a Champion, but he never
wished that Harry didn't become a Champion too. This is envy : Ron
wants a chance at being a Champion along with Harry.

Two very different things. Proof of that is the way those conflicts
are resolved : as soon as Ron sees in what danger Harry is because
he's a Champion, he flies to Harry's side and he forgets about his
envious feelings. But his conflict with Krum over Hermione never gets
completely resolved : only Krum's departure brings some relief to the
situation, and even then he keeps being jealous of Hermione writing to
Krum. Not the same emotion at all.

Del