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When one first thinks of Ronald Weasley, the words red-haired and freckly come to mind.  That, however, is only the surface of what proves to be a tricky customer.  To the untrained eye, unused to spotting fatal traits, Ron Weasley may indeed seem like an adorable, caring, honest and brave fellow but sometimes one needs to look further than skin deep. 

When one first picks up the Harry Potter books, they are immediately thrown into the life of Harry Potter.  When the reader is first introduced to Ron Weasley, it is on the train.  The first glimpse of the Weasley family leaves the impression on the reader that Fred and George are happy-go-lucky folk and very cheerful and happy all the time, a true impression.  The reader also gets the impression that Ginny is shy, which is also true.  The first impression of Ron, however, is mixed. One sees a gangly, tall, red-haired boy who is obviously dissatisfied with his lot in life and determined to make friends with one who has had an interesting life, perhaps so that he can receive some reflected glory.  How can the reader deduct this?  After Ron asked Harry about the night he received the scar, Harry said he couldn’t remember it.  And then Ron says eagerly, ‘Nothing?’  This comment leaves the reader with the impression that Ron needs the thrill that will bring him out of his monotonous life. 

Ron’s reaction to Draco Malfoy on the train shows ingrained dislike for his family.  This means that Ron is incapable of coming up with his own opinions and will take the opinion of others.  Draco did not incite Ron’s anger; on the contrary, Ron first insulted Draco by laughing at his name.  Draco seems like the type to react to how others treat him, so thus he reacted adversely. 

During the troll incident in the first book, Ron is very reluctant to go in search of Hermione.  Instead he seems more worried about Percy catching them.  This is a strong indication of selfishness.  Before that incident, his attitude towards Hermione suggests a lack of tolerance for her intelligence shown by his insensitive remark, ‘She’s a nightmare, honestly!’

In the Prisoner of Azkaban, Ron is furious with Hermione over her cat, Crookshanks.  Hermione loyally defends her pet, but Ron insists that Crookshanks ate his rat.  Even when evidence is placed in front of him, because Scabbers (the rat) became sick right about the time when Sirius Black escaped, before Hermione got her cat, Ron refused to listen.  That, altogether too stubborn attitude may prove to be his downfall someday. 

In the Goblet of Fire, the reader sees what is one of Ron’s biggest faults; his ignorance of other people’s feelings.  This is shown by his treatment of Harry after Harry’s name came out of the Goblet of Fire.  Instead of being a supportive friend when the Slytherins, Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws teased Harry, he turned away from his best friend due to feelings of jealousy.  He couldn’t see that his friend needed him, needed his support.  His ignorance of others is also shown when he treats Hermione like she’s a last resort for the Yule Ball.  He spent the time looking for good-looking girls and ignores his friend, Hermione.  When he couldn’t get anyone else to go to the Yule ball with him only then did Ron asks Hermione.  This infuriated Hermione and rightly so.  In both those incidents, Ron has a communication problem that might have lost him a friendship, or two. 

Ron is also very susceptible to the Dark Side, which is discussed further in J.L.Matthew’s essay, The Psychology of Ron Weasley.  However, summarized it states that Ron is too ambitious without the means to achieve his ambitions.  This, perhaps, is the reason for the formation of the group RISS, Ron Is Sodding Susceptible (to the Dark Side).

So far, all events cited have happened in canon, but to elaborate on these feelings and tendencies, it perhaps might one day lead to Ron being unfaithful to his wife because of a communication problem.  This is shown in AngieJ/Ebony’s story Trouble in Paradise.  In conclusion, Ron has all the beginnings of one who will end up betraying his friends and everybody who he cares about.  Now that isn’t a trait to be liked, is it? 

Have any comments?  Then email them to rhunited@hotmail.com

Note:  Please do not email AngieJ/Ebony about this essay, she played no part whatsoever in it.  We just thought to cite her fanfic to serve our purposes.