Lucius Junius Brutus

[lupinlore]

No: HPFGUIDX 141270

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "truthbeauty1" <rh64643 at a...> 
wrote:
>
> Ok sorry but this has been on my mind for a long time and I just 
have 
> to let it out. I am in a class right now that deals with the 
elements 
> of Classical mythology and literautre the Rowling has brilliantly 
used 
> in her books. On like the first day of class we were talking about 
> namesakes and we had to read about where Lucius Malfoy's name came 
> from. There is a figure in Roman history named Lucius Junius 
Brutus. 
> This character pretended in essence to be and idiot so that he 
could 
> escape the fate of his brothers. He was therefore not suspected. 
Now 
> this to me sounds exactly like when Lucius claimed to be under the 
> Imperious curse so that he could get off on all charges. (his money 
> didnt hurt) Well this Lucius guy goes on to become the first 
Consulate 
> of Rome and he is known for his very strict rule. Now heres the 
> clincher. He murdered his own sons because they were fighting 
agaisnt 
> him with the OTHER SIDE. So I firmly believe that Rowling got the 
name 
> from here and I fimly believe that Dumbleodre got to Draco and he 
is 
> going to be killed by his father for trying to help Harry in some 
> way.If anyone has any thoughts for or agaisnt this I would love to 
> hear them. 
> 
> 
> truthbeauty1
>

Interesting theory, but I doubt it.  It seems dangerous to link 
specific figures in HP with specific counterparts in history or in 
other literature.  For instance, Remus in Roman legend was killed by 
his brother after apparently violating one of Rome's sacred codes 
(leaping over the wall, actually).  Are we to assume there is a 
Romulus out there (JKR has already said Remus does not have a brother 
with that name) lying in wait to wreak revenge on Lupin?  There was 
an Emperor Severus who, during a time of confusion and civil war in 
the Empire, apparently betrayed his benefactor and was forced to 
commit suicide by said benefactor's heir.  Are we to assume Harry is 
going to hand Snape a dagger and say "Do the honorable thing, open a 
vein and save us the trouble?"

Lucius, first of all, has the same root as Lucifer (i.e. Lux or 
Light) and that may well be all that JKR is getting at.  Secondly, 
Lucius was a very common Praenomen (first name) among upper-class 
Romans, and there are numerous men with that name in history other 
than Lucius Junius Brutus.  For instance, there was Lucius Antonius, 
brother of Mark Antony who was eventually forced to make his peace 
with the regime of Octavian.  There was Lucius Apuleius, author of 
The Golden Ass, a novel about magic and mischief and corruption in 
the later empire.  There was Lucius, hero of the aforementioned 
novel.  And there Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, who became emperor 
and, after a very promising start, descended into corruption and 
madness -- he comes down through history to us under his more popular 
name, Nero.

Nice idea, though.


Lupinlore