Ginny is the Weasley Princess, the only girl, the youngest, protege of her twin brothers, "protected" by Ron, and even Percy, and given Bill and Charlie's ages, has probably been their adorable little baby sister that they indulge and admire. She's used to being in the focus of attention of men, she knows how get her way, she's not intimidated by how boys act, she probably expects boys to notice her, and to be able to get them to do as she wants. I can't remember ever hearing something about her looks, though, before Blaise's comment, but I'll assume she's always been pretty.
I think she does care about looks, look at how she loves the idea of being able to change looks by will when Tonks is present. Harry's not that interested, Ginny and Hermione are riveted. (I actually don't think Hermione is that uninterested in looks either, her non-daily-dolling-up looks to me to be a of principle and rebellion more than lack of vainness, but...) She also cares about how it will look that she goes to the ball with Neville, whom she obviously thinks is a little bit beneath her.
I think it's interesting how she reacts the first time she gets serious competition, because that's exactly what Hermione is not. Hermione is safe. (As is Luna, I can't remember any other female friends, even though I'm sure she has some, probably a little bit afraid of her.) Hermione is not only less attractive, but within the Weasleys she's only Ron's second best friend, easily expandable as shown by Mrs Weasley's chocolate eggs. Hermione does not threaten Ginny in any way. Fleur, on the other hand, does.
I haven't reread HBP yet, so, I may be remembering things wrong, but I got a clear feeling that Ginny was jealous of Fleur, and that she resented Fleur being in the house and being with a Weasley at least partly because she's competition. Fleur is probably more attractive than Ginny, what with the Veela genes and all, she's exotic, she's powerful and smart -- the most powerful and smart in her whole school!, she's older, experienced with handling men, used to getting her own way, and here she is, living with them, disrupting Ginny's normal status. Both Bill and Ron seem to prefer Fleur. The horror! That bitch, Phlegm! Let's get her out of the way.
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The Weasly Princess
Date: 2005-10-22 05:51 pm (UTC)I think she does care about looks, look at how she loves the idea of being able to change looks by will when Tonks is present. Harry's not that interested, Ginny and Hermione are riveted. (I actually don't think Hermione is that uninterested in looks either, her non-daily-dolling-up looks to me to be a of principle and rebellion more than lack of vainness, but...) She also cares about how it will look that she goes to the ball with Neville, whom she obviously thinks is a little bit beneath her.
I think it's interesting how she reacts the first time she gets serious competition, because that's exactly what Hermione is not. Hermione is safe. (As is Luna, I can't remember any other female friends, even though I'm sure she has some, probably a little bit afraid of her.) Hermione is not only less attractive, but within the Weasleys she's only Ron's second best friend, easily expandable as shown by Mrs Weasley's chocolate eggs. Hermione does not threaten Ginny in any way. Fleur, on the other hand, does.
I haven't reread HBP yet, so, I may be remembering things wrong, but I got a clear feeling that Ginny was jealous of Fleur, and that she resented Fleur being in the house and being with a Weasley at least partly because she's competition. Fleur is probably more attractive than Ginny, what with the Veela genes and all, she's exotic, she's powerful and smart -- the most powerful and smart in her whole school!, she's older, experienced with handling men, used to getting her own way, and here she is, living with them, disrupting Ginny's normal status. Both Bill and Ron seem to prefer Fleur. The horror! That bitch, Phlegm! Let's get her out of the way.
Heh. I don't like Ginny. Can you tell? ;-)
- Clara