Twins or individuals (with notes on Percy)

[hekatesheadband]

No: HPFGUIDX 132803

jlv230: 
> > I worry that Fred'n'George are one character with two 
> > bodies... do you think JKR will finally distinguish one 
> > from the other?

My impression of the twins has always been that they are extremely 
close - as some twins are - and have similar personalities and 
interests. But the subtle differences between them are important 
as well - I just hope neither twin dies before that theme is 
explored! J.K. Rowling, at any rate, knows the difference - she 
describes them as "identical to the last freckle," but the semi-
omniscient narrator can distinguish their voices when they're 
muffled behind layers of brick and soot in the chimney at Privet 
Drive. (Most identical twins have very similar voices, of course.)

Mira: 
> George seems more sensitive, Fred more daring, but this is a
> gross simplification. 

I wouldn't call that a gross simplification so much as an accurate 
overview. ;) It's George who helps Harry with his trunks at the 
beginning of _Philosopher's Stone_, George who's the first to cheer 
Harry up and call Malfoy on his dementor hypocrisy in _Prisoner of 
Azkaban_, George who speaks to Harry when the twins turn the map 
over to him, George who's able to thank Harry coherently for the 
triwizard winnings, George who restrains the pursuit of Ludo Bagman 
in "Goblet of Fire."

Mira: 
> Let's say that I can see Fred as able to go to(ward) the dark 
> side easier than George.

I don't see Fred as becoming evil, but he is a classically reckless 
adolescent with a dynamic and spontaneous personality and lots of 
energy. Combine that with the "typical" adolescent, and 
stereotypical adolescent-boy, egotism (unattractive, but a 
necessary part of human development), non-consideration of others, and disinterest in consequences, and you've got something rather 
volatile. Fred seems to be the mastermind behind the ton-tongue 
toffee (which was awful of them, although I never feel anywhere 
near as sorry for Dudley as I probably should). He's usually the 
one described as leading the revelry, for good or ill - most of 
the time we get something like "Fred was sitting with a group of third-years, making mischief," often "Fred and George," but very rarely George alone and never "George and Fred."

jlv230: 
> > Fred takes Angelina to the Yule Ball, but I can't find 
> > mention of George's date (but I'm probably being thick!) 

He takes Pigwidgeon, as Fred tells Harry. (Yes, I know he's being 
facetious here.) It's never mentioned - maybe only Fred can muster 
the nerve to ask someone?

With all those distinctions in mind, I would offer another one 
that doesn't seem to garner many remarks at all. This one relates 
to the rivalry between Percy and the twins. A morbidly focused combing over of the texts suggests that is no such thing, or at 
least not nearly to the degree that it's depicted in fandom. The rivalry, at it core, is between Percy and George. Granted, Fred 
isn't wildly enthusiastic about Percy, and he's happy to join in teasing him. But about 90% of the really genuinely hostile remarks about Percy (as opposed to good-natured teasing) come from George. "[The cars] are for you, Perce. They've all got a little 
flag on the bonnet, with 'HB' on it," is the first response to Percy's question in _Prisoner of Azkaban_ - only after George has spoken does Fred add "for 'Humongous Bighead.'" 

The text itself - the way Rowling actually words things - also 
suggests that this is an area of pranking where George sometimes 
takes the lead, as with the dragon dung and  "We tried to shut him 
in a pyramid, but Mum spotted us." In _Order of the Phoenix_, Fred 
speaks gravely (for once!) and tells Harry not to mention Percy 
around Mr and Mrs Weasley. It's George who retorts, "We're well 
shot of him," with an "uncharacteristically ugly expression on his face." When Percy returns Mrs Weasley's gift, it's George who tries to cheer her up by reminding her that "Percy's an enormous pile of rat droppings." Bear in mind that George is the sensitive one, the 
thoughtful one, the closest thing to a conscience Fred (or the unit 
of The Twins) sometimes seems to have.

At any rate, we may know in about 24 hours whether all of this 
means anything. Until then, fodder for obsession.

-hekatesheadband
(who has had her eye on Percy from the outset - and not in the same 
sense as having one's eye on, say, Brad Pitt)