I agree 100% with your assessment of Ron as compared to Harry and Hermione, especially in relation to which characters JKR holds up as paragons. And amen as well to the scores of unanswered questions in her books, though the unknowns do leave lots of room for fic writers to adventure.
As for Sixth Year, I think Ron was confused. He'd get signals of interest from Hermione and then she'd tell Harry how fanciable he was, while ignoring Ron's attempts to get her attention. Harry and Hermione would stay behind talking privately, then say it was nothing, or be invited together by Slughorn as if they were a couple. The whole mess was capped off by Ginny blurting that Hermione had snogged Krum.
If Ron felt inferior to anyone, especially with regard to winning Hermione's affections, it was Krum, and even then he felt he had virtues that Krum lacked. For two years, Hermione had blustered defiantly whenever Ron questioned her about Victor. She had ample opportunity as the "more mature" of them to clarify that her interest was strictly platonic. Small wonder Ron did not confront her with Ginny's revelation. The mess deepens.
Enter Lavender Brown.
Personally, I never took 'ever the tone of surprise' as a sign that Ron felt inferior, but as a sign of annoyance that Hermione seemed to see him that way. In truth, I just think Ron wants a bit of praise and acknowledgement from his friends. When he gets it from anyone, he shines. Same with his family; his issue isn't inferiority, but a deeply felt desire to get a little attention.
As for his relation to Harry, I think Ron draws a definitive conclusion in Year Four. His anger at Harry about the tournement was that he thought (wrongly) that Harry left him out of his plans to enter. Add to that the night when Harry threw the badge at Ron, cutting him on the forehead and saying Ron now had a scar, too, like he always wanted, was a turning point. From then on, after they reconcile, Ron seems less a partner in their exploits and more a sidekick, a passivity that remains in play until the fateful fight in the tent in DH. I like the way JKR resolved the issue between them when the Horcrux was destroyed, and the change that immediately comes over Ron when it is.
That was a bit long-winded! I obviously can't help discussing all things Ron, but the real mystery for me in these books is Harry. Being inside his head doesn't always help. Complicated fellow, that Harry...
As for Sixth Year, I think Ron was confused. He'd get signals of interest from Hermione and then she'd tell Harry how fanciable he was, while ignoring Ron's attempts to get her attention. Harry and Hermione would stay behind talking privately, then say it was nothing, or be invited together by Slughorn as if they were a couple. The whole mess was capped off by Ginny blurting that Hermione had snogged Krum.
If Ron felt inferior to anyone, especially with regard to winning Hermione's affections, it was Krum, and even then he felt he had virtues that Krum lacked. For two years, Hermione had blustered defiantly whenever Ron questioned her about Victor. She had ample opportunity as the "more mature" of them to clarify that her interest was strictly platonic. Small wonder Ron did not confront her with Ginny's revelation. The mess deepens.
Enter Lavender Brown.
Personally, I never took 'ever the tone of surprise' as a sign that Ron felt inferior, but as a sign of annoyance that Hermione seemed to see him that way. In truth, I just think Ron wants a bit of praise and acknowledgement from his friends. When he gets it from anyone, he shines. Same with his family; his issue isn't inferiority, but a deeply felt desire to get a little attention.
As for his relation to Harry, I think Ron draws a definitive conclusion in Year Four. His anger at Harry about the tournement was that he thought (wrongly) that Harry left him out of his plans to enter. Add to that the night when Harry threw the badge at Ron, cutting him on the forehead and saying Ron now had a scar, too, like he always wanted, was a turning point. From then on, after they reconcile, Ron seems less a partner in their exploits and more a sidekick, a passivity that remains in play until the fateful fight in the tent in DH. I like the way JKR resolved the issue between them when the Horcrux was destroyed, and the change that immediately comes over Ron when it is.
That was a bit long-winded! I obviously can't help discussing all things Ron, but the real mystery for me in these books is Harry. Being inside his head doesn't always help. Complicated fellow, that Harry...
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