This is about the second men. Well, women too. We'll go back to Mrs. Fairfax, Alfred, and Ron Weasley. The additionals that keep the story going.
The woman that fusses silently in the background when the leading lady basks in love, faces the imminent agony of separation, receives the light full in the face and earns our sympathy. To the man who falls flat on his face when the courageous man dances with swords, escaping yet another death threat; the man who still struggles to find his glasses in the mud when the hero comes out, carrying the princess out of the burning castle, or mansion...
Cheers!
Just like the opening act that you know nobody looks forward to because everyone's there for the main act, or an entree before the main menu is served, a clown that juggles before a musical or a play. They keep you amused.
And they seem to be happy and content with the role. Not too much into the spotlight, and enough publicity, attention.
Is it because of a lack of courage that they don't go further, is it the arrangement of things, or just because they're satisfied and not really going for anything more? I don't really want an answer;in all probability, there doesn't seem to be one. It's just funny. The wheels that move in the background,and never fail to function. Funny.