Rhea of the Cöos
Encyclopedia
Rhea Dubativo of the Cöos is a fictional character who appears in several novels by Stephen King
, most notably his Dark Tower
series, as well as the comic book spinoffs of that series. Rhea is a very stereotypical fairy tale witch in appearance, personality and abilities; she is old, ugly, rides a broomstick and has a cat familiar. In The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass, she is said to represent the Wicked Witch of the West
from The Wizard of Oz
.
, has the power of prophecy to a minor extent, can see visions through crystal ball
s, make magical potion
s, and be immune to powerful venom. She also has some knowledge of medicine
, as she was able to determine that Susan Delgado was a virgin
. In The Eyes of the Dragon
, she is described as riding a broomstick, like stereotypical witches.
novel, The Eyes of the Dragon
, although she has a very minor part in the story.Those who live in the fictional kingdom of Delain, evoke her as a boogeyman whose appearance riding on a broomstick is a harbinger for disaster. She is spotted shortly before a devastating snow
storm
strikes Delain during the novel's climax. Very possibly she is acting together with Flagg, whom we know to have contacted her as Marten Broadcloak.
Rhea has a larger part in the The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass, the fourth novel in the series. As the book progresses, her repeated usage of the Pink Bend (a.k.a. Maerlyn's Grapefruit) of the Wizard's Rainbow
drains her, causing her to become progressively older and more evil. Her image coaxes Roland Deschain
to kill his own mother through illusion
, but it's likely that the Crimson King is using her image, not Rhea herself.
Rhea was always a contrary child, and did evil things to her family and the children around her. A piece of Maerlyn's glass from his mirror (which showed people's true selves) lodged itself in Rhea's eye as a youth, enabling her with the sight and enhancing her powers (much like Kaj from The Snow Queen
).
Roland implies at the end of Wizard and Glass that he did indeed meet up again with her on his travels and kill her, but King has never elaborated beyond this brief mention.
More of her background is mentioned in the Dark Tower comics.
Upon her deathbed, she managed to avoid dying by agreeing to go to Mejis, (Susan Delgado's hometown) and preventing Roland's child from being born. It was revealed to Rhea that under no circumstances must a child be born of Roland's blood. This prophecy reveals that Roland would bring down the Crimson King. Rhea prevents this birth by instigating the burning of Susan, who was in fact, with Roland's child.
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
, most notably his Dark Tower
The Dark Tower (series)
The Dark Tower is a series of books written by American author Stephen King, which incorporates themes from multiple genres, including fantasy, science fantasy, horror and western. It describes a "Gunslinger" and his quest toward a tower, the nature of which is both physical and metaphorical. King...
series, as well as the comic book spinoffs of that series. Rhea is a very stereotypical fairy tale witch in appearance, personality and abilities; she is old, ugly, rides a broomstick and has a cat familiar. In The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass, she is said to represent the Wicked Witch of the West
Wicked Witch of the West
The Wicked Witch of the West is a fictional character and the most significant antagonist in L. Frank Baum's children's book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz...
from The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)
The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed primarily by Victor Fleming. Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf received credit for the screenplay, but there were uncredited contributions by others. The lyrics for the songs...
.
Powers
She apparently has a number of eldritch powers, including but not limited to the ability to own familiarsFamiliar spirit
In European folklore and folk-belief of the Medieval and Early Modern periods, familiar spirits were supernatural entities believed to assist witches and cunning folk in their practice of magic...
, has the power of prophecy to a minor extent, can see visions through crystal ball
Crystal ball
A crystal ball is a crystal or glass ball believed by some people to aid in the performance of clairvoyance. It is sometimes known as a shew stone...
s, make magical potion
Potion
A potion is a consumable medicine or poison.In mythology and literature, a potion is usually made by a magician, sorcerer, dragon, fairy or witch and has magical properties. It might be used to heal, bewitch or poison people...
s, and be immune to powerful venom. She also has some knowledge of medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
, as she was able to determine that Susan Delgado was a virgin
Virginity
Virginity refers to the state of a person who has never engaged in sexual intercourse. There are cultural and religious traditions which place special value and significance on this state, especially in the case of unmarried females, associated with notions of personal purity, honor and worth...
. In The Eyes of the Dragon
The Eyes of the Dragon
The Eyes of the Dragon is a novel by Stephen King published in 1987. Previously, it was published as a limited edition hardcover by Philtrum Press in 1984. The mass-market version had been slightly revised for publication. At the time it was a surprising deviation from the norm for King, who is...
, she is described as riding a broomstick, like stereotypical witches.
Fictional character biography
Rhea is first mentioned in King's 1987 fantasyFantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
novel, The Eyes of the Dragon
The Eyes of the Dragon
The Eyes of the Dragon is a novel by Stephen King published in 1987. Previously, it was published as a limited edition hardcover by Philtrum Press in 1984. The mass-market version had been slightly revised for publication. At the time it was a surprising deviation from the norm for King, who is...
, although she has a very minor part in the story.Those who live in the fictional kingdom of Delain, evoke her as a boogeyman whose appearance riding on a broomstick is a harbinger for disaster. She is spotted shortly before a devastating snow
Snow
Snow is a form of precipitation within the Earth's atmosphere in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. Since snow is composed of small ice particles, it is a granular material. It has an open and therefore soft structure, unless packed by...
storm
Storm
A storm is any disturbed state of an astronomical body's atmosphere, especially affecting its surface, and strongly implying severe weather...
strikes Delain during the novel's climax. Very possibly she is acting together with Flagg, whom we know to have contacted her as Marten Broadcloak.
Rhea has a larger part in the The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass, the fourth novel in the series. As the book progresses, her repeated usage of the Pink Bend (a.k.a. Maerlyn's Grapefruit) of the Wizard's Rainbow
Wizard's Rainbow
The Wizard's Rainbow , are a group of magical objects that play an important role in the Dark Tower series by Stephen King. It is made up of 13 talismans , twelve representing the Twelve Guardians of the Beams, the last representing the Dark Tower...
drains her, causing her to become progressively older and more evil. Her image coaxes Roland Deschain
Roland Deschain
Roland Deschain of Gilead is a fictional character, the protagonist and antihero of Stephen King's The Dark Tower series. He is the son of Steven and Gabrielle Deschain and is descended from a long line of "gunslingers", peacekeepers and diplomats of Roland's society...
to kill his own mother through illusion
Illusion
An illusion is a distortion of the senses, revealing how the brain normally organizes and interprets sensory stimulation. While illusions distort reality, they are generally shared by most people....
, but it's likely that the Crimson King is using her image, not Rhea herself.
Rhea was always a contrary child, and did evil things to her family and the children around her. A piece of Maerlyn's glass from his mirror (which showed people's true selves) lodged itself in Rhea's eye as a youth, enabling her with the sight and enhancing her powers (much like Kaj from The Snow Queen
The Snow Queen
The Snow Queen is a fairy tale by author Hans Christian Andersen . The tale was first published in 1845, and centers on the struggle between good and evil as experienced by a little boy and girl, Kai and Gerda....
).
Roland implies at the end of Wizard and Glass that he did indeed meet up again with her on his travels and kill her, but King has never elaborated beyond this brief mention.
More of her background is mentioned in the Dark Tower comics.
Upon her deathbed, she managed to avoid dying by agreeing to go to Mejis, (Susan Delgado's hometown) and preventing Roland's child from being born. It was revealed to Rhea that under no circumstances must a child be born of Roland's blood. This prophecy reveals that Roland would bring down the Crimson King. Rhea prevents this birth by instigating the burning of Susan, who was in fact, with Roland's child.