what do you think of Percy leaving the Weasleys in OOTP? like how do you feel about how it was treated in the books?
How do I feel about how it was treated in the books? I feel like it was treated exactly how I would expect it to be treated. Let me explain:
I think if we were to analyze the series using the framework of the different sets of values categories we’re provided in that universe, we would see a overarching pattern of Gryffindor values being the standard in which we read the books. The books are presented to us through the lense of Gryffindor ideals, so if a characters actions are particularly Gryffindor-ish it is shown as a good thing. However if the characters actions are more Slytherin or even Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw, the narrative will have a different reaction. What I’m saying here is not groundbreaking as this has been noted several times before, but I think it’s interesting to keep in mind when looking at how the characters are presented in the narrative. It’s good to remember that Harry Potter is a Gryffindor book. And there’s nothing wrong with this of course, it’s just that those are the values of the author and it’s being used as the baseline morals for the work.
If we want to look for some other examples using those four categories for books/shows/movies, Brooklyn 99 comes to mind for a show that also takes place in Gryffindor universe. Shameless (us) and Succession both take place in Slytherin universes. Gilmore Girls, I would say, takes place in a Ravenclaw one. And Community exists in a Hufflepuff universe. You can see how this is by how the characters are treated and presented by the narrative. Jeff Winger, “notorious slacker” and protagonist in Community is selfish and always takes the easy way out of a situation, the narrative presented this as major flaws that he needs to (and mostly does) overcome. Friendship and working together is what the show presents as important (very Hufflepuff). Going back to Harry Potter, actions like what Lupin and Tonks do by leaving their newborn son to fight in a war is seen as noble and heroic by a Gryffindor narrative, but if you were to view it from a Slytherin one (or even a Ravenclaw one) it would seem selfish and maybe even ridiculous (Remember Malfoys not fighting in the final battle and how all the Slytherins and most of the Ravenclaws dipped out when it was time to fight).
In Percy’s case, leaving the Weasleys and the cause their fighting for (Gryffindor) to stay working for the minister (ambition, Slytherin) is presented as awful. Obviously it’s a little more complicated than that because there are other things at play here like the already present family tension and the fact that there is nothing to make Percy believe in Voldemort’s return other than Harry and Dumbledore’s word. But It’s very simplest form, Percy choose ambition over bravery (fighting the war) and that’s a sin in a Gryffindor book.
Personally all of this becomes tiring for me because I don’t really hold Gryffindor values as high as I do other houses (mostly Ravenclaw and Slytherin for me). Sometimes it’s hard to remove yourself from what the narrative is trying to push and I find I fall into the trap of thinking at first “yeah they’re trash for that” but then I think about about it more and go “wait you know what..”. I actually really like Percy and can sympathize with where he is coming from here and I don’t think he has committed the worst crime with his decision, even if the narrative disagrees.
