Ron WAS: Re: DH reread CH 4-5

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 186291


> Alla:
> 
> See to me, what Neville does is just overcoming his childhood trauma, because as you wrote upthread, to me his inner essence really does not change at all, he just learns to show it to the world. But I see what is happening with Ron to be as something very very realistic, because to me things like that often never completely go away. In a sense I actually feel that for Neville it was much easier to overcome what happened to him, than Ron.

Pippin:
That's a good point. Neville's negative messages come from outside, and he echoes that, "Everyone knows I'm almost a Squib", or "Gran always says I'm not as good as my Dad." (quoting from memory.)

But nobody  ever actually tells Ron that he isn't as good as his brothers, or says they don't expect him to do as well.  It's not like Hermione ever says she likes him less than Harry, or compares the two of them in any way. No matter how many positive experiences he has, trusting his inner judgment isn't going to fix Ron's problem the way it fixed Neville's, because inner judgment  is what keeps telling Ron he's no good.

What does help is to have friends like Harry and Hermione who can build him up when he achieves a success and overlook it when he fails. 

Alla:
> So, again, my disappointment was that JKR chose to make Ron's insecurities show in such important moment, that she did not show him to be strong enough (IMO) to shove his feelings down and tell them, no, I know it is all in my head, Harry and Hermione love me, they NEED me. I am disappointed that Ron **acted** on his insecurities, NOT that he had them.

Pippin:
But since Ron is always going to have those insecurities, it's more important for him to know that even if he does let his friends down sometimes, they'll forgive him. And, really, Harry's in no position to blame anyone for being hoodwinked by Voldemort.

Pippin