Well, how far does the apple fall from the tree? Molly is a classic domestic bully, and the twins inherited their bullying natures from her. The certainly didn't get that from their father. The whole Weasley menange for the first five books traces a steadily escalating battle between the twins and their mother. There is a limit to how openly the twins could attack Molly. That's probably one of the reasons for their having adopted aggressive "humor" as their weapon of choice in the first place.
Percy (who also likes to throw his weight around) sided with Molly. Consequently there was no limit to what they felt they could throw at *him*. It's also pretty clear that Molly had staked out a claim on her only daughter, and while the twins hadn't quite the guts to do much about it at home, as soon as Molly wasn't around they intended to take Molly's preference out of Ginny's hide. The whole business of the Riddle diary seems to have spooked them enough that they more or less backed off after that.
Ron, otoh, blindly sided with the twins, and he did NOT inherit a bullying nature. Consequently, he gets rolled over from both sides. The twins let him tag along when they feel like it or take swipes at him when it occurs to him. Molly, by contrast has been *consistently* passive agressive in her relationship and treatment of this particular child. Always *maroon* jumpers, always the sandwiches he *doesn't* like, the gawd-awfull dress robes. If he hadn't managed to immediately strike up a friendship with Harry Potter the aggressiveness might have been less passive. As it is, until he was made a Prefect I cannot off the top of my head remember any statement Molly has ever addressed to Ron that wasn't either an order or a rebuke. Now that her "golden boy" Percy has rejected her, she may well decide that Ron, now a Prefect, is a fitting replacement. We may see some very different dynamics between the two of them in the last two books. Particularly if the twins have moved out and are living over the shop.
But I really do think that a great deal of hunger for recognition that is such a basic part of Ron's character is due to the fact that he has been deliberately denied that recognition from his mother.
Arthur, Bill and Charlie seem to have managed to keep their heads down and stay out of it. Ginny would have as well, but wasn't given the option. She has developed the art of flying under the radar in self-protection.
no subject
Percy (who also likes to throw his weight around) sided with Molly. Consequently there was no limit to what they felt they could throw at *him*. It's also pretty clear that Molly had staked out a claim on her only daughter, and while the twins hadn't quite the guts to do much about it at home, as soon as Molly wasn't around they intended to take Molly's preference out of Ginny's hide. The whole business of the Riddle diary seems to have spooked them enough that they more or less backed off after that.
Ron, otoh, blindly sided with the twins, and he did NOT inherit a bullying nature. Consequently, he gets rolled over from both sides. The twins let him tag along when they feel like it or take swipes at him when it occurs to him. Molly, by contrast has been *consistently* passive agressive in her relationship and treatment of this particular child. Always *maroon* jumpers, always the sandwiches he *doesn't* like, the gawd-awfull dress robes. If he hadn't managed to immediately strike up a friendship with Harry Potter the aggressiveness might have been less passive. As it is, until he was made a Prefect I cannot off the top of my head remember any statement Molly has ever addressed to Ron that wasn't either an order or a rebuke. Now that her "golden boy" Percy has rejected her, she may well decide that Ron, now a Prefect, is a fitting replacement. We may see some very different dynamics between the two of them in the last two books. Particularly if the twins have moved out and are living over the shop.
But I really do think that a great deal of hunger for recognition that is such a basic part of Ron's character is due to the fact that he has been deliberately denied that recognition from his mother.
Arthur, Bill and Charlie seem to have managed to keep their heads down and stay out of it. Ginny would have as well, but wasn't given the option. She has developed the art of flying under the radar in self-protection.