Why does Percy still side with the Ministry?

[Hermy_007]

Originally Posted by Maverick

I think Percy is very much like Peter Pettigrew in that he craves the company of the important and the powerful. I think he sides with the Ministry as he has become addicted to being at the centre of politics; he is the typical wannabe.

I agree. And the fact that he doesn't apologize to his parents shows that he is bit too proud. He doesn't want to admit that he was wrong. As Ron mentioned before , Percy is too ambitious...a bit too much like Barty Crouch Sr.

[LordMoldyShorts]

I think deep down he knows the Order is doing whats right, but he is too proud too admit it. The year before he completely agreed with the ministries beleifs and was willing to do anything in his power, including shunning his family, to show that, and then it turned out they- and he- were wrong? Poor Percy is just emberassed, I think he'll come around.

[Nidale93]

Didn't Dumbledore say soemthing like admitting you're wrong is hard is the reason Percy doesn't come back to his family?

[Collorportus]

Originally Posted by ReginaWeasley

Percy is a bit more friendly in book 6. Percy does come to visit the other Weasleys at Christmas.

The only reason he does this is because Rufus Scrimgeur (sp.?) wanted to talk to Harry about "representing" the ministry.

[Carrothead]

Hey everyone!I think the reason why percy is still working and siding with the ministry is because he is ashamed that he has made a mistake and seems too proud to actually admit that he was wrong and just won't be a man and do so.I also think that he might be ashamed of the behaviour he had with his parents and basically turned his back against them.Like most say: the truth hurts and I think he was feeling that.

[Cygnet]

Come to think of it, I don't think that Percy believes he is wrong at all. I truly believe that he loves the power the Ministry job gives him. For the time I have known Percy he has respected his superiors. Percy also loved the responsibility and power he gained as a student. I do find it sad that like his former boss Barty he loves his growing power, in a job that effects wizard lives more then his own flesh and blood, whom he seems to despise.

[Master_Yoda]

Ok, first things first, I am now back from vacation and I enjoyed it. I got a lot of work down on my lecture on Studio Ghibli and got relax. Overall a very nice summer.

Now on to the topic at hand, personally I believe (and probably some of you also belive this) that Percey is a, for lack of a more appropriate word, teacher's pet. He always is gravitating to those with the most power and control as to what takes place around him.

[Ronni_SL]

Originally Posted by Scotsworth

To me, Percy probably has no faith in Harry Potter, Dumbledore, and the rest of the Order. He probably thinks that the Ministry is the best to deal with Voldemort. As a result, he wants to be with the side that he thinks has the right idea about how to approach Voldemort. It's sad though, because he thinks that his entire family are nutters.

I was thinking along similar lines.

To Percy, the Order is too rebelious, I think he honestly thinks that the "organized government" (MOM) are those who can best handle Voldemort. He very rule bent, and I think to him the Order (including his family members) are willing to break all the rules and he just can't handle that.

[xxtffanatticxx]

I think that growing up in the Weasley household has hardened Percy. He's too proud of where he has gotten even if it means that he had to step on his family along the way. Whether they were right or wrong no longer matters. Percy's pride won't let him apologize. I also believe that he is afriad that his brothers, ginny and his father won't accept him back. Obviously when he went to visit them (no matter how reluctant he was to do so) it didn't end well. I believe that in the end only Molly will truly forgive Percy for turning his back on family. Besides, Fred and George have always thought that Percy was an over-achieving prat (and I agree... wizarding world is in the middle of an all out war, time to put your pride aside and step up and say "Hey.. I screwed up and I'm sorry.")

[fruitia pickleweed]

Percy's behavior at Christmas in Book 7 was so extreme and so wooden that to me, it requires something more in the way of explanation than just ambition, pride or another character weakness. It it were merely that, surely he would show at least some embarassment on meeting his family.

Drexxel, I thought your suggestion was very interesting, that Percy had been a deep-cover spy for Dumbledore unknown even to the Weasleys.

Another possibility: Percy is acting under the Imperius Curse. The question then would be who imposed the curse and when?

[stunnedtina]

^ I definitely agree with what you said. Percy acted as if his family meant nothing to him when he visited them on Christmas. Not as one ashamed or too proud would act.

Drexxel that is a very interesting theory on Percy being a deep undercover spy for Dumbledore. It could make sense. Dumbledore did know what was going on in the ministry didn't he?

Or as was said above, maybe Percy is under an Imperius Curse because he has been around known Death Eaters which could have put him under the curse at any time.

[SSJ_Jup81]

I disagree with that argument, because we weren't really shown much of anything. We didn't even get to see how he interacted with the family because Harry wasn't even there to relay it. Did Percy start something when visiting his family at Christmas? Did the twins start something up? Did Arthur start something up? We're still only getting one side of the story, adn it's not Percy's. How can we judge something we didn't even see?

That aside, with the exception of his distancing himself from his family, there really isn't anything wrong with Percy or the Ministry (book 5 being the exception since the Ministry was in obvious denial). Both the Order and the Ministry are against Voldemort and his followers. Their methods are just different.

That aside, we know Percy isn't being cursed because he acted on his own accord, according to JKR.

[DarkSphynx]

I think that it is mostly out of pride. People underestimate the lengths that proud people will go to to try to reduce the amount of embarrassment or exposure to the "told-you-so" attitude that comes with being completely wrong - we've seen all the way through the books that Percy is rather self-important and I think this is manifest in his siding with the Ministry. Also, by changing his attitude as little as possible he secures his level of authority and power, which is what he had always aimed to achieve. I think that it just appeals to him more to climb the ladder at the Ministry rather than become the homely boy his mother wants him to be, and when you add this to his shame of having denied the return of Voldemort, well, remaining faithful to the Ministry is by far the easiest option.

[templar132]

Originally Posted by DarkSphynx

I think that it is mostly out of pride. People underestimate the lengths that proud people will go to to try to reduce the amount of embarrassment or exposure to the "told-you-so" attitude that comes with being completely wrong - we've seen all the way through the books that Percy is rather self-important and I think this is manifest in his siding with the Ministry. Also, by changing his attitude as little as possible he secures his level of authority and power, which is what he had always aimed to achieve. I think that it just appeals to him more to climb the ladder at the Ministry rather than become the homely boy his mother wants him to be, and when you add this to his shame of having denied the return of Voldemort, well, remaining faithful to the Ministry is by far the easiest option.

I completely agree with this point: its all about pride. Besides, if Percy returns to the Weasleys with his tail between his legs, his dad will forgive him, but Fred and George will never let him live it down. Actually Percy may be waiting for a chance to redeem himself in the eyes of the Weasleys and he may be able to get a chance at that

[maylet]

Because he is so proud that he doesn't what to admit that he was wrong, so he doesn't want say that he's sorry of event say the he was wrong

[dungeonguard]

Originally Posted by maylet

Because he is so proud that he doesn't what to admit that he was wrong, so he doesn't want say that he's sorry of event say the he was wrong

Okay... anyways, you're right. He's just too proud to admit that he is wrong, and for that matter, so are many other members of the MOM.

-Simon

[SSJ_Jup81]

Originally Posted by dungeonguard

Okay... anyways, you're right. He's just too proud to admit that he is wrong, and for that matter, so are many other members of the MOM.

-Simon

Typical government, right? Dumbledore even mentioned something like that. About how it's harder to admit when you're wrong or something. For all we know, Percy really does want to apologize to his family, but his father needs to apologize as well. Personally, I felt that Arthur's harshness towards Percy was the "final straw that broke the camel's back".

[dungeonguard]

You're right... I think he probably wants to apoligize, but his self confidence is so high that he can't without feeling foolish.

-Simon

[SSJ_Jup81]

Originally Posted by dungeonguard

You're right... I think he probably wants to apoligize, but his self confidence is so high that he can't without feeling foolish.

-Simon

Definitely a Weasley trait which has been displayed by pretty much all of the Weasley kids (not counting Bill and Charlie) in some way or form, be it minor or major. Look at Arthur, he's very stubborn and prideful. Molly is very stubborn. It's not surprising that Percy picked up on these traits. He (and Ron), apparently, take after Arthur in looks...maybe Percy has his personality traits as well, which would explain why those two clash.

[Ditz]

I think Percy is obsessed with power, i think that he will stick with the MOM ( minestry of magic) because the Minestry has power over the Wizarding population. I think that if the Minestry loses power then Percy will go to the next best thing. Whoever has power is where Percy will stay. If the Order has power then Percy will go and stand strong with the Order, if the Death Eaters have power he will go with the evil side. It's all depending on whoever has power and right now the Minestry has power over the people, so Percy will stay with the Minestry till they lose that power... Thats just my viewpoint on things..! I could be wrong, I could be right who knows..!