Princes Flavia - Character of The Novel (The Prisoner of Zenda)

 CHARACTER

Question 01) PRINCESS FLAVIA

Introduction of the Novel

The novel, “Prisoner of Zenda”, written by “Anthony Hope” has verities in it. There are loves and hatred, friendship and sacrifice rivalries (a state in which two people etc are competing for the same thing) and conspires.

Introduction of the Character

Princess Flavia is the most attractive, sensible, loveable and prominent character of the novel. This character has numerous qualities; the symbol of beauty, the dream of a poet, the drops of dew, an angel being.

"Fame is a vapor, popularity an accident. Riches take wing. Only one thing endures. And that is character."

Horace Greeley

HER BACK GROUND AND APPEARANCE

Princess Flavia is the cousin of Rudolf Elphberg and Black Michael. She is the next heir to the throne of Ruritania. She is hardly twenty. She looks beautiful, charming, graceful, dignified and elegant. Her face is pale and hair was red.

Rassendyl remarks about her,

“I can thank God, that I loved the noblest lady in the world, the most gracious and beautiful”

Throughout the novel, she keeps the readers by her graceful behavior and in-numerable good qualities.

A FIGURE OF PARAGON (example of a particular good quality)

In the novel, with so many situations, Princess Flavia stands as a symbol of paragon of physical beauty as well as moral perfections and patriotism. She is the only female character of the novel, who is free from all selfishness and worldly ambitions.

“She walks in beauty like the knight of cloudless climes and starry skies.”Byron

A LADY OF DIGNIFIED AND PLEASANT MANNERS

As a princess, Flavia is very dignified and pleasant in her behavior. She talks softly and walks beautifully. She is not proud of her beauty or position. She dislikes Micheal but she does not behave badly or rudely towards him.

AN HONEST AND SENSIBLE LADY

Flavia is a sensible and straightforward person. She faces realities of life boldly maintaining her dignity. She is careful about her behavior; she does not let the people know about her personal liking towards Rassendyll. She is able to hide her true feelings. To her the most important thing is that of welfare of her people and country.

‘Hero worship exists, has exist, will exist, and universally exist forever among mankind” Thomas Carlyle

A LADY WITH A STRONG SENSE OF DUTY

Princess Flavia has a strong sense of duty. She loves Rassendyll from the core of her heart, but decides to leave him and marry Elphberg. She does so for the sake of her royal family and people who want her to marry King Rudolf.

“Do your duty and leave the rest to heaven.” Pierre Corneille

A WOMAN OF RARE GRACE, BEAUTY AND CHARM

She is the lady of bewitching beauty and grace. She is polite, sober, and sincere. She is extra popular among the cities and people of the country. She has great regards and love for her countryman, homeland and numbers of royal families.

“Beauty is the first present nature gives to women.” Mere

WISE AND INTELLIGENT

Princess Flavia is a wise and intelligent woman. She knows the evil desires of Duke Michael. She hates him because of his treacherous and hypocrite nature. Therefore, due to her wisdom and intelligence she advises Rassendyll to be cautious of the tricks of Black Michael.

She says,

“Do be careful! You don’t — indeed you don’t — keep enough watch on him.”

ACTIVE, COURAGEOUS and DEVOTED

Flavia moves about from place to place actively. When she hears the news of wounded king, she at once reaches there. She shows much responsibility. She is much devoted to the man whom she loves the depths of her heart. She actively and fearlessly goes to the bushes to look after the king.

HER LOVE WITH RUDOLF RASSENDYLL

At the coronation ceremony, Rassendyll inspired Flavia. She has fallen in love with him. Princess Flavia has a true passion of love for him. She likes his good qualities and wants to marry him. When it is disclosed that Rassendyll is not the real king, she becomes unconscious. Her love is true and sincere.

“All thoughts, all passions, all delights whatever stirs this mortal frame, all are but ministers of Love, and feed his sacredflame. ” Samuel Taylor Coleridge

THE GREAT SACRIFICE

Flavia knows that Rassendyll is a foreigner and their marriage will cause unrest situation in Ruritania. Therefore, in order to maintain peace and not to disgrace the honor of royal family, Princess takes a wise step and a bold one too. She sacrifices her true love for the sake of homeland.

“There is no moral authority like that of sacrifice.” Gordmier, Nadine

“Oft times the test of courage becomes rather to live than to die.” Alfieri

FINAL ESTIMATE

To sum up, Princess Flavia is the heroine of the novel “Prisoner of Zenda”. She holds on the attention of readers and loved by all because of her beauty, elegance, glamour and sense of high quality. All her merits make her a worth loving, absorbing and respectable character.

Nobler, she is, her acts are admired, dutiful to her country and home, great sacrifice makes her the most gracious, charming, beautiful and adorable.

“To love one person with a private love is poor and miserable, to love all is glorious.” Thomas Traherne