Ron Weasley
Ron Weasley | |
---|---|
Gryffindor | |
Born | 1 March 1980 |
Ronald Bilius Weasley is a fictional character in
Character development
According to Rowling, Ron was among the characters she created on the first day.[1] Ron is inspired by Rowling's best friend Sean Harris (to whom Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is dedicated), but she has clearly stated that she "never set out to describe Sean in Ron, but Ron has a Sean-ish turn of phrase."[2] Like Harris is to Rowling, Ron is "always there" when Harry needs him. Ron fits many of the stereotypes expected of the sidekick; he is often used as comic relief, is loyal to the hero, and lacks much of the talent Harry possesses, at least, early on, in terms of magical power. However, he proves his bravery and magical ability several times, such as by playing 'real wizard's chess' in the first book, entering into the Forbidden Forest with Harry during the second book despite his arachnophobia, producing a full-corporeal Patronus Charm in the fifth book and even, in the seventh book, getting basilisk fangs from the Chamber of Secrets by mimicking Parseltongue without understanding it.
Some of Ron's qualities serve as foils to Harry's. Whereas Harry is an orphan with more gold than he needs, Ron comes from a loving but poor family. Many of his possessions are
Appearances
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Rowling first introduces Ron with his family in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
The second instalment, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, takes place the year following the events of the Philosopher's Stone. During the summer, Ron attempts to write to Harry several times. He receives no reply because
Later in the novel, Ron and Harry transform themselves using Polyjuice Potion to resemble
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Ron's rat, Scabbers, already seen in Philosopher's Stone, goes missing, for which he blames Hermione's new cat Crookshanks, and the two have a falling-out.[PoA Ch.11][PoA Ch.12] They eventually make up when Hermione has a nervous breakdown brought by taking too many classes and distress at the fate of the hippogriff Buckbeak. The animal, owned by Hagrid, has been put on trial for injuring Draco and risks execution. Ron offers to help with the preparation of Buckbeak's defence, but this fails to help. Harry, Ron and Hermione go to see Hagrid on the day of the execution where they discover Scabbers hiding in Hagrid's hut.[PoA Ch.15] As they leave, Scabbers struggles free of Ron and runs away. He chases Scabbers to the Whomping Willow where he is grabbed by a large black dog and dragged into a tunnel hidden below the tree.[PoA Ch.16][PoA Ch.17]
Harry and Hermione follow the tunnel, which leads to the Shrieking Shack. The dog is actually the animal form of
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
In
At Christmas time, as per Triwizard Tournament tradition, Hogwarts hosts a Yule Ball. Ron and Harry panic at the prospect of having to secure dates for the event, and Ron appalls Hermione with his immature approach, particularly for failing to extend her an invitation, apparently failing until the last minute to even realise she is a girl. At the last minute, Harry saves the day by getting
In the Second Task of the Tournament, Ron is the person selected for Harry to rescue from the depths of the Hogwarts Lake, as he is the one whom Harry would most miss. Harry successfully saves him and Ron mocks him gently for thinking that the hostages for the task were in actual danger.[GoF Ch.26]
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
In
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
In
On his birthday in March, Ron accidentally eats
Initially, Ron does not support Harry's belief that Draco Malfoy is a
Attention is drawn several times to Ron's deepening relationships to Harry and Hermione, with unresolved romantic tension with Hermione being one of the main subplots of the novel (and indeed, the entire series). Furthermore, Harry and Ron's friendship has strengthened to the point where Harry can tell Ron that his Quidditch performance is endangering his membership on the team without either character taking it personally.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Ron agrees to go with Harry and Hermione on the quest to destroy all of Voldemort's
Harry decides he wants someone to wear the Horcrux at all times, fearing it might be lost or stolen. This has a much more profound effect on Ron than it seems to have on Hermione or Harry. Ron ends up lashing out in frustration at the lack of comforts and a concrete plan, eventually leaving his friends behind. Distressed over his absence, Harry and Hermione do not even mention his name during the time that he is gone. However, when they finally mention his name, Ron, who had immediately regretted his decision to leave but was captured by Snatchers and then could not return due to Hermione's anti-Death Eater enchantments, was led to Harry's location by unknown magic within the
The trio are eventually captured by Snatchers, and
Epilogue
In the epilogue of Deathly Hallows, which is set nineteen years after Voldemort's death, Ron and Hermione have two children:
Characterisation
Outward appearance
Rowling introduces Ron as "tall, thin and gangling, with freckles, big hands and feet, and a long nose."[PS Ch.6] Ron has the trademark red hair of the Weasleys and is indeed one of Harry's tallest schoolmates, even outgrowing some of his older brothers. Rowling states in the novels that Ron has freckles, though Rupert Grint, the actor who plays Ron, has none. Rowling has also stated that Ron has blue eyes.
Personality
Ron is known for his humour, loyalty, readiness to defend his friends and his love of food. Rowling in an interview described Ron as very funny but insensitive and immature, saying "There's a lot of immaturity about Ron, and that's where a lot of the humor comes from."[9] As his first exercise with the actors who portray the central trio, Alfonso Cuarón, who directed the third film in the series, Prisoner of Azkaban, assigned them to write an autobiographical essay about their character, written in the first person, spanning birth to the discovery of the magical world, and including the character's emotional experience. Of Rupert Grint's essay, Cuarón recalls, "Rupert didn't deliver the essay. When I questioned why he didn't do it, he said, 'I'm Ron; Ron wouldn't do it.' So I said, 'Okay, you do understand your character.'"[10] Commenting on Ron's character development in the final book, Rowling explained that "Ron is the most immature of the three main characters, but in part seven he grows up. He was never strong footed, people see him mostly as Harry's friend; his mother had actually wanted a girl and in the last book he finally has to acknowledge his weaknesses. But it's exactly that which makes Ron a man."[11]
Magical abilities and skills
Ron is given his brother
Rowling has stated that Ron's
Family tree
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Notes:
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Ron was born into the Weasley family on 1 March 1980,[13][HBP Ch.18] the sixth of their seven children, and the youngest son. His middle name, Bilius, is the same as that of a deceased uncle. Ron grew up in the family home, The Burrow, near the village of Ottery St Catchpole in Devon. Ron has six siblings: his five older brothers, Bill, Charlie, Percy, twins Fred and George, and a younger sister, Ginny, each with their own distinct personality trait. Ron is often overshadowed by his siblings' accomplishments, but this is shown to be borne out of a lack of belief in himself, rather than a lack of actual talent or skill. Like his brothers, Percy and Bill he is made a Prefect. Like Fred, George and Ginny, he joins the Quidditch team and eventually grows to be an excellent Keeper.
The Weasley family is one of the few remaining
Reception
The character is highly popular. Ron was chosen by IGN as their third favourite Harry Potter character, who said that Ron's status as comic relief made him "instantly endearing" and that his frustration and flirtation with Hermione Granger was a "highlight".[14] His friendship with Harry is listed as among the best portrayed in literature and film[15] and his friends-to-lovers relationship with Hermione Granger is often referred to as a fan favorite and one of the best pairings in the series.[citation needed] However, many fans disapproved of the pairing, and Rowling herself has admitted in a 2014 interview that the relationship was "a form of wish fulfillment" and "that Hermione and Ron would probably need relationship counseling".[16]
Portrayals
Film series
Rupert Grint portrays Ron Weasley in all eight Harry Potter films. He auditioned after seeing a segment on the BBC children's news programme, Newsround, inviting children to send in information about themselves. Grint sent in a photo, a self-written script and a rap, documenting his desire to portray the character.[17]
Rowling was supportive of the casting, calling Grint "perfect" for the role of Ron.[18] Grint's portrayal of the character was critically acclaimed with him receiving a Satellite Award in the category of "Outstanding New Talent",[19] and a Young Artist Award for "Most Promising Young Newcomer" for his performance in the first film. His performance has often been cited as the best of three main characters.[20]
Theatre
In 2016, British actor Paul Thornley played Ron Weasley in the original London cast of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Palace Theatre, London in the West End. He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in a Play at the 2017 Whatsonstage.com Awards. Thornley reprised his role as Ron Weasley on Broadway at the Lyric Theater in 2018.
In popular culture
Ron Weasley has made several appearances in parodies of Harry Potter and pop culture:
Seth Meyers appeared as Ron in Saturday Night Live in the sketch in which Lindsay Lohan portrays Hermione.[21]
On his The Big Impression show, Alistair McGowan did a sketch called "Louis Potter and the Philosopher's Scone". It featured impressions of Anne Robinson as Ron.[22]
In 2003, Comic Relief performed a spoof story called Harry Potter and the Secret Chamberpot of Azerbaijan, in which Jennifer Saunders appeared as both Ron and J. K. Rowling.[23][24]
In Harry Podder: Dude Where's My Wand?, a play by Desert Star Theater in Utah, written by sisters Laura J., Amy K. and Anna M. Lewis, Ron appears as "Ron Sneasley".[25]
In the Harry Bladder sketches in All That, Ron appears as ReRon and is played by Bryan Hearne.
Ron also is a regular character in Potter Puppet Pals sketches by Neil Cicierega. In one of the episodes, "The Mysterious Ticking Noise", Ron, along with Snape, Harry, Hermione and Dumbledore, is killed by a bomb placed by Voldemort; the episode being the seventeenth most viewed video of all time as of 2008 and the winner for "Best Comedy" of the year 2007 at YouTube.[26]
In the 2008 American comedy film Yes Man, Carl (portrayed by Jim Carrey) attends a Harry Potter-themed party hosted by Norman (Rhys Darby), in which Norman disguises as Ron.
In A Very Potter Musical (2009), A Very Potter Sequel (2010) and A Very Potter Senior Year, parody musicals by StarKid Productions, Ron was portrayed by Joey Richter.
References
- ISBN 978-0-439-31455-8.
- ^ "Harry Potter and Me" (BBC Christmas Special, British version), BBC, 28 December 2001
- ^ "The Leaky Cauldron and MN Interview Joanne Kathleen Rowling – Part 2". The Leaky Cauldron. 28 July 2007. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
- Today. Archived from the originalon 31 December 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
- ^ Toler, Lindsay (5 August 2007). "'Harry Potter' author ties up loose ends". The Arizona Republic. London. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 12 January 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
- ^ "Ronald "Ron" Weasley". The Harry Potter Lexicon. March 1980. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
- ^ "JK Rowling's Interview with Meredith Vieira", 26 July 2007 'Todayshow.com' Retrieved on 26 July 2007
- ^ "Online Chat Transcript". Bloomsbury Publishing. 31 July 2007. Archived from the original on 12 October 2007. Retrieved 31 July 2007.
- ^ "Rowling Reveals 'Marriage' to Harry Potter at Reading (Correct)". Bloomberg. 22 October 2007. Archived from the original on 15 February 2009. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
- ^ McCabe, Bob. Harry Potter Page to Screen: The Complete Filmmaking Journey. 2011. Harper Design. Page 102.
- ^ "Interview with J.K. Rowling for Release of Dutch Edition of "Deathly Hallows"". Retrieved 27 August 2008.
- ^ "The Leaky Cauldron and MN Interview Joanne Kathleen Rowling – Part 3". The Leaky Cauldron. 28 July 2007. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
- ^ ""JKRowling.com Archives: Birthdays"". mugglenet.com. MuggleNet. Archived from the original on 23 February 2007.
- ^ Brian Linder; Phil Pirrello; Eric Goldman; Matt Fowler (14 July 2009). "Top 25 Harry Potter Characters". IGN. Archived from the original on 19 July 2009. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
- ^ "33 of Film's Best Best Friends". 23 November 2011.
- S2CID 166697354.
- ^ "Harry Potter: Rupert Grint attended Potter auditions after watching Newsround - CBBC Newsround".
- ^ A Conversation Between J.K. Radcliffe and J.K. Rowling, YouTube, 22 Sept. 2013, 12:00, www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BdVHWz1DPU&t=4s.
- ^ "Archived copy". www.pressacademy.com. Archived from the original on 10 May 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Harry Potter: Every Performance from the Kid Actors, Ranked". Screen Rant. 27 November 2020.
- ^ "Saturday Night Live Transcripts". Retrieved 27 July 2007.
- ^ "BBC One press release" (PDF). 2001. Retrieved 20 May 2007.
- ^ "Harry Potter and the Secret Chamberpot of Azerbaijan". tv.com. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2007.
- ^ "French and Saunders: Harry Potter and the Secret Chamberpot of Azerbaijan". .frenchandsaunders.com. Retrieved 8 July 2007.
- ^ "'Harry Podder' to open on stage". Deseret News. 5 June 2005. Archived from the original on 5 May 2016 – via HighBeam Research.
- ^ "PotterPuppetPals Top at YouTube Awards". the-leaky-cauldron.org. 22 March 2008.
External links
- Ron Weasley on Harry Potter Wiki, an external wiki
- Ron Weasley at Harry Potter Lexicon