Black Michael - Character of The Novel (The Prisoner of Zenda)
Question 04)BLACK MICHAEL (Duke of Strelsau)
INTRODUCTION OF NOVEL
The novel “Prisnor of
Zinda” written by “Anthony Hope” has verities in it. It was written in 1893 and
published in 1894. A novel is for amusement and entertainment with creative and
imaginative thought. There are ambitions and loves, friendships and sacrifices,
rivalries and conspiracies; suspense, action and thrill.
INTRODUCTION OF
CHARACTER:
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 is appointed as the Duke of
Strelsau. He is schemer and evil by nature.
AS A VILLAIN
Black Michael, the Duke
of Strelsau, is the villain of the novel. He is the half brother of Rudolf
Elphberg, the real king of Ruritania. He has no legal right to the throne of
Ruritania, because he is the son of late king by a second and morganatic
marriage. He is an over ambitious man who wants to usurp (sieze or grab) the
throne. He wants to achieve his objectives by hook or by crook. For this
purpose, he hatches a devilish plot to imprison the lawful king. He succeeds
but cannot ascend the throne because of Rudolf Ressendyll who impersonates the
real king. Therefore, Black Michael becomes a mortal enemy of Ressendyll. With
the supports of his followers, he tries to remove Ressendyll from throne of
Ruritania but in vain.Colonel Sapt tells Rassendyll about him.
If you do not go, I
swear to you, Black Michael will sit tonight on the throne and the king will
lie in the prison or grave.
HYPOCRITE AND COWARD
The only vice which
cannot be forgiven is hypocrisy. Hazlitt, William
Black Michael is a
hypocrite. He promises Mauban to marry her but at the same time he tries to win
the love of Princes Flavia and marry her in order to make him right to the
throne stronger. He also makes a false show of affection to Rudolf Elphberg. He
is a coward and depends entirely on his six followers who always fight for him.
WICKED AND SELFISH
Black Michael is crooked
by nature and is a schemer. He is such a wicked, selfish and unreliable man
that he becomes an enemy of his own brother and imprisons him in the castle of
Zenda. He is a power hungry person who wants to grab power and pelf by foul
means. He is not sincere to Mauban who loves him sincerely and passionately. He
makes her tool for carrying out his evil designs. He explores his ruthlessly in
order to achieve his political motives. Once he says to Rupert.
“A threat is more
warning than most men get from me”
INTRIGUER (schemer) AND CONSPIRATOR
Like Shakespeare’s
Macbeth, he is an over ambitious person. He forgets the fact.
Over ambitious destroys
its possessor. (A saying from the Talmud of traditionalJudaism)
He wants to achieve his
objectives by unfair means. Therefore, he conspires against his own brother who
is the real king of Ruritania. He hatches intrigues in order to usurp the
throne of Ruritania. He hatches a plot against Raeeendyll too, but he escapes
from the clutches of Michael due to his bravery, courage and wisdom.
It is well said,
Intrigue is the main
weapon of a villain and he uses it mercilessly.
AN ABOMINABLE CHARACTER
Black Michael is an
abominable character. We begin to hate him as soon as his evil nature is
exposed to us and our hatred is intensified with the advancement of the story.
When he is killed at the hand of Rupert, we do not feel any sympathy for him.
In fact, he is rightly, punished for his wickedness and villainy.
CONCLUSION
A villain is the
engineer of his own catastrophe.
