Likeable Regulus.
montavilla47
montavilla47 at yahoo.com
Thu Oct 18 17:24:07 UTC 2007
No: HPFGUIDX 178060
<snipping lots of discussion about Regulus and whether he
was good by virtue of his act, or whether his good act
showed that he was good by virtue of his intent.>
I don't see that Regulus's attempt to destroy
Voldemort's horcrux was opposite to the pureblood
idealogy of the Death Eaters.
I think, like Mike, that we get a big clue with
the idea of the Blacks being "like Royalty." (Isn't
it funny how that idea is repeated in the next
book with the "Half-Blood Prince"?)
We keep talking about purebloodism in relation
to racism, which is a very broad application of
"blood" as a determinating factor. Bloodline is
also important (supremely important) in
Aristocracy and Royalty. Now, the wizards, as
Lupin says, don't have royalty, but they do seem
to have an Aristocracy.
Since we know so little about Regulus, it's easy
to speculate and make him into whatever you like.
I see him as someone who picks up both the virtues
and the vices of someone born to power.
Being born into his position, he naturally follows
the philosophy that keep him there. He doesn't
question why he should be on top, he just assumes
that role. And, except for that pesky brother,
everything around him confirms his view. His
elf worships him, his parents spell out his future
as first second son, and then, when Sirius leaves,
as heir to their family. He is sorted into the
House of Movers and Shakers.
(If you've ever seen the incredible -Up series, he's
like the trio of upper-class boys who can recite
the course of their lives at seven years: Prep-school,
Prep-school, Oxbridge, Career in the law/politics...)
The flip side of power is responsibility. Why does
he turn on Voldemort? Because Voldemort showed
his colors to Regulus by threatening Regulus's
subject. Now, if Regulus considered himself
Voldemort's slave (as the other Death Eaters must
eventually if they are to survive), then he'd
accept the sacrifice of Kreacher.
But he's not a slave. He's following Voldemort
because he thinks Voldemort is a true king.
When he sees that Voldemort isn't a true leader
(a true leader would never toss aside a subject
so callously and wastefully), Regulus turns
against him and uses what he has (his wits and
the knowledge Kreacher brought him) to
bring down the false king.
I wish that Regulus had been a bit smarter
about it (because I wish he had survived). But,
in a way, I think his lonely death would be in
character for a person invested in his own
personal power. He had done the wrong thing
by entrusting Voldemort with his servant, and
he only would pay the price for that mistake.
Montavilla47
More information about the HPforGrownups
archive