Beneath the constant whines and hilarious quips of the bumbling character of Ron Weasley, does the spirit of Gryffindor manage to shine through?
In the world of Harry Potter, the centuries-old Sorting Hat determines which of the four houses of Hogwarts each student belongs to, based on their personalities and values. However, as Dumbledore once implied in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, it has definitely made errors of judgment a handful of times.
While examples of Severus Snape and Peter Pettigrew do reinforce that fact, Ron Weasley’s sorting has also been under question on more than one occasion. His character evolves considerably throughout the series, but his recurring moments of weakness and insecurity have often made fans wonder if he even possesses the “nerve and chivalry” of a Gryffindor.
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Ron’s lack of confidence and tendency to defuse the tension with his dry humor gives the impression that he is more of a passive character instead of an essential part of the Golden Trio. As the youngest of six brothers, he believes his achievements pale in comparison to his siblings’ accolades, which causes him to feel quite neglected. The fact that he has to make do with his brothers’ hand-me-downs, and is deprived of finer things, only aggravates his self-consciousness (especially when he is forced to wear frilly dress robes to the Yule Ball). The feelings of inadequacy only seem to get confirmed in his mind when the Slytherins belittle him about his family’s meager amount of money.
This also reflects in his friendship with Harry; he is prone to random bouts of jealousy when his best friend receives much more attention as the Chosen One. There is even a brief period in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire when he refuses to talk to him because Harry is selected as the second Hogwarts champion in the Triwizard Tournament. His biggest moment of failure comes in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, when he abandons Harry and Hermione during their hunt for Voldemort’s Horcruxes. While it may be true that the Horcrux he is wearing at the time (Salazar Slytherin’s old locket) provokes him to take such an action, it largely stems from Ron’s own shortcomings and bitter emotions. He is used to the material comforts of home, and is unable to cope with their current harsh living conditions.
