Very interesting topic. I'm here by way of the d_s.
I've re-read OotP at least 4 times and honestly, have never liked Ron's character in it. His role was diminished and he seemed to just sit back and let Harry and Hermione do everything. I couldn't quite figure why JKR wrote his character like that, and still can't.
However, I never really considered the situation at Grimmauld Place through Ron's eyes as you did. From that perspective and considering the fact that he is the sixth of seven children, his lack of interest/authority in the prefect department makes much more sense and I am able to sympathize with him a bit more.
However (you knew that was coming, didn't you?)...if Ron were really developing as many that have replied to this post said then he would have taken his role more seriously instead of just 'giving it up' because someone else wants it more. Instead of stepping up and fulfilling the role he was given, he stayed back, shirked his responsibilities and proved everyone that thought he didn't deserve it right. The only time he stood up for anything was to Seamus, the first night, and IMO, he abused his position by saying basically, "leave my friend alone. I'm a prefect."
In the train, when Hermione announces who the prefects are I think it is plot exposition more than an indication of her feeling slighted because she doesn't have a bigger honor than the others. Everyone in that car knew that a boy and a girl from every house are prefects. But not everyone reading the books knows this. That ridiculous piece of dialogue was solely for the reader.
Personally, I don't think Ron wanted to be prefect. When he got the badge he was as shocked as anyone. He was proud, to be sure, as he should have been; he was just given a great honor. The elation of that probably carried over for a while until the day to day duties of his position set in. I prefer to think that his apathy toward his position was more to do with his disinterest in it, rather than a passive character trait. That, in my mind at least, makes Ron seem like a stronger characte. Of course, if that is the case, he is still going the passive route, hoping to do such a poor job that the position will be taken away instead of telling McGonagall, "I don't want to do this next year."
I was talking to a friend on IM the other day about the giving Ron the prefect's badge line of DD's. When I read it the first time I was like, "WTF? Who cares about the prefect badge. Harry was just told he's got a good chance of dying! Priorities here DD!" The line was just tacked onto the end. It didn't fit. At all. Harry was over it. He hadn't thought about it since the summer. Then I realized why he said it, or why JKR put it there, cuz I have my doubts that DD's character agreed with that addition.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Rowling, I don't see what the prefect badge has to do with anything at all. Why must I say it?"
"Because I have to be able to explain why I'm giving it to Harry at the beginning of the next book."
"Ah," DD said, stroking his beard. "Well, couldn't I have told him at another more appropriate time."
"When? You haven't looked at him all year."
"Yes, well you are writing this, not me. I am obviously here at your pleasure."
"Too right you are. You are saying the line."
So, I think that in book 6, Harry will get the badge and Ron will be Quidditch Captain, a responsibility that he would want, be more interested in and much more suited to do. Perfect world? Harry gets the badge, is worried about how Ron will react and Ron says, "Oh, I told McGonagall that I didn't want it. Bloody nuisence that was. Have fun mate." Of course, then Harry will be jealous that Ron is Quidditch Captain...*shakes head* it never ends, does it?
Thanks for letting me post! I hope I haven't offended anyone...
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Date: 2004-11-12 08:17 pm (UTC)I've re-read OotP at least 4 times and honestly, have never liked Ron's character in it. His role was diminished and he seemed to just sit back and let Harry and Hermione do everything. I couldn't quite figure why JKR wrote his character like that, and still can't.
However, I never really considered the situation at Grimmauld Place through Ron's eyes as you did. From that perspective and considering the fact that he is the sixth of seven children, his lack of interest/authority in the prefect department makes much more sense and I am able to sympathize with him a bit more.
However (you knew that was coming, didn't you?)...if Ron were really developing as many that have replied to this post said then he would have taken his role more seriously instead of just 'giving it up' because someone else wants it more. Instead of stepping up and fulfilling the role he was given, he stayed back, shirked his responsibilities and proved everyone that thought he didn't deserve it right. The only time he stood up for anything was to Seamus, the first night, and IMO, he abused his position by saying basically, "leave my friend alone. I'm a prefect."
In the train, when Hermione announces who the prefects are I think it is plot exposition more than an indication of her feeling slighted because she doesn't have a bigger honor than the others. Everyone in that car knew that a boy and a girl from every house are prefects. But not everyone reading the books knows this. That ridiculous piece of dialogue was solely for the reader.
Personally, I don't think Ron wanted to be prefect. When he got the badge he was as shocked as anyone. He was proud, to be sure, as he should have been; he was just given a great honor. The elation of that probably carried over for a while until the day to day duties of his position set in. I prefer to think that his apathy toward his position was more to do with his disinterest in it, rather than a passive character trait. That, in my mind at least, makes Ron seem like a stronger characte. Of course, if that is the case, he is still going the passive route, hoping to do such a poor job that the position will be taken away instead of telling McGonagall, "I don't want to do this next year."
I was talking to a friend on IM the other day about the giving Ron the prefect's badge line of DD's. When I read it the first time I was like, "WTF? Who cares about the prefect badge. Harry was just told he's got a good chance of dying! Priorities here DD!" The line was just tacked onto the end. It didn't fit. At all. Harry was over it. He hadn't thought about it since the summer. Then I realized why he said it, or why JKR put it there, cuz I have my doubts that DD's character agreed with that addition.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Rowling, I don't see what the prefect badge has to do with anything at all. Why must I say it?"
"Because I have to be able to explain why I'm giving it to Harry at the beginning of the next book."
"Ah," DD said, stroking his beard. "Well, couldn't I have told him at another more appropriate time."
"When? You haven't looked at him all year."
"Yes, well you are writing this, not me. I am obviously here at your pleasure."
"Too right you are. You are saying the line."
So, I think that in book 6, Harry will get the badge and Ron will be Quidditch Captain, a responsibility that he would want, be more interested in and much more suited to do. Perfect world? Harry gets the badge, is worried about how Ron will react and Ron says, "Oh, I told McGonagall that I didn't want it. Bloody nuisence that was. Have fun mate." Of course, then Harry will be jealous that Ron is Quidditch Captain...*shakes head* it never ends, does it?
Thanks for letting me post! I hope I haven't offended anyone...
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