Over the course of the series we see growth across every character. The series focuses on Harry Potter and his journey through the world of the story. His growth is the most obvious of the characters as well as the most predictable. No one would want to read the story if it's hero didn't have to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles to beat the bad guy and save the world. Harry does all of these things in a very predictable pattern. Other characters take different routes in their development than expected at the outset of the series.
Growing up is hard for everyone. Despite any additional hardships that might have occurred the sheer amount of change and development that happens while a person grows up is difficult enough. When considering the idea of growing up in the Harry Potter world and who would be the best to analyze on coming age in the time of Voldermort's return there are several obvious options to choose from. Hermione has some of the most interesting growth. Neville becomes a person completely different than the scared, forgetful boy of the first book especially with the added knowledge of his past traumatic events. I wanted to look at someone a little less obvious.
I chose to analyze the growth of Ron Weasley. Ron had an inauspicious childhood. As inauspicious as a childhood with 6 siblings in a wizarding family can be. No traumatic events to make his childhood hard. He did grow up in the shadows of some pretty impressive siblings which colors the way he behaves. When they first get to school Ron is Harry's first friend. Harry is another smart successful, impressive person that leads to Ron feeling overshadowed. Ron is fiercely loyal. It is his strongest trait but he has a hard time seeing the good qualities in himself. He gets the three through the giant chess match in Book 1. He helps Harry get into the Chamber of Secrets in Book 2. In Book 3 he goes with Harry and Hermione to track down Peter Petigrew. In Book 4 we start to see the teen angst that strikes all of the young characters at different times. He doesn't talk to Harry for the first half of the school year because he thinks Harry is trying to make himself more famous and leaving Ron behind. In the next book we start to see more of Ron owning his skills and in own contributions to helping Harry get through to his own destiny. Ron's greatest growth is in overcoming his own belief in his inferiority and owning his skills.
And for everyone's entertainment different growing up by the actors of the Harry Potter movies.
I think it’s really cool that you focused your study on Ron. I guess I don’t always view him as such a dynamic character—which fits with him being overshadowed all the time. But I think that you are definitely right, Ron’s biggest growth spurt does come in him recognizing all of the awesome things that make him Ron. Like his loyalty, courage, and delightful if sometimes dim sense of humor. I think everyone needs to reach a point where we’re not threatened by our friends and peers and we’re ok with just being ourselves. And that’s what is really awesome about Ron, he’s just like us.
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