Black Michael Characters Sketch
Introduction:
Black Michael, the representative of devil, ES the villain of “The Prisoner of Zenda”,
written by Anthony Hope. He is the stepbrother of King Rudolf 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 the Castel of Zenda and the surrounding estate.
Being the favorite of the late King of Ruritania, he was appointed as the Duck of
Strelsau. He is a schemer and evil by nature.
An Ambitious Man of Vivacious Nature:
Black Michael is a man of evil and scornful nature. Being extremely selfish, cunning and
ambitious, he is sincere to none but only to his mean motives. He is dissatisfied with his
present status and dreams of something above his entitlement. He is so ambitious that
he is inclined to kill his half brother, the King. He stoops to meanness and sheer
brutality to transform his devilish dream into stark realties. As Johann says about him:
“He is an evil master who is greatly feared”
A Traitor:
Michael is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He wants to capture the throne of Ruritania and for
this act of treason and disloyalty he gets the King kidnapped from the shooting lodge
and imprisons him in the castle of Zenda. He sends drugged wine and makes the king
senseless. He does so just before the coronation ceremony in order to usurp the throne.
For such act of betrayal Fritz calls Black Michael;
“That damned hound.”
A Conspirator and intriguer:
“Intrigue is the main weapon of a villain and he uses it mercifully.” (Bacon) Black
Michael is by nature a schemer and all the time his mind remains busy in making plots
for establishing his right to the throne. Even Lady Antoinette De Mauban finds herself
entangled in his schemes.
Rudolf Rassendyll also mentions it in the course of the novel:
“I had begun to think that Black Michael was over fond of leaving the fighting to his
friends; but now I acknowledged that the brains, if not the arms of the conspiracy, were
his.”
A Cruel and Merciless Person:
Michael is heartless fellow. He has a distorted view of things and is not able to
differentiate between right and wrong. The King confides in him but he imprisons the
King.(educationsight.blogspot.com) He makes several attempts to kill Rassendyll but
fails. When Johann starts acting as an informer to Rassendyll, he lives in the dread of
the moment when it would be found out by the Duke. He requests Rassendyll to shield
him from the Duke’s vengeance.
“For if after he knows what I have done, I fall into his hands, I shall pray for one thing out
of all the world .... A speedy death and that I shall not get from him.”
Lack of Self Control:
Duke Black Michael has no control over his passions and desires. He is not one to be
able to hide his feelings. His anger, anxiety and guilty feelings always appear on his face.
In Rassendyll words:
“The man has many qualities but he could barely conceal his feelings.”
A Deceiver in Love:
Black Michael deceives Antoinette De Mauban, a rich widow, by his attention. He gives
her the promise of marriage but at the same time he tries to win Princess Flavia so that
his .right to the throne becomes stronger and valid. Michael has no trace of grace in his
character therefore; his sincerity in love is doubted right from the beginning of the story.
As George Fatherly says expressing his apprehension:
“He won’t marry the fair Antoinette --- at least, no unless another plan comes to
nothing.”
A timid and Weak Person:
Michael is popular among the criminals and villains of Ruritania because he is their
patron. They are determined to take Michael to the throne Ruritania in their own
interest. In spite of this support and favor, Michael always behaves like a coward. He
never dares to face his rival in person. He always sends his six villains “The hired guns”
to deal with his enemies.
Humiliated for his Black Deeds:
Michael is not respected by his servants and even by his six ruffians because of his vice
elements. A time comes when his closest ally Rupert Hentzau comes out in open
rebellion against him. The bone of contention between them is no other than Lady
Mauban.(educationsight.blogspot.com) This rivalry proves to be the death knell for
Duke Michael who is “dragged down into the mire” and faces untold humiliation.
Rightly Punished for his Wickedness:
In the world, people like Black Michael are able to achieve only a partial success and
the fate of Michael fully proves that deception and fraud can bring neither prosperity nor
honour. He is consequently killed by Rupert and meets his fatal end because of his evil
deeds.
Conclusion:
Michael is killed by his own hireling as:
“And the first door they came was the door of Michael’s room; and Michael lay dead
across the threshold, with a sword thrust through his breast.”
That is how finally a devil is given his due. His death does not arouse the feelings of
sympathy for him Infect; he is rightly punished for his wickedness.
