in depth character essay
On March 1st, 1980, Ronald Bilius Weasley was born the sixth child of Arthur and Molly (nee’ Prewett) Weasley. From an early age his life was encumbered by the warfare that was the Wizarding World, as if to predict what later may become of his life. His youngest sibling and sister, Ginny, would be born just weeks before the first Wizarding World would end and dispel the tension within it. But, for what it’s worth, despite hardships, Ronald grew up well within his family. The Weasleys, an old family within the Wizarding World, were poor and “blood” traitors, but that by no means meant they lacked.
Being the sixth of seven has put a great deal of emphasis on Ron about family. He can become easily upset and jealous of them, this much is true, but at the end of the day he cares for them dearly. Ron was raised to cherish his family and that he does. He doesn’t exactly “play nice” from time-to-time, but his protectiveness towards them never wavers. When Percy writes him a letter telling him that if he wanted to make something of himself he would have to turn his back on his family and Harry, Ron grew angry and rid himself of said letter.
That act showed how deeply Ron’s loyalties lie to his family and friends. Ron is very much like his patronus the Jack Russel terrier, in more aspects than one, but especially where his loyalty lies. In the past it could take seconds for Ron to consider a person a friend-as seen with Harry-but that’s changed now somewhat. The war’s taken its toll on him and he’s not nearly as open as he was when he was an eleven-year-old boy. But it is, however, needless to say that once you break into his shell you have gained an infallible loyalty. Even when Ron was angry and jealous with Harry, he still stood by him…Just, it takes a closer look to see. A perfect example of this being when Snape refused to help Hermione in Goblet of Fire and both he and Harry yelled at him for it (despite not talking for weeks).
Yet, as infallible as his loyalty is, Ron really isn’t the most amicable of beings. We must take into account the fact that before arriving at Hogwarts he was surrounded by family in the countryside. There was little to do beyond being around them and sometimes tagging along to the village with his mother. When he first meets Harry it’s the first child he’s probably really met that is his own age and not in his family. He was able to talk freely to him and they became instantaneous friends, as Ron later seemed to with his own dormmates. But, we must keep in mind, there’s no hinting he makes friends with people in any of the other houses, or even the girls for that matter. Whatever the reason was that didn’t get him to socialize outside of his dormmates would only be furthered in the years to come as the war set forth and made it harder to trust people.
Perhaps contradictory is the fact Ron wants to be noticed for himself. As the sixth of seven and his brothers already passing some of the greatest feats, Ron had a lot to live up to. This was only furthered and instilled when he befriended Hermione and Harry, mostly to the latter case. Being surrounded by people who are brilliant has shunted Ron into the corner. It’s why, when things happen that get people to talk to him, he’ll go on about it for hours and change up the story-because, for once, all eyes on him. Ironically enough, Ron can’t handle the spotlight if people are actually watching him and he has to do something. He clams up and becomes far too nervous to think straight. It’s with this it’s near positive to say that-what Ron wants isn’t exactly to be famous, but to be noticed and cheered on. Sure, winning and people saying his name are great and he’d take it, but that’s not really what he wants. It’s why his relationship with Lavender is so pivotal in that sense: she noticed and wanted him when he thought no one else did. So, of course, as with any teenage male he was going to take it.
Ron’s whole fear of not being noticed falls hand-in-hand with his inferiority complex. He truly doesn’t think he’s good enough for Hermione, or to be friends with Harry, and even to get more of his mother’s love. It’s a thing he’s constantly struggling with and doesn’t know how to handle. He thinks people will be better off and happier without him and, even though Harry has told him otherwise, it’s always going to be a haunting presence for him. Although, it is important to note, he is gaining a notion of self-worth. It’s not as great as it could possibly be, but it’s getting there.
Surprisingly, Ron is a rather honest thing. He hides his emotions and doesn’t try to let people worry about him, but when it comes to his thoughts that he thinks are acceptable to share he’ll do it, with no questions asked. And, if pushed enough, those thoughts he doesn’t care to share will also come out to the truth. He lays everything out on the table without even really realizing it sometimes, especially when he’s speaking from the heart. It’s this certain level of bluntness mixed with the factors that make him very much Ron. However, there are certain things he isn’t quite honest with himself about which we’ll get to next.
For what it’s worth, despite his honesty, Ron has a firm belief that if it’s got nothing to do with someone they’ve no need knowing. That is to say, if it’s not his business to give he’s not giving it. Or even if it does involve him if it’s something that it’s really important, he’s not going to be easily talked into giving it. He may say things in a roundabout way like “we have to do this”, but otherwise he’s tightlipped. And, push him over the edge about it and he’ll glare, yell, and not talk to you for some time if it’s that bad.
Ron has trouble with deeper emotions and relationships. J.K. Rowling calls him “emotionally immature” and while he is growing more into himself as a person, it’s still significant to note. He’s constantly struggling with his anger, jealousy, and love. He doesn’t know how to deal with them as well as doesn’t understand them. Ron takes quite a long time to process that he likes Hermione as more than a friend and then mucks it up then (he’s quoted saying if he’d had the book the twins gave him earlier, he’d know how to break up with Lavender and get going with Hermione). Although, we must give him credit, as the boy is finally catching up to speed-what took him a few years to realize only took a few months later. But it still doesn’t stop the fact he has these troubles and for that he has issues dealing with deeper relationships.
However, it is not without trying. Ron is lazy and doesn’t want to do more than he has to, but once he has his heart and mind set on something he’s a determined little git. We see this especially during his chess matches where he determinedly perseveres, but we also see it again in Order of the Phoenix. He decides he wants to be on the Quidditch team and spends hours for weeks practicing to get on-no matter the weather. And then, even later, he constantly tries to gain Hermione’s attention and realize he’s right there and wants to be with her. It’s such an odd quality in him because in most other things he gives up easily or thinks he will fail-but when he’s set on it, he’s set.
Ron is perhaps the most noble of the trio and not because of his blood. He has these strong sets of morals and thoughts that he hardly wavers from. That’s not to say he doesn’t, no, but in a way he’s the one in the trio he’s come the furthest. Rowling says he has to “earn” Hermione and that’s what HalfBlood Prince was about for him. He grows to be a young man who, while still very much himself, has the traits of a Knight. That is to say, he puts others before himself continuously and seems to have an old fashioned sort of mindset. He stands by these ideals even when having half bled to death.
He is not, however, without his faults. The boy is littered with them more than one would think, but in some ways you do have to look deeper into him. For example: is his anger justified? In the above sections we’ve gone over briefly his insecurities, jealousy, and loyalty and these are important to note when thinking about this. Many people rebuff that Ron is an angry and jealous bloke, but that’s not altogether true. He is jealous a fair bit of the time, this much is true, but the anger is something that needs to be scrutinized more. Anytime we see Ron angry is during one of the above mentioned times: when he’s insecure, jealous, or being protective. Even the fight that had him leave in Deathly Hallows was induced by a protectiveness to the idea his family was hurt and a jealous insecurity that Harry and Hermione were snogging behind his back.
Ron’s development progresses greatly during the months of June-July (HBP-DH) that it really needs to be explored. As stated before Rowling said Ron had to earn Hermione, and during these last few months there’s been such a pivotal change in the boy. He’s not perfect, far from, but you see him taking his role in her life far more seriously than he did before. Before even Harry’s able to fully realize Hermione’s in tears, Ron’s up, holding her, and saying exactly what needed to be said to calm her down. This is important for Ron, because before he didn’t have a clue on how to behave in situations as such-but there he is, for the next several chapters, keeping her all right. Ironically, it’s also during these chapters that we find he’s learned tact (at least when it comes to Hermione). When Harry had said something that got Hermione going, Ron had shot him a warning look as if to say “really, how thick can you get?” And this is incredibly important to him, seeing as this was the boy who before didn’t think at all before he spoke.
Ron and pressure… is a very hard thing to fully go on by book seven. It’s noted that in Deathly Hallows, he was the one keeping Hermione straight and reminding her of the plans when breaking into the Ministry. Later on he seems to be able to fight and go into things with little worry, which is starkly different from the eleven year old boy who was panicking. But that isn’t to say he doesn’t-because he does, and I think it’s most prudently put this way: Ron is good under pressure in a serious situation until it’s down to him to keep it going. For example: during the break-in at the Ministry Ron was the one remembering the plan, being calm, and even joking until he was confronted as Reg Catttermole. It’s only then we see the panicking boy, and it later diminished when he was no longer having to deal with having to pretend to be the guy (it did return upon the sight of Mary, but under the circumstances he didn’t panic, either).
Ron is an odd mixture of stick-in the-mud and humorous. While he can easily get people laughing when he tries to, it’s also important to point out his overall demeanor sometimes makes him easy to feel “put-out” (which in turn makes him difficult to deal with by other people). Overall, however, he’s the comedy in the trio. He’s the one that knows how to keep them laughing and keep spirits up. Between all of them, he’s probably the most optimistic when things are down because he is trying to keep spirits up and wants to think things aren’t completely failing. This is seen when he persisted to believe that Made Eye wasn’t dead and tried to reason how he couldn’t have and later when on their search he kept encouraging Harry on things after his return.
It’s also important to note that Ron is a leader. No, he doesn’t really seek out being a leader, but when he needs to he steps forward and takes forward… And, honestly, while he’s not exactly charismatic he’s good at it. He’s able to keep the group moving, come up with new ideas, and even try to keep their spirits up. Ron was never the best at his leadership position as a prefect, never taking it seriously, but he must have to some degree or he wouldn’t have kept the title. As it were, there’s no denying that over time he grew into being a capable one when the need arose.
What many people don't seem to realize about Ron is that he comes from an old-fashioned mindset. With the lack of technological advances that the Muggle World had, certain things Ron is oblivious to. The poor kid blushes and sputters when seeing his sister snogging of all things. While it can be said it's because that was his kid sister there's more to it than that. Ron was raised almost purely around family and didn't likely get the chance to often go to the village behind the orchard. Growing up it was mostly him, Ginny, Fred and George until they went off to school. Growing up in seclusion and with a strict mother who demands they go by certain mannerisms, it's needless to say Ron doesn't have the progressive mind those from the Muggle world might have. He starts leaning, however, as over the years more slang and the sort bleed into his vocabulary (for example, his favorite line “bloody hell”, takes him three years to say regularly). With this in mind, it's a bit more understandable when it comes to Ron's viewpoints on certain things-especially relationships-especially when adding in his emotional stunting.
Despite popular belief, Ron isn't, for lack of a better word, dumb. Canonically he earns passing O.W.L. scores of E (equivalent to U.S. B) and only failed the two courses he didn't care about anyway. Ron just isn't motivated-he doesn't see a point in all the homework they're given, doesn't think reading the subject for fun is needed and is generally lazy. We must also remember that he eventually becomes an Auror, which is one of the hardest occupations to get into. It's just this: if Ron doesn't feel he'll get anything from it he won't put his all into it. He puts in what he feels is needed to pass and stops there. All that extra work could be spent on something he finds more interesting or necessary, such as Quidditch, chess, or eating.
Within the group, as you saw above, Rowling states Ron as the glue that keeps them together. He’s not the smartest or most skilled, but he’s the one with the most heart. When Hermione and Harry go off in their tangents, Ron’s the one that bucks up and keeps them grounded. He’s often the sensibility of the group without even meaning to be. As seen in Deathly Hallows when Harry begins thinking about Hallows, Ron is the one that can keep them moving when things get rough. He’s the chess master, the one that understands that some things need to be done rather they like it or not. Even though he’s often grumpy, it’s shown that his anger isn’t… quite as rash as Harry’s who lashes out without prompted reason. For Ron it’s always something building up or a protective nature. The trio have always defended each other, but when it comes down to it Ron’s the first one to be protective and will be the first to try and sacrifice himself for the others. As shown in third year when, on a broken leg no less, he stands and tries to protect Harry saying Sirius would have to kill them first, or during Deathly Hallows when he tells Bellatrix to take him instead of Hermione.
Ultimately, Ron is a boy and a typical one at that, except... Except, because of the war he's been forced to grow up too fast. He is ultimately still the same boy we saw from day one near the end of Deathly Hallows, but the war has added subtle changes to him that are beginning to flourish. He's become more serious and understanding, trying to do his best to do what is right. He's beginning to see relationships and feelings for what they are and it shows-especially when throughout year seven he comforts Hermione to the best of his ability. When Fred died he had to swallow what grief he had and help his family out and, in doing so, he grows to be more of a man. Ron's still got a long way to go, but these subtle changes are appearing and showing themselves in the most outstanding ways. Yet, at the end of the day, he is still very much Ron-the awkward boy who fought beside his best friend from day one.
BELOW IS A SECTION ON THE OTHER TWO-THIRDS OF THE TRIO AND HIS RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM AND HOW THEY AFFECT HIS PERSONALITY
Perhaps the easiest relationship to touch on is the one between that of Ron and Hermione as, in many interviews; Rowling has expanded on the depth of their relationship to great extents. At first Ron couldn’t stand her thinking her a haughty know-it-all who was a “nightmare”. In return, Hermione seemed to have a snotty, sniping attitude towards him. Of course, this changed when Ron and Harry accidentally lock her in a bathroom with a fully grown mountain troll and the three are forced to fight it. Since then, the two of them have constantly bickered and sometimes it can hardly be told why they’re friends.
But there are more important aspects of their relationship: Ron seems to believe he has a certain responsibility over her since they became friends. As aforementioned, Ron is under the mindset that he can say whatever he wants about his friends, but if someone else dares he sees fit to attack. This is seen especially in light of Hermione who, in year two, he defended with a broken wand and during Deathly Hallows tried to refuse letting her near anywhere dangerous, saying if any of them did anything as such it would be him. Ron has a constant nature of putting himself between Hermione and whatever may come their way, rather it be insults or attacks and, in a way, it could be said this is because of how his mother raised him… Yet, anyone who’s read the books know better.
Hermione is the one person who can truly make Ron emotional. Let me better say this, Ron is capable of trying to keep his real emotions back and grumbling about things for ages for almost everything else but Hermione. He’s seen arguing, protecting, jealous, and worrying more openly than he has with any of the other characters, in a way it’s because she’s the emotional balance between them.
"Ron and Hermione, however, are drawn to each other because they balance each other
out. Hermione's got the sensitivity and maturity that's been left out of Ron, and
Ron loosens up Hermione a bit, gets her to have some fun. They love each other and
they bicker a bit, but they enjoy bickering, so we shouldn't worry about it."
The above is how Rowling explains the two of theirs relationship-where Ron fails to see the picture because of his anger, jealousy, and generally sulking, Hermione is the one that puts it straight. Even when they’re rowing she’s able to put him in perspective. Consequently, Ron truly listens to Hermione. In Deathly Hallows he’s seen openly taking care of her and pulling her to him when she was crying, showing a level of maturity that he hadn’t yet. He even shows a sense of logic that Hermione didn’t realize he has, even repeating her own words to her.
Where Hermione lacks, Ron takes up. He’s the one between the two boys that can get her to stop panicking, calm down and even laugh. Even if it’s sometimes unwittingly that he does so. While Hermione is reason and logic, Ron is often the sensibility. This was deeply portrayed in year four when she started her campaigning for S.P.E.W. and he told her it’d be impossible to change things and free the house-elves and tried his darnedest to get her to eat. He often grumbles about her behavior in not sleeping and eating during these times and shows a concern for her he doesn’t quite anyone else… Well, when they’re not in one of their epic rows that is.
One of the most important aspects of their relationship built up through the course of the seven novels and became known in Deathly Hallows: they’re affection for each other. When Ron leaves during their hunt for horcruxes it’s not Harry or their mission that brings him back to them: it’s Hermione. We see an increased tension in their relationship during the horcrux hunt and learn that the girl Ron loves is Hermione (as said by Riddle via the locket). Which sort of makes all their bickering fall into place-for as loyal as Ron was to Harry it was Hermione that really brought him back. He just never has the courage to say or do anything about it the entirety of the novel until she kisses him. The idea of her liking or kissing anyone else, Harry via the locket, is a subject of great grief and jealousy for him. The idea she kissed Krum, after all, was exactly why he started dating Lavender in Half-Blood Prince.
Harry was Ron’s first friend outside of his own family members and, from day one, he showed a certain loyalty to him. The two were instantaneous friends and for the both of them it was because they seemed able to readily accept them for who the other was. Ron didn’t mind Harry was from a muggle home or that his clothes were hardly his own size. And Harry didn’t mind that Ron was from a large family, second-hand everything and poor. They had found a friend in the other that would continue for the next seven years into their later life.
While Ron and Harry hardly had as much trouble getting along as Ron did with Hermione, they had their spats and it could be said they were worse than his with Hermione. For, while he and Hermione got into tiffs where they wouldn’t speak to each other for days-the worst being in year six-when Ron and Harry fight there’s a break in the friendship. The first initial one in year four, Hermione ended up staying more by Harry although she realized the reasoning behind it, but the later locket-induced fight in Deathly Hallows had Ron completely abandon them. Which, in truth, had never happened in any of the trios spats before.
Ron may not be there, but he’s never abandoned Harry. Not once. Sound absurd? Yes, of course, but not being in sight or speaking doesn’t mean they’ve abandoned in a complete sense. In year four when he had left Harry there were nasty jokes and bets going around, and although he was angry and thought Harry had lied to him, it’s noted Ron never participates in it. He stands in the corner looking on like nothing’s happened, but shows no sign of taking any enjoyment from it, even helping him yell at Snape when Hermione was cursed. This was even shown in Deathly Hallows for, while he had the chance to go home and not return, he still looked for Harry and Hermione. Even if the implied leading cause was the latter.
From day one, Ron has shown an infallible loyalty to Harry. He fights with him in every battle with little question and defends him even when the times go for the worst. Most importantly, he’s willing to sacrifice everything for his friend. Ron first shows this in year one when he says that in order for Harry to go on *he* must be taken and that, sometimes, some sacrifices must be done. Furthermore, in year six and seven, Ron and Hermione are both fully aware that during the Horcrux hunt there was a possibility of one, if not all, of them dying. Yet, both of them proceeded, putting their families at risk despite their attempts to protect them. We can also never forget that it was for Harry that Ron faced his greatest fears for in facing the spiders in the forest.
It’s known that Ron is jealous of his older brothers and feels easily overshadowed, but after befriending Harry this only intensifies. Ron is jealous that Hermione and his mother love and choose Harry over him, and this plays quite the roll considering it’s the very reason he leaves in Deathly Hallows. Ron’s anger and jealousy cause rifts in their relationship that almost break the trio as a whole, as mentioned before, but both of these known times were because of Ron’s outstanding insecurities. He considers himself as “Harry Potter’s stupid best friend,” and while often times it’s a thing of honor for him-there’s always a deep-rooted insecurity. After his defeating of the horcrux and Harry telling him the opposite, this seems to have diminished, but it’s such a core part of Ron that it will never fully leave him.
Being the sixth of seven has put a great deal of emphasis on Ron about family. He can become easily upset and jealous of them, this much is true, but at the end of the day he cares for them dearly. Ron was raised to cherish his family and that he does. He doesn’t exactly “play nice” from time-to-time, but his protectiveness towards them never wavers. When Percy writes him a letter telling him that if he wanted to make something of himself he would have to turn his back on his family and Harry, Ron grew angry and rid himself of said letter.
That act showed how deeply Ron’s loyalties lie to his family and friends. Ron is very much like his patronus the Jack Russel terrier, in more aspects than one, but especially where his loyalty lies. In the past it could take seconds for Ron to consider a person a friend-as seen with Harry-but that’s changed now somewhat. The war’s taken its toll on him and he’s not nearly as open as he was when he was an eleven-year-old boy. But it is, however, needless to say that once you break into his shell you have gained an infallible loyalty. Even when Ron was angry and jealous with Harry, he still stood by him…Just, it takes a closer look to see. A perfect example of this being when Snape refused to help Hermione in Goblet of Fire and both he and Harry yelled at him for it (despite not talking for weeks).
Yet, as infallible as his loyalty is, Ron really isn’t the most amicable of beings. We must take into account the fact that before arriving at Hogwarts he was surrounded by family in the countryside. There was little to do beyond being around them and sometimes tagging along to the village with his mother. When he first meets Harry it’s the first child he’s probably really met that is his own age and not in his family. He was able to talk freely to him and they became instantaneous friends, as Ron later seemed to with his own dormmates. But, we must keep in mind, there’s no hinting he makes friends with people in any of the other houses, or even the girls for that matter. Whatever the reason was that didn’t get him to socialize outside of his dormmates would only be furthered in the years to come as the war set forth and made it harder to trust people.
Perhaps contradictory is the fact Ron wants to be noticed for himself. As the sixth of seven and his brothers already passing some of the greatest feats, Ron had a lot to live up to. This was only furthered and instilled when he befriended Hermione and Harry, mostly to the latter case. Being surrounded by people who are brilliant has shunted Ron into the corner. It’s why, when things happen that get people to talk to him, he’ll go on about it for hours and change up the story-because, for once, all eyes on him. Ironically enough, Ron can’t handle the spotlight if people are actually watching him and he has to do something. He clams up and becomes far too nervous to think straight. It’s with this it’s near positive to say that-what Ron wants isn’t exactly to be famous, but to be noticed and cheered on. Sure, winning and people saying his name are great and he’d take it, but that’s not really what he wants. It’s why his relationship with Lavender is so pivotal in that sense: she noticed and wanted him when he thought no one else did. So, of course, as with any teenage male he was going to take it.
Ron’s whole fear of not being noticed falls hand-in-hand with his inferiority complex. He truly doesn’t think he’s good enough for Hermione, or to be friends with Harry, and even to get more of his mother’s love. It’s a thing he’s constantly struggling with and doesn’t know how to handle. He thinks people will be better off and happier without him and, even though Harry has told him otherwise, it’s always going to be a haunting presence for him. Although, it is important to note, he is gaining a notion of self-worth. It’s not as great as it could possibly be, but it’s getting there.
Surprisingly, Ron is a rather honest thing. He hides his emotions and doesn’t try to let people worry about him, but when it comes to his thoughts that he thinks are acceptable to share he’ll do it, with no questions asked. And, if pushed enough, those thoughts he doesn’t care to share will also come out to the truth. He lays everything out on the table without even really realizing it sometimes, especially when he’s speaking from the heart. It’s this certain level of bluntness mixed with the factors that make him very much Ron. However, there are certain things he isn’t quite honest with himself about which we’ll get to next.
For what it’s worth, despite his honesty, Ron has a firm belief that if it’s got nothing to do with someone they’ve no need knowing. That is to say, if it’s not his business to give he’s not giving it. Or even if it does involve him if it’s something that it’s really important, he’s not going to be easily talked into giving it. He may say things in a roundabout way like “we have to do this”, but otherwise he’s tightlipped. And, push him over the edge about it and he’ll glare, yell, and not talk to you for some time if it’s that bad.
Ron has trouble with deeper emotions and relationships. J.K. Rowling calls him “emotionally immature” and while he is growing more into himself as a person, it’s still significant to note. He’s constantly struggling with his anger, jealousy, and love. He doesn’t know how to deal with them as well as doesn’t understand them. Ron takes quite a long time to process that he likes Hermione as more than a friend and then mucks it up then (he’s quoted saying if he’d had the book the twins gave him earlier, he’d know how to break up with Lavender and get going with Hermione). Although, we must give him credit, as the boy is finally catching up to speed-what took him a few years to realize only took a few months later. But it still doesn’t stop the fact he has these troubles and for that he has issues dealing with deeper relationships.
However, it is not without trying. Ron is lazy and doesn’t want to do more than he has to, but once he has his heart and mind set on something he’s a determined little git. We see this especially during his chess matches where he determinedly perseveres, but we also see it again in Order of the Phoenix. He decides he wants to be on the Quidditch team and spends hours for weeks practicing to get on-no matter the weather. And then, even later, he constantly tries to gain Hermione’s attention and realize he’s right there and wants to be with her. It’s such an odd quality in him because in most other things he gives up easily or thinks he will fail-but when he’s set on it, he’s set.
Ron is perhaps the most noble of the trio and not because of his blood. He has these strong sets of morals and thoughts that he hardly wavers from. That’s not to say he doesn’t, no, but in a way he’s the one in the trio he’s come the furthest. Rowling says he has to “earn” Hermione and that’s what HalfBlood Prince was about for him. He grows to be a young man who, while still very much himself, has the traits of a Knight. That is to say, he puts others before himself continuously and seems to have an old fashioned sort of mindset. He stands by these ideals even when having half bled to death.
He is not, however, without his faults. The boy is littered with them more than one would think, but in some ways you do have to look deeper into him. For example: is his anger justified? In the above sections we’ve gone over briefly his insecurities, jealousy, and loyalty and these are important to note when thinking about this. Many people rebuff that Ron is an angry and jealous bloke, but that’s not altogether true. He is jealous a fair bit of the time, this much is true, but the anger is something that needs to be scrutinized more. Anytime we see Ron angry is during one of the above mentioned times: when he’s insecure, jealous, or being protective. Even the fight that had him leave in Deathly Hallows was induced by a protectiveness to the idea his family was hurt and a jealous insecurity that Harry and Hermione were snogging behind his back.
Ron’s development progresses greatly during the months of June-July (HBP-DH) that it really needs to be explored. As stated before Rowling said Ron had to earn Hermione, and during these last few months there’s been such a pivotal change in the boy. He’s not perfect, far from, but you see him taking his role in her life far more seriously than he did before. Before even Harry’s able to fully realize Hermione’s in tears, Ron’s up, holding her, and saying exactly what needed to be said to calm her down. This is important for Ron, because before he didn’t have a clue on how to behave in situations as such-but there he is, for the next several chapters, keeping her all right. Ironically, it’s also during these chapters that we find he’s learned tact (at least when it comes to Hermione). When Harry had said something that got Hermione going, Ron had shot him a warning look as if to say “really, how thick can you get?” And this is incredibly important to him, seeing as this was the boy who before didn’t think at all before he spoke.
Ron and pressure… is a very hard thing to fully go on by book seven. It’s noted that in Deathly Hallows, he was the one keeping Hermione straight and reminding her of the plans when breaking into the Ministry. Later on he seems to be able to fight and go into things with little worry, which is starkly different from the eleven year old boy who was panicking. But that isn’t to say he doesn’t-because he does, and I think it’s most prudently put this way: Ron is good under pressure in a serious situation until it’s down to him to keep it going. For example: during the break-in at the Ministry Ron was the one remembering the plan, being calm, and even joking until he was confronted as Reg Catttermole. It’s only then we see the panicking boy, and it later diminished when he was no longer having to deal with having to pretend to be the guy (it did return upon the sight of Mary, but under the circumstances he didn’t panic, either).
Ron is an odd mixture of stick-in the-mud and humorous. While he can easily get people laughing when he tries to, it’s also important to point out his overall demeanor sometimes makes him easy to feel “put-out” (which in turn makes him difficult to deal with by other people). Overall, however, he’s the comedy in the trio. He’s the one that knows how to keep them laughing and keep spirits up. Between all of them, he’s probably the most optimistic when things are down because he is trying to keep spirits up and wants to think things aren’t completely failing. This is seen when he persisted to believe that Made Eye wasn’t dead and tried to reason how he couldn’t have and later when on their search he kept encouraging Harry on things after his return.
It’s also important to note that Ron is a leader. No, he doesn’t really seek out being a leader, but when he needs to he steps forward and takes forward… And, honestly, while he’s not exactly charismatic he’s good at it. He’s able to keep the group moving, come up with new ideas, and even try to keep their spirits up. Ron was never the best at his leadership position as a prefect, never taking it seriously, but he must have to some degree or he wouldn’t have kept the title. As it were, there’s no denying that over time he grew into being a capable one when the need arose.
What many people don't seem to realize about Ron is that he comes from an old-fashioned mindset. With the lack of technological advances that the Muggle World had, certain things Ron is oblivious to. The poor kid blushes and sputters when seeing his sister snogging of all things. While it can be said it's because that was his kid sister there's more to it than that. Ron was raised almost purely around family and didn't likely get the chance to often go to the village behind the orchard. Growing up it was mostly him, Ginny, Fred and George until they went off to school. Growing up in seclusion and with a strict mother who demands they go by certain mannerisms, it's needless to say Ron doesn't have the progressive mind those from the Muggle world might have. He starts leaning, however, as over the years more slang and the sort bleed into his vocabulary (for example, his favorite line “bloody hell”, takes him three years to say regularly). With this in mind, it's a bit more understandable when it comes to Ron's viewpoints on certain things-especially relationships-especially when adding in his emotional stunting.
Despite popular belief, Ron isn't, for lack of a better word, dumb. Canonically he earns passing O.W.L. scores of E (equivalent to U.S. B) and only failed the two courses he didn't care about anyway. Ron just isn't motivated-he doesn't see a point in all the homework they're given, doesn't think reading the subject for fun is needed and is generally lazy. We must also remember that he eventually becomes an Auror, which is one of the hardest occupations to get into. It's just this: if Ron doesn't feel he'll get anything from it he won't put his all into it. He puts in what he feels is needed to pass and stops there. All that extra work could be spent on something he finds more interesting or necessary, such as Quidditch, chess, or eating.
Within the group, as you saw above, Rowling states Ron as the glue that keeps them together. He’s not the smartest or most skilled, but he’s the one with the most heart. When Hermione and Harry go off in their tangents, Ron’s the one that bucks up and keeps them grounded. He’s often the sensibility of the group without even meaning to be. As seen in Deathly Hallows when Harry begins thinking about Hallows, Ron is the one that can keep them moving when things get rough. He’s the chess master, the one that understands that some things need to be done rather they like it or not. Even though he’s often grumpy, it’s shown that his anger isn’t… quite as rash as Harry’s who lashes out without prompted reason. For Ron it’s always something building up or a protective nature. The trio have always defended each other, but when it comes down to it Ron’s the first one to be protective and will be the first to try and sacrifice himself for the others. As shown in third year when, on a broken leg no less, he stands and tries to protect Harry saying Sirius would have to kill them first, or during Deathly Hallows when he tells Bellatrix to take him instead of Hermione.
Ultimately, Ron is a boy and a typical one at that, except... Except, because of the war he's been forced to grow up too fast. He is ultimately still the same boy we saw from day one near the end of Deathly Hallows, but the war has added subtle changes to him that are beginning to flourish. He's become more serious and understanding, trying to do his best to do what is right. He's beginning to see relationships and feelings for what they are and it shows-especially when throughout year seven he comforts Hermione to the best of his ability. When Fred died he had to swallow what grief he had and help his family out and, in doing so, he grows to be more of a man. Ron's still got a long way to go, but these subtle changes are appearing and showing themselves in the most outstanding ways. Yet, at the end of the day, he is still very much Ron-the awkward boy who fought beside his best friend from day one.
BELOW IS A SECTION ON THE OTHER TWO-THIRDS OF THE TRIO AND HIS RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM AND HOW THEY AFFECT HIS PERSONALITY
Perhaps the easiest relationship to touch on is the one between that of Ron and Hermione as, in many interviews; Rowling has expanded on the depth of their relationship to great extents. At first Ron couldn’t stand her thinking her a haughty know-it-all who was a “nightmare”. In return, Hermione seemed to have a snotty, sniping attitude towards him. Of course, this changed when Ron and Harry accidentally lock her in a bathroom with a fully grown mountain troll and the three are forced to fight it. Since then, the two of them have constantly bickered and sometimes it can hardly be told why they’re friends.
But there are more important aspects of their relationship: Ron seems to believe he has a certain responsibility over her since they became friends. As aforementioned, Ron is under the mindset that he can say whatever he wants about his friends, but if someone else dares he sees fit to attack. This is seen especially in light of Hermione who, in year two, he defended with a broken wand and during Deathly Hallows tried to refuse letting her near anywhere dangerous, saying if any of them did anything as such it would be him. Ron has a constant nature of putting himself between Hermione and whatever may come their way, rather it be insults or attacks and, in a way, it could be said this is because of how his mother raised him… Yet, anyone who’s read the books know better.
Hermione is the one person who can truly make Ron emotional. Let me better say this, Ron is capable of trying to keep his real emotions back and grumbling about things for ages for almost everything else but Hermione. He’s seen arguing, protecting, jealous, and worrying more openly than he has with any of the other characters, in a way it’s because she’s the emotional balance between them.
"Ron and Hermione, however, are drawn to each other because they balance each other
out. Hermione's got the sensitivity and maturity that's been left out of Ron, and
Ron loosens up Hermione a bit, gets her to have some fun. They love each other and
they bicker a bit, but they enjoy bickering, so we shouldn't worry about it."
The above is how Rowling explains the two of theirs relationship-where Ron fails to see the picture because of his anger, jealousy, and generally sulking, Hermione is the one that puts it straight. Even when they’re rowing she’s able to put him in perspective. Consequently, Ron truly listens to Hermione. In Deathly Hallows he’s seen openly taking care of her and pulling her to him when she was crying, showing a level of maturity that he hadn’t yet. He even shows a sense of logic that Hermione didn’t realize he has, even repeating her own words to her.
Where Hermione lacks, Ron takes up. He’s the one between the two boys that can get her to stop panicking, calm down and even laugh. Even if it’s sometimes unwittingly that he does so. While Hermione is reason and logic, Ron is often the sensibility. This was deeply portrayed in year four when she started her campaigning for S.P.E.W. and he told her it’d be impossible to change things and free the house-elves and tried his darnedest to get her to eat. He often grumbles about her behavior in not sleeping and eating during these times and shows a concern for her he doesn’t quite anyone else… Well, when they’re not in one of their epic rows that is.
One of the most important aspects of their relationship built up through the course of the seven novels and became known in Deathly Hallows: they’re affection for each other. When Ron leaves during their hunt for horcruxes it’s not Harry or their mission that brings him back to them: it’s Hermione. We see an increased tension in their relationship during the horcrux hunt and learn that the girl Ron loves is Hermione (as said by Riddle via the locket). Which sort of makes all their bickering fall into place-for as loyal as Ron was to Harry it was Hermione that really brought him back. He just never has the courage to say or do anything about it the entirety of the novel until she kisses him. The idea of her liking or kissing anyone else, Harry via the locket, is a subject of great grief and jealousy for him. The idea she kissed Krum, after all, was exactly why he started dating Lavender in Half-Blood Prince.
Harry was Ron’s first friend outside of his own family members and, from day one, he showed a certain loyalty to him. The two were instantaneous friends and for the both of them it was because they seemed able to readily accept them for who the other was. Ron didn’t mind Harry was from a muggle home or that his clothes were hardly his own size. And Harry didn’t mind that Ron was from a large family, second-hand everything and poor. They had found a friend in the other that would continue for the next seven years into their later life.
While Ron and Harry hardly had as much trouble getting along as Ron did with Hermione, they had their spats and it could be said they were worse than his with Hermione. For, while he and Hermione got into tiffs where they wouldn’t speak to each other for days-the worst being in year six-when Ron and Harry fight there’s a break in the friendship. The first initial one in year four, Hermione ended up staying more by Harry although she realized the reasoning behind it, but the later locket-induced fight in Deathly Hallows had Ron completely abandon them. Which, in truth, had never happened in any of the trios spats before.
Ron may not be there, but he’s never abandoned Harry. Not once. Sound absurd? Yes, of course, but not being in sight or speaking doesn’t mean they’ve abandoned in a complete sense. In year four when he had left Harry there were nasty jokes and bets going around, and although he was angry and thought Harry had lied to him, it’s noted Ron never participates in it. He stands in the corner looking on like nothing’s happened, but shows no sign of taking any enjoyment from it, even helping him yell at Snape when Hermione was cursed. This was even shown in Deathly Hallows for, while he had the chance to go home and not return, he still looked for Harry and Hermione. Even if the implied leading cause was the latter.
From day one, Ron has shown an infallible loyalty to Harry. He fights with him in every battle with little question and defends him even when the times go for the worst. Most importantly, he’s willing to sacrifice everything for his friend. Ron first shows this in year one when he says that in order for Harry to go on *he* must be taken and that, sometimes, some sacrifices must be done. Furthermore, in year six and seven, Ron and Hermione are both fully aware that during the Horcrux hunt there was a possibility of one, if not all, of them dying. Yet, both of them proceeded, putting their families at risk despite their attempts to protect them. We can also never forget that it was for Harry that Ron faced his greatest fears for in facing the spiders in the forest.
It’s known that Ron is jealous of his older brothers and feels easily overshadowed, but after befriending Harry this only intensifies. Ron is jealous that Hermione and his mother love and choose Harry over him, and this plays quite the roll considering it’s the very reason he leaves in Deathly Hallows. Ron’s anger and jealousy cause rifts in their relationship that almost break the trio as a whole, as mentioned before, but both of these known times were because of Ron’s outstanding insecurities. He considers himself as “Harry Potter’s stupid best friend,” and while often times it’s a thing of honor for him-there’s always a deep-rooted insecurity. After his defeating of the horcrux and Harry telling him the opposite, this seems to have diminished, but it’s such a core part of Ron that it will never fully leave him.