Ron WAS: Re: DH reread CH 4-5

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 186276

Carol responds:
I think we're back to Christian themes here, specifically, "forgive us our
trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us" and redemption through
repentance. Ron is immediately remorseful and wants to return, but he has to
stay away (as a kind of penance?) until the others are ready to speak his name
(a sign that they're ready to forgive him). He *earns* Harry's forgiveness
through his heroism, which also (IMO) redeems him, but Hermione's forgiveness is
unearned. She has to allow her love to overcome her anger and resentment.
< HUGE SNIP>

Alla:

Well, yes, sure, it is a Christian theme of repentance, forgiveness, etc. What I would have preferred however is that this theme was not played out here and on Ron. Nobody is perfect, I know that. However to me there are character flaws and there are character flaws and what Ron did, well goes beyond character flaws to me anyway.

No, I do not think that the fact that Hermione is alone with them in the woods should automatically make Ron jealous. Did he block out the part where Harry was in love with his sister? Again, we cannot help how we feel, but um, little bit rationality please?

I do not know if Horcrux was influencing Ron that much. If it was, it only played on what was already in Ron, no? I would like to know however the extent of the influence.

I forgave him too, I do not hate him or anything. I still love him, just not as much anymore. I thought he is better than that. And again, yes, nobody is perfect. You compared him to Snape somewhere in the thread, which made me chuckle the first time I have read  it, since I cannot imagine more different characters than that. But come to think of it, yes, I can see the similarities of both Ron and Snape acting on what to me is rather ugly feeling. I can forgive Ron  just as Harry and Hermione did, and will never forgive Snape despite that Harry did. However, that does not mean that I have much  patience for either of them doing it in the first place.

Montavilla47:
<HUGE SNIP>
But, with Ron, it was as though the character kept trying to develop, only to be
pulled back two steps every time he did. Consequently, it's impossible (for me,
at
least) to believe that Ron will ever get over being insecure or that Hermione is
ever
going to be anything but undermining, even if she does occasionally kiss him on
the lips. And honestly, maybe I'm not supposed to, since in the epilogue, he's
still
failing his driving test and scared to let Hermione know about it.

Alla:

I have zero problems with Ron's character doing one step forward and two step back, really. While I hear you about Neville's character development being more satisfying artistically, I had never been a fan of the idea that character's development should be tied up in a neat little bow and resolved, otherwise it is not satisfying. I know that you did not say that, I am just thinking about the implications for me of what you written, you know?


I LIKE the idea that maybe Ron will never be completely secure in a sense, just learns to deal with it.  And sometimes he does not.  To me it seemed perfect – the driving test thing. I just wish that she did not choose the setback to be of him to abandon his two best friends in the life or death situation. For some people maybe Ron's comeback for that reasons was all the sweeter, for me it was like, eh, haven't you passed that stage Ron?