As far as Harry Potter’s Golden Trio goes, most people love Hermione, tolerate Harry and can’t seem to relate to Ron. But Ron Weasley is by far the most dynamic person in the trouble-making friend group.
Unless you’re a huge Ron fan, you’re all probably thinking: “Ron is just a whiny person who only helped a handful of times.” If that’s the case, you’re only looking at the surface level.
Like all other fantasy series, Harry Potter tackles real-life issues in a subtle way. There are nuances that highlight the effect of racism and the toll depression can take on people. Both of those were aspects that related to author J.K. Rowling’s own life. And Ron’s progression through the series is also reflected in Rowling’s personal journey.
When writing the first two novels, Rowling was living off government money. She had recently been divorced and was a single mother trying to make the most of what she had. She started writing the Harry Potter novels, and Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (renamed the Sorcerer’s Stone for U.S. release) in 1997. Ron epitomizes her rags-to-riches story.
Ron is part of a poor, muggle-loving family that is a “disgrace to the name of wizards,” as per Lucius Malfoy. The Weasleys are a pureblood family that doesn’t think they are socially above anyone, even when they win the lottery in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Though Ron is embarrassed by his family at times, he still epitomizes what the Weasleys stand for. He wishes his family didn’t have to hand down clothes from generation to generation, but he still looks out for his siblings.
Without Ron, the Golden Trio would have lacked a knowledge of the wizarding world. Harry and Hermione were raised by muggles and had no idea they were wizards until their 11th birthdays. Ron grew up playing quidditch in the yard and battling Fred and George in wizard chess. That all came in handy throughout the series. Had Ron not taken charge and sacrificed himself for his friends in the first installment, Harry would have never made it through to retrieve the sorcerer’s stone. Ron was an important part of getting into the chamber of secrets, and his rat was Peter Pettigrew.
Most people’s hatred for Ron comes with the fourth book. In Goblet of Fire, his jealousy toward Harry got in the way of their friendship. Most of the book was focused on Ron and Harry’s inner dialogue on how they hated the way the other person was acting. But if Ron hadn’t been jealous of Harry, then it would have been a problem. All friendships have jealousy, and if Ron would have blindly followed a dude with a lightning bolt on his forehead for the whole series without questioning anything, that would have been ridiculous.
Ron’s loyalty to his friends had to be tested throughout the series, just like Hermione’s intelligence and Harry’s ambition. It is what made the characters who they were. But when Ron was tested, people thought he was being petty when really he was just trying to cope with his insecurities. Ron’s constant internal battle with himself and how he fits in with Harry and Hermione is the reason his story arc is the most dynamic.
Georgia Davis is a senior studying journalism at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. Do you think Ron is just a whiny wannabe? Tell Georgia by tweeting her at @georgiadee35.
