PRISONER OF ZENDA
BRIEF INTRODUCTION OF CHARACTERS
RUDOLF RASSENDYLL – DISTANT COUSIN TO KING OF RURITANIA
King Rudolph's cousin from Bursledon family of England, Rudolf Rassendyll, comes to visit during the events, and his likeness to his cousin is uncanny. He is compelled to impersonate his cousin to receive the crown and ensure that the coronation can be proceeded. More commonly referred to as Rassendyll, the king’s cousin is a kind-hearted and gregarious fellow who gladly chips in to his new role with ease, though he feels uncomfortable about the deception. Despite having minimal ties to the king and the country, Rassendyll quickly embraces the role as the daring smash buckling hero who spearheads all the efforts to recover his cousin from cruel possession of Black Michael. Even after surviving an assault and an attempt on his own life, Rassendyll holds fast and stays frim to his virtues. He rejects the Duke’s offers of money and power time and again. He is no sacrosanct but a layman so he falls in love with the king's fiancée who is a charming company to be around.
PRINCESS FLAVIA - HEIR TO RURITANIAN THRONE:
A kind and beautiful young woman who is betrothed to the king-to-be. Princes Flavia has the poor fortune of first encountering Rassendyll, a false king whom she unknowingly falls for, unaware that their affair will ultimately doom when the king would return from his ordeal and rightfully assume his throne. Princess Flavia prioritizes her duty over her feelings for Rassendyll. She is heartbroken but faces the truth with courage and dare.
COLONELS SAPT AND FRITZ VON TARLENHEIM:
The Colonel and attendant to king are loyal supporters and friends of the king, who were with him the night before his disappearance. When he goes missing, they do everything in their power to ensure he is returned safe and retains his kingship. In fact, they are the pivot of the story as they convince Rassendyll to put his life on pause in the name of Ruritania and play the role of king. Alongside the false king, they seek to uncover and foil Black Michael’s plot against Rudolf Elphberg.
DUKE MICHAEL
The disgruntled Duke is a son of Rudolf IV, the late king, through a morganatic marriage. The younger half-brother of the king-to-be; acts as an unhappy chap with his inferior role in Ruritania's hierarchy, Michael elects to ascend to throne by hook or crook. He is the actual conspirator behind the plot to overthrow the king, intending to prevent him from attending the coronation and win the throne for himself. His complex plot is foiled by the accidental presence of Rassendyll, whose eerily similarity with the king allow him to assume the throne in the true king’s absence, preventing Michael from achieving his cleverly executed villainous ambitions. These ambitions led the Duke to his death; betrayed by his own henchman, Rupert of Hentzau, Michael dies in fruitless obscurity, known only as the villain.
ANTOINETTE DE MAUBAN:
Antoinette De Mauban is Duke Michael’s agitated mistress. A fashionable widow from Paris who loves Michael whole heartily. She is aware of Duke’s plot to overthrow the king but does not wish it to happen on the cost of her love and loyalty to Duke Michael. She stirs a plot of her own to prevent Michael from being crowned king as she is jealous of Princess Flavia and cannot see Michael sitting on throne with Princess Flavia rather than herself. It is her guidance and support that saves Rassendyll at the Summer House and leads king’s advisors to uncover his location.
COUNT RUPERT OF HENTZAU:
Rupert is a handsome young count and accomplice in the plot to overthrow the king. He is most dangerous amongst the hirelings. He is deceptive and cares for no authority; thus, his motives are suspected throughout the story. He secretly loves Madam De Mauban and wants her to honour his love but her denial provokes him in murdering Black Michael. Ultimately, Rupert escapes the plot unscathed and leaves the country while throwing a warning to Rassendyll that he would return to finish the unfinished business with him.
RUDOLF V, THE TRUE KING
Rudolf V of Ruritania is the son from royal family to late king of Ruritania and is king-to-be of the imaginary nation of Ruritania. At the start of the novel, he is enjoying the hunting trip arranged in his honour by his half-brother while awaiting coronation and is engaged to be married, but on the eve of the ceremony to crown him king, he falls a prey to the conspiracy of his brother who drugged and kidnapped him to usurp his throne. Rudolf appears relatively infrequently in the novel, as the plot follows his capture and the efforts of his supporters to safely retrieve him from captivity till almost the climax of the novel. Upon his return, he unknowingly marries his fiancée unknowing that she is in love with someone else and has sacrificed her love for the sake of country and nation.
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CHARACTER
SKETCHES
"PRINCESS
FLAVIA"
INTRODUCTION:
Sir
Anthony Hope Hawkins has made the character of Princess Flavia as one of the
main characters of the novel “The Prisoner of Zenda”. She is the only female
character who is not directly involved in the conspiracies, which pervade the
entire atmosphere of the novel. She is the cousin and fiancée of King Rudolf
Elphberg and is the immediate inheritor to the throne.
PHYSICAL
APPEARANCE:
She
bears a bewitching personality and fascinates the readers by her elegant
attitude in every appearance in the novel. Flavia is tall, graceful and
charming lady with a pale face, blue eyes and glorious red hair. She is very
young, beautiful and also attractive. Her appearance can be perceived by Rudolf
Rassendyll’s saying:
“A
girl pale and lovely, surmounted by a crown of glorious Elphberg hair.”
BEAUTIFUL
ASPECTS OF HER ROLE:
Princess
Flavia is young, captivating and graceful lady. She possesses a character full
of virtues and thus commands great respect and admiration in whole Ruritania.
People wish to see her as the queen of the country. She is a noble and
kind-hearted woman who is the next heir to the throne of Ruritania.
“Trust
men, and they will be true to you; treat them greatly, and they will show themselves
great.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson
WISDOM
& INTELLIGENCE:
Princess
Flavia is a wise woman. Her wisdom keeps her aware of the evil desires of Black
Michael, who is not a good man. She very intelligently keeps herself away from
all sorts of intrigues. She is a sensible person who has the courage to face
the realities of life.
Her
intelligence is enlightened when she warns Rassendyll about Black Michael and
his intentions while saying:
“Do
be careful,” she went on, “you don’t – indeed you don’t – keep enough watch on
him.”
SOBERNESS:
The
Character of Flavia is the only character in the novel that brings the element
of love, beauty and romance in the plot to the novel apart from Countess Helga
who loves Fritz. She sincerely and quite confidently admits her inclination
towards Rassendyll, being impressed by his personality. She was bold enough to
propose Rassendyll but her sensibility restricted her to perform any action
below dignity. She gave heart and soul to Rudolf Rassendyll considering him to
be the real king. She never mourns her decision even after coming to know that
he is a pretender. She confessed that Rudolf Rassendyll was acceptable to him
even if he was a beggar.
“The
fate of love is that it always seems too little or too much.”
DEVOTION:
Princess
Flavia represents admirable charms of sincerity and devotion towards her love
and her country at the same time. She portrays a woman who is always worried
about the security of her family and loved-ones. She can be seen advising and
warning Rassendyll time and again to be cautious of the wicked plans of Duke
Michael. When Black Michael’s man Rupert successfully attempts on him and
injures Rassendyll, she at once reached Zenda to look after him.
ROMANCE:
Romance
is the essence of the Character of Princess Flavia which is portrayed and
displayed time and again throughout the plot. Princess is a lady with elements
of love in her heart that flame fascination and temptation of Rassendyll
towards her. Love in its true forms enters her life when she meets Rudolf
Rassendyll who is crowned in Ruritania as king.
BRAVERY
& CONFIDENCE:
She
sincerely and quite confidently admits her inclination towards Rassendyll,
being impressed by his personality. She was bold enough to propose Rassendyll
but her sensibility restricted her to perform any action below dignity. She
gave heart and soul to Rudolf Rassendyll considering him to be the real king.
When she comes to his reality yet she doesn’t mourn her decision and bluntly
tell him that she would marry the king but will always love Rassendyll. Even
after coming to know that he is a pretender she confessed that Rudolf
Rassendyll was acceptable to him even if he was a beggar.
“The fate of love is that it always seems too little or too much.” - Amelia Barr
SENSE
OF DUTY:
Princess
Flavia is a responsible lady who knows her duty to her lover and to her country
simultaneously. She has great respect for the King, Rudolf Elphberg though she
does not love him. She decides to marry the King, Rudolf Elphberg to bring
peace and joy in the lives of her people because she knows very well that the
king alone cannot manage the affairs of the country.
PATRIOTIC
SPIRIT:
Princess
Flavia has been depicted as very loyal to the country and clearly
differentiates between love and duty. She sets an example of the greatest
sacrifice by giving up her love at the altar of duty. This aspect of her
character shows that she is not the slave of her passions.
SELFLESSNESS:
She
is not a slave to her passions and reflects a self-sacrificing lady who
sacrificed her own love and personal happiness of being in life of Rassendyll
for the sake of the country.
This
action reflects her sense of responsibility and devotion towards the man whom
she loved from the depths of her heart. Here sense of duty is enlightened when
she says to Rassendyll:
“Your
ring will always be on my finger, your heart in my heart. But you must go and I
must stay.”
GREAT
SACRIFICE:
In
order to maintain peace in Ruritania and not to disgrace the royal family,
Princess Flavia has taken a remarkable and daring step as she sacrificed her
love for the sake of her homeland and parted with Rassendyll forever. It was a
noble and graceful decision in the interest of Ruritania and the Royal family.
“To
love one person with a private love is poor and miserable, to love all is
glorious.”
-
Thomas Treharne
CONCLUSION:
Princess
Flavia proves to be the best leading female character of the novel. She is also
the most lively and integral personality which brings love, tranquility and
passion with her each appearance. She holds the attentions of the readers
because of her charm, duty and incredible virtues. She respected the wishes of
the people and the country and gave up her love for the sake of her country.
She is a complete symbol of love, beauty and sacrifice, which makes her an
admirable character.
“There is no moral authority like that of sacrifice.” - Nadine Gordimer
“RUDOLF RASSENDYLL”
INTRODUCTION:
Sir Anthony
Hope Hawkins has made the character of Rudolf Rassendyll as the
hero of the novel Prisoner of Zenda. He is indeed the most glorious and
delightful figure of the novel filled with excitement, love, intellect and adventures.
He is the protagonist in the novel and is portrayed as typical hero of romance
with great many abilities to attract. His thoughts, emotions and unconditional
devotion makes him a noble character.
PHYSICAL
APPEARANCE:
Rassendyll
has been picturized as a young brave, tall, well built and handsome young man
of 29. He has red hair, straight nose, blue eyes and a beard. His physical appearance
bears striking resemblance to that of the real king as he possesses two famous
identical features of Elphbergs i. e. red hair and pointed nose. He has kept
heavy mustache and carefully pointed royals. He is around six feet two inches
of stature. Despite his striking resemblance to Rudolph Elphberg, the new king
of Ruritania, there were some noticeable differences too as Rassendyll himself had
pointed himself:
“The
king’s face was slightly fleshier than mine, the oval of its contour the least
trifle more pronounced and his mouth lacking something of the firmness which
was to be gathered from my close-shutting lips.”
However,
in spite of these differences, Colonel Sapt could not help mentioning to
Rassendyll:
“You’re
an Elphberg, every inch of you.”
VARIOUS
ASPECTS OF HIS ROLE:
The
integral character of Rassendyll holds the attention of the readers throughout
the exciting events of the novel. Rassendyll possesses a prime personality and
is linked with the main incidents of the novel in one way or the other.
FAMILY BACKGROUND:
Rudolf
Rassendyll belongs to a noble family of “Bursledon’s” in England. He is an
educated man with perfect command over German and French. He is bold, cultural
and knows the art of becoming popular. By nature, he is very gentle and honest but
spends his time in random sort of activities and amusements but when he
impersonates the king of Ruritania, he dazzles our imaginations by showing a
deep sense of responsibility. He begins to display his talents and sterling
qualities.
CAREFREE:
Being
a rich man he seems to be a carefree young man in the beginning of the novel.
His sister in law mocks him for his attitude and for that mocking he argues:
“Why
in the world should I do anything? My position is the comfortable one.”
“Our
family does not need things to do”
WISDOM
AND PRUDENCE:
Rudolf
Rassendyll proves himself to be a man of outstanding attributes and full of
wisdom. He plays the role of the king very intelligently. Once he gets
entangled in Ruritanian politics, he becomes conscious not only of the
significance of his royal position but also of the responsibility, which lies
on his shoulders. He is a wise, cool minded and responsible man.
ADVENTURE:
Rudolf
Rassendyll is very fond of adventures and loves to roam about instead of
sticking to a job. He is also a good mastermind who handles difficult
situations seeming effortless. The desire to participate in sensational events
is always there in his heart. This desire was fulfilled by his play-acting of
King Rudolf Elphberg, who was very identical to him. His likeness with the king
of Ruritania helped him to make his mission a success. He pledges in strong and
unequivocal terms: “I have been an imposter for the profit of another, but I
will not be one for my own; and if the king is not alive and on his throne
before the day of betrothal comes I will tell the truth, come what may.”
A
SKILL FULL AND WELL EDUCATED MAN:
Rudolf
Rassendyll has received his education from a Germen University and can speak
many languages. He is a good shooter, a skill full swordsman and an expert
horseman.
He
proves himself a man of spirit when he gets a chance to become the king but he leaves
no stone unturned to rescue the king from cruel clutches of Black Michael. He courageously
faces the dangerous circumstances and never backs out from any fight.
COMMITMENT
& HONOUR:
Rudolf
Rassendyll is a sincere man. He does not want to keep the throne to himself. He
carries out all his responsibilities with firmness and confidence. He realizes
that it is his duty to restore the real king to the throne and he never tries
to take undue advantage as a pretender. He demonstrates a high level of
commitment throughout the novel. He says to his sister in law:
“When I do things, I do not do it by halves”
He doesn’t take advantage of Princess Flavia in his role as a king. He refuses Rupert’s offer in Zenda to remain the king and get rid of the real king and Black Michael. He is the man of honor and integrity. He impersonates the king but takes it as his duty. During a conversation with his sister in law he says:
“To
a man spirit, my dear rose, opportunities are duties.”
His veracity and sincerity is outstanding as he declares:
“If I’m found out, I’ll make a clean breast of it, and fight it out with the Duke.”
Though Rassendyll’s heart throbs for Princess Flavia but the sense of duty and devotion to the throne is far stronger in him.
BOLDNESS AND COURAGE:
Rudolf
Rassendyll is supposed to be gifted with extraordinary courage and chivalry,
and does not fall short of our expectations in this matter. He is an expert
rider and an excellent sword man. When time and fate offered Rassendyll a
challenge, he accepted him as a brave man. His stay in Ruritania unfolds his
marvelous sense of responsibility, boldness and wisdom. The role played by him
in Ruritania to save the throne from Black Michael was really an act of
gallantry and wisdom.
The
circumstances urge him to express love to Princess Flavia but to feel it. He shows his love and affection in Ball and in
every meeting with Flavia however, being deeply conscious of his responsibility
and dedication, he declares:
“I
had to keep the princess devoted to me and yet indifferent to me; I had to show
affection for her and not feel it.”
CONSPIRACY CRUSHER:
Rassendyll
initially shows hesitation to venture on as the imposter of the king but later he
fulfills his duties with honor, grace and dignity. He fails Michael’s plot to
be the king of Ruritania and luck also favors him.
SELFLESSNESS:
According
to Sapt’s plan, Rassendyll has to show affection to princess Flavia. However
things take a different turn and Rassendyll helplessly falls in love with
Princess Flavia. His feelings towards Princess Flavia were noble in nature.
They bid farewell to their short lived happiness and parted their ways with
burden of love.
THE
GREAT SACRIFICE:
"COLONEL SAPT"
INTRODUCTION:
Colonel Sapt is one of the most significant and
momentous characters of the novel entitled Prisoner of Zenda, written by
Anthony Hope. Being the most loyal servant of the kind, Colonel Sapt was the
man behind the impersonating of King Elphberg by Rudolf Rassendyll. It was due
to his guidance that Rassendyll could successfully play the role of king
Elphberg.
Colonel Sapt has played the character of an
honest person who has sincere wishes to save the throne for the real king of
Ruritania. A single glance over the mentioned qualities will bring to light the
noble character of Colonel Sapt.
COURAGE AND BRAVERY:
Colonel Sapt is a brave man whose gallantry
keeps him motivated for taking personal risks. He shows great valour on all
events. He is also very loyal to the king and serves the throne with dedication
and faith. Being a sovereign authority, he has enough experience in the art of
governing people. His only objective in life is to reinstate King Elphberg. For
this achievement, he uses all the persons including Countess Flavia as pieces
of chess board.
Sapt’s courage and determination is enlightened
when he said to Rassendyll:
“If we’re detected, I’ll send Black Michael down
below before I go myself.”
WISDOM AND SENSIBILITY:
Colonel Sapt is a wise man. His superb prudence
made him sensible enough not take reckless steps. He uses his mind and
intelligence on the battlefield of life. It was merely due to his witticism
that Rassendyll’s identification was not revealed. Although the Colonel does
not accept advises from others, his gorgeous mentality enables him to crush all
the obstacles that come in the path of his aim. Due to these qualities, he
exalted himself in the eyes of the king and Rassendyll.
His wisdom is enlightened when he said: “If you
do not go I swear to you Black Michael will sit tonight on the throne, and the
king lies in prison or his grave.”
FRIENDLY ATTITUDE:
Colonel Sapt is not only a good advisor, but
also a sincere friend of Rassendyll. He became Rassendyll’s friend as soon as
they both met. Colonel Sapt served his friend on every difficult stage. A good
example of sincere friendship is seen at the Summer House, when Rassendyll was
in a dangerous situation among the enemies.
BACHELORSHIP:
Colonel Sapt appears to be a confirmed bachelor
having low opinion about women. He never trusts in ladies, but believes that
women spoil everything. Even the princess does not come in exception to his
hatred for the opposite gender.
When Mme de Mauban invites Rassendyll to the
Summer House, he said: “I do not believe any woman and you shall not go.”
DISCIPLINE:
Colonel Sapt is a well-disciplined man. He has
some firm rules, which are strictly followed by him. This discipline and
devotion leads the Colonel to serve the king and his country.
When Rassendyll went to Marshall for some help
without consulting him, Sapt angrily said: “Sapt likes to be consulted before
hand, not informed afterwards.”
LOYALTY:
Colonel Sapt is a colonel in the Ruritanian
Army. He is the oldest of all the hot-blooded army men. The colonel is a
devoted servant of the king. His loyalty is for the cause of monarchy and not
for any particular person. He has a highly productive mind, which enables him
to act daringly to restore the throne. He succeeded in liberating who was the
actual inheritor to the throne.
Colonel Sapt says: “I have eaten the King’s
bread and I am the King’s servant.”
CONCLUSION:
The character performed by Colonel Sapt is
worth-reading. Readers get fascinated by his wisdom, loyalty, courage and good
principles.
"BLACK MICHAEL / DUKE OF STRALSAU"
INTRODUCTION:
Black Michael is the villain of the novel
entitled The Prisoner of Zenda created by Anthony Hope. He is stepbrother of
King Elphberg. He is not the legal heir to the throne because he is the son of
the king’s second and morganatic marriage. Black Michael is the owner of castle
of Zenda and the surrounding estate. Being the favourite of the late king of
Ruritania, he was appointed as the Duke of Strelsau. He is schemer and evil by
nature.
SELFISH AND HYPOCRITE:
Black Michael is a selfish man. He loves
Princess Flavia just to get the throne. He is a hypocrite and makes a false
show of love towards Madam Mauban. He has become popular among a small number
of people of the country by his hypocrisy. He is over ambitious and greedy.
A WICKED PERSON:
Black Michael is a sinful man. He makes plot to
get the throne with the help of his companions, but always tries to delude
them. That is why his followers betray him, when he is expecting complete
victory. He invites Rassendyll to the Summer House through a conspiracy, but fortunately
Rassendyll survives. This sharp and evil act shows his wickedness.
A CRUEL MAN:
Black Michael is indeed a cruel person. When the
king has been in his noose, he treats him in a very harsh and inhuman manner.
He does not feel pity for his brother even. Black Michael is a coward man. He
wants to save his life at any cost. He does not come out to handle the
situation at any time.
A COOL-MINDED CRIMINAL:
Black Michael is a wicked but a cool minded and
genius criminal. When he sees that Rassendyll has impersonated the king of
Ruritania he does not make it known to the people to keep his villainy secret.
We see that even Rupert’s interest and love for Mauban do not irritate him. It
shows that he is a controlled emotion criminal.
A SLAVE OF LUST FOR POWER:
Black Michael becomes utterly blind for power.
At any rate he wants to usurp the sovereignty form his brother. His lust for
power corrupts him and brings his decline.
THE TRAGIC END:
Black Michael always deceives his close
companions. That is why he is killed by one of his own followers. Thus, the
villain of the novel receives a tragic end.
"ANTOINETTE DE MAUBAN"
INTRODUCTION:
Antoinette-de- Mauban is the character of the
novel entitled Prisoner of Zenda written by Anthony Hope. Mme-de- Mauban was a
widow, rich, beautiful and clever lady. She deeply loved Black Michael, the
Duke of Stralsau.
MOTIVES:
She was sincerely devoted to the Duke and by
this genuine attachment. She followed him at his request from Paris to
Ruritania but she was not aware that the Duke whom she thought to be a man of
strong passions was actually a cruel, cunning and selfish man who was content to
take all but gives nothing.
PEACE LOVER:
She was a quite person who had decided to spend
a quite and peaceful time in Ruritania with the Duke. With this intention she
accepted the Duke’s request. Only to discover at her arrival that things were
contradictory to what she had though. It did not take her long to find out that
the Duke wanted to kill the King and seize the th5one for himself but Mme-de-
Mauban did not desire his triumph for she detested his crime and mainly because
she knew that if Michael was made the king he would marry Princess Flavia.
POSSESSIVE & EMOTIONAL WOMAN:
She was a possessive woman and found her rival
and would not bear to see the Duke abandoning her by marrying the Princess so
she betrayed Black Michael to Rassendyll by warning him of his plan to kill him
in the Summer House for she knew that in case of Rassendyll’s death the Duke
would become the king and would eventually marry Flavia. She was a woman ruled
by her emotions and when Michael was killed by Rupert, she heaving taunts came
forth to avenge him.
CONSCIENTIOUS:
She wrote a letter to Flavia as king and warned
her not to accept the Duke’s invitation in case; she would come in the power of
the Duke. She was a pretty lady and at the Zenda, Rupert, one of the king’s six
men was caught by her beauty. But Mauban hated him for she was sincerely
devoted to the Duke. Being aware of Rupert’s intentions she had warned Michael
of him. Mauban was a compassionate woman and when she learnt of the full
measure of his cruelty, she was touched with compassion for the King and from
that day she became a well-wisher of Rassendyll and his party.
DUKE’S INTRIGUER:
Gradually she found herself entangled into the
Duke’s plan, but she was not a weak woman, tired of quarrels and ills between
the Duke and Michael and disappointed by Black Michael’s cruel plans and
selfish motives. She begs Rassendyll to rescue her from the Duke and Rupert but
she still loved Black Michael and hoped to gain his life if not his pardon from
the king.
END TO THE DRAMA:
This conduct proved that no knowledge of the man’s real character was enough to root her regard, for him out of her heart. After these tragic events she withdraws herself entirely from society. She recognized the king’s generosity and kindness and so she did not betray the king’s trust by letting out the secret.
"RUDOLF ELPHBERG"
INTRODUCTION:
Rudolf Elphberg is one of the central characters
of the novel entitled The Prisoner of Zenda created by Anthony Hope. He is the prisoner
in the castle of Zenda. He is son of late king of Ruritania and heir to throne.
APPEARANCE:
Rudolf Elphberg is a young, tall and handsome
man. He is an educated man. He has red hair, straight nose, blue eyes and a
beard. His physical appearance bears striking resemblance to that of Rudolf
Rassendyll, though there were some points of differences, which are pointed by
Rudolf Rassendyll:
“The king’s face was slightly fleshier than
mine, the oval of its contour the least trifle more pronounced and his mouth
lacking something of the firmness which was to be gathered from my
close-shutting lips.”
However, in spite of these differences, Colonel
Sapt could not help mentioning to Rassendyll: “You’re an Elphberg, every inch
of you.”
LACK OF RESPONSIBILITY AND COMMON SENSE:
Rudolf Elphberg, the king is a happy-go-lucky
type of young man. He is a pleasure loving man and wishes to pass a happy and
care free life. He is devoid of a sense of responsibility and lacks even common
sense. He is indiscreet and trusts even his half brother, Black Michael. He
does not care even the coronation and drinks excessively. He also drinks the
wine sent by his wicked brother. He does not even think or suspect about it. It
is well known to the people of Ruritania that Black Michael intends to get
through the access to the throne and wants to marry Flavia, but Elphberg is not
aware of this fact.
A WEAK MAN:
He has not the quality to face the dangers and
odds boldly. His behaviour in prison throws a shadow upon his person. He
becomes completely demoralized and losses all grill. His health suffers and he
becomes partially insane. He requests Detchard to persuade his brother, Black
Michael to kill him. He becomes hopeless and sobs on his fate.
NOT A BAD MAN:
Rudolf Elphberg cannot, however, be called a bad
man. He may be a weak king, but as a man, he has some very good qualities. He
is a pleasant tempered man, a sincere and good friend. He stands by his friends
and has a great trust and faith in them. There is in him a peculiar charm of personality,
which inspires confidence in the heart of those who come into contact with him.
He loves and admires Flavia. He is sincere, kind and open-hearted.
CONCLUSION: