Regulus Black
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| Harry Potter character | |
|---|---|
| Regulus Black | |
| Gender | Male |
| House | Slytherin |
| Parentage | Pure-blood |
| Allegiance | Unknown (formerly Death Eaters) |
| First appearance | None (first mentioned in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix) |
Regulus Black is a fictional character in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series of novels.
Regulus (1961–1979) is the son of Orion Black and his wife (and second-cousin) Walburga. The Black family was one of the few remaining Pure-blood families, and produced many dark wizards. According to his older brother Sirius Black, the Black family believed that they were as royalty within the wizarding world, and they shared many of the Death Eaters' ideas about blood purity. Because Regulus shared that attitude, he was apparently the preferred son, as Sirius was eventually disowned and burned off of the family tapestry.
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[edit] Role in the stories
Regulus is a minor character who has attracted much attention and speculation on the part of fans of the series. Very little information about him is given through any of the books so far, but some of that information suggests that he may have played a more significant role than has yet been revealed. Readers of the series have picked up on this possibility because Rowling's writing style frequently involves small hints that lead to more significant revelations.
All information on this character (with the exception of the Black Family Tree) has been given by Sirius Black, who was not in touch with his family following his fifth year at Hogwarts (age 16). It appears that he got most of his information second-hand, either from friends prior to the Fall of Voldemort, or from fellow prisoners in Azkaban during his unjust incarceration. As a result, the information Sirius gives on Regulus's life and death is scanty, and is possibly unreliable.
Sirius relates three main points regarding Regulus: he joined the Death Eaters (their parents had not, but Sirius presumed that they considered Regulus a hero for doing so); he was killed on Voldemort's orders, although Sirius presumes that Death Eaters, rather than Voldemort himself, performed the actual killing, since (according to Sirius) Regulus was not important enough; and (according to Sirius), Regulus attempted to flee the organisation because he got scared and had a change of heart. Rowling has stated that "Regulus got in a little too deep. Like Draco, he was attracted to it. But the reality of what it meant was way too much to handle," which led to his inevitable death.
[edit] Death
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According to Sirius, when Regulus realised what was expected of him as a Death Eater, he wanted to quit. However, it is not a simple matter to quit such an organisation.[HP5] A Death Eater is expected to commit one's life to service of Voldemort. Shortly after this point (around 1979), Regulus was allegedly killed, it is assumed by another Death Eater, rather than Voldemort himself.
"... he was murdered by Voldemort. Or on Voldemort's orders, more likely, I doubt Regulus was ever important enough to be killed by Voldemort in person." — Sirius Black
It is unclear how Sirius received his information on his brother's death, and what agenda his informants may have had. Although J.K. Rowling has stated Regulus is actually dead, she has not indicated that the allegations of Regulus's death via the Death Eaters nor Voldemort are accurate.
The series has been noted as following set patterns: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone shares features with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix[verification needed], and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets shares features with Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince[verification needed]. According to this pattern, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban would correspond to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows[verification needed]. Because Prisoner of Azkaban saw a faked death (Peter Pettigrew), Regulus was one of two characters - along with Dumbledore - expected to be revealed as, in fact, alive. Some argued he was more likely to be so than Dumbledore if the facts surrounding his mysterious life and death, and around the horcruxes, were to be revealed: there were plenty of means of discovering Dumbledore's secrets, but "if Reggie's true tale is to be told, he will probably have to tell it himself. Because there doesn't seem to be anyone else around to do it for him."[1]
According to the Black family tree, Regulus Black's father Orion and his uncle Cygnus Black both died in the same year as Regulus.
[edit] Meaning of the name
As with many character names in Rowling's Harry Potter books, Regulus Black's given name has ties to the Latin language and to astronomy.
In Latin, Regulus translates as 'little king'. It can mean a petty king, or the ruler of a small country. It is also the Latin name for the basilisk, which itself derives from the Greek Basiliskos, which also translates to 'little king'.
In astronomy, Regulus is a bright star, also known as α (Alpha) Leonis, in the constellation Leo, the Lion. The double-star is situated at the lion's "heart", and is one of the brightest objects in the nighttime sky. Regulus is also the name of one of the fallen angels.
The stars and constellations of Arcturus, Regulus and Sirius are all within the two celestial triangles that make up the pattern of stars known as "The Great Diamond of Spring".[2]
[edit] R.A.B.
Near the end of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Dumbledore and Harry attempt to recover a locket believed to be a Horcrux created by Voldemort. Instead, they find a different locket containing a message signed with the initials R.A.B. Besides Rosalind Antigone Bungs and Rupert "Axebanger" Brookstanton, two names that Hermione finds while searching for people whose initials might fit, Rudolf Brand, a minor character mentioned once in association with Quidditch in Quidditch Through the Ages and Andromeda Tonks née Black, Regulus is the only character who might match these initials. Rowling was asked in an interview whether Regulus was R.A.B., and, whilst neither confirming nor denying the theory, called it "a fine guess".[3]
[edit] Regulus Black's middle name
In August 2005, the Harry Potter Lexicon fan website claimed to have been informed by a "reliable source" that Regulus' middle name was Arcturus. The Lexicon later withdrew the claim without explanation, but the editor that made the original claim stated that he stands behind the information. He posted the following remarks on The Leaky Cauldron, another fan website:
Obviously, Jo is the source of this information. When have you ever known me to post rumours as facts? It's from Jo. That doesn't mean she talked to me directly, of course, but I do know that it came from Jo.
I honestly think that Jo figures she's already told us that it's Regulus. Read the Melissa/Emerson interview. I think she would be surprised that this is even an issue.
I have asked permission to reveal who told me. If they say I can, I'll let you all know. Otherwise, feel free to take this with whatever grain of salt you need to.
Steve
—Comment posted at "The Leaky Cauldron" website by Steve Vander Ark, founder of HP Lexicon. [4]
The name Arcturus Black appears as one of Regulus Black's ancestors, in a hand-drawn sketch of the Black family tree made by J.K. Rowling. Arcturus is the third brightest star in the night sky, after Sirius and Canopus. Black family names are frequently taken from the names of astonomical objects. Regulus is also the brightest star in the constellation Leo.
Regulus also had an uncle named Alphard, which corresponds to Alphard the brightest star in the constellation Hydra.
[edit] Family tree
Regulus is the son of Walburga Black and Orion Black. He is the younger brother of Sirius Black.
[edit] References
- ^ Granger, John, Who Killed Albus Dumbledore?, p.148
- ^ Granger, John, Who Killed Albus Dumbledore?, p.60
- ^ Anelli, Melissa and Emerson Spartz. "The Leaky Cauldron and MuggleNet interview Joanne Kathleen Rowling: Part Two," The Leaky Cauldron, 16 July 2005. Accio Quote! (2005-07-16). Retrieved on 2007-01-01.
- ^ Vander Ark, Steve (2005-08-30). Comment at The Leaky Cauldron (note:postings are in reverse order). The Leaky Cauldron. Retrieved on 2007-01-01.
