English 2nd Year Notes
"What a piece of work is man! How noble in reason! How infinite in faculties! In form and moving how express and admirable! In action how like an angel! In apprehension how like a God!"
Introduction:
Rudolf Rassendyll is the hero in the novel of Sir Anthony Hope titled "Prisoner of Zenda". He is indeed the most glorious and most enchanting figure in the novel, filled with adventure and excitement. He is portrayed as a typical hero of romance with all qualities of thoughts and emotions.
He is tall, well-built and handsome young man of twenty-nine and bears the famous Elphberg features of red hair and red thick beard. Belonging to a rich and aristocratic family of Burlesdon of England, he has received his education from a German university. He can speak many languages. He is good shot, a skillful swordsman and an expert horseman.
A Carefree Fellow:
Being a rich man Rassendyll seems to be a care free young man in the beginning of the novel.
He does nothing worthwhile and when his sister-in-law mocks him for that he says,
"Why in the world should I do anything? My position is a comfortable one."
"Our family doesn’t need things to do."
But when he impersonates the kind of Ruritania he dazzles our imagination by showing a deep sense of responsibility. He begins to display his talents and sterling qualities.
A Man of Honour:
Rudolf Rassendyll is a man of integrity and honour. He impersonates the king but takes it as his duty. During a conversation with his sister-in-law he says,
"To a man f spirit, my dear Rose, opportunities are duties."
He proves himself a man of spirit when he gets an opportunity to become a king but he continues his struggle to rescue the king. He does not 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 seems to be well aware of the fact,
"The fairest of all things fair on earth is virtue." (Shakespeare)
A Brave and Courageous Man:
Rudolf Rassendyll appears before us as a brave and courageous person who is well versed with the art of fighting. He agrees to impersonate the king at the risk of his own life. He displays his act of bravery at the Summer House, at the Jacob ‘s ladder and then in the fateful night. The most famous veteran of the Ruritanian army Marshal Strakencz praises Rassendyll for his bravery in these words,
"You have borne yourself as a wise king and a brave man; and you have proved as courteous a gentleman and as a gallant a lover as any that have been of the House."
His Presence of Mind:
Rassendyll manages all by the presence of mind, which reveals clearly from the way, he rules Ruritania. Once he sits with Princess Flavia and the Duke comes in. Rassendyll has to give him permission but he forgets and when Princess Flavia mocks him for that he instantly handles the situation by saying,
"I never could remember all these silly rules."
An Intelligent Man Rudolf Rassendyll is intelligent and cool-headed. At the Summer House, he is unable to face the three murders; however, he selects a table for his escape. He wins over Johann and gets valuable information about the castle. He faces all difficulties and overcomes all obstacles wisely and intelligently. Thus he accomplishes his mission tactfully and quite intelligently,
A Good Leader Rassendyll is a good organizer, an excellent planner and a wise distributor of duties. He is not the type of the leader who places his safety above other considerations. Like a dynamic leader he goes through all perils to restore the real king to the throne. He himself claims not to shirk danger in the hour of difficulty and is determined to kill the six villains,
"That I shall ill require the very great honour Ruritania has done me if I depart from it leaving one of those six alive neither, with the help of God, will I?"
As a King:
In his role as a king, Rudolf Rassendyll is far more impressive than the real king. He carries out his duties as a king majestically though he finds impersonating the king very difficult as he says:
"A real king’s life is perhaps a hard one; but a pretending king’s is, I warrant, much harder."
He develops all attributes of royalty without revealing his true identity. He proves himself an able ruler and rules so well over Ruritania that he becomes popular among the people. Colonel Sapt praises him by saying:
"Before God, you’re the finest Elphberg of them all."
As a Lover:
Rudolf Rassendyll’s love for Princess Flavia is free from lust and selfishness. He loves her passionately and sincerely but he sacrifices his love for the sake of the king and the people of Ruritania. As he himself says:
"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."
As a Model Friend:
Rudolf Rassendyll is in fact a model friend. He knows that the essence of a good friendship is to be stable with friends through thick and thin. He does not betray the trust of Colonel Sapt and risks his life for the sake of Rudolf Elphberg, the real king who admits his services for him and says to Rassendyll,
"You have shown me how to play the king."
It is because of this quality of friendship that when he eaves Rurtania, we find tears of regret in the eyes of Princes Fiavia, words of gratitude on the lips of the king and applause and appreciation from Colonel Sapt and Fritz.
An Unforgettable Character:
Undoubtedly, the character of Rudolf Rassendyll is unforgettable, as he is the most interesting character of the novel. He wins our sympathies when he is in difficulties; he wins our admiration when he performs the feats of bravery and we get greatly impressed when he sacrifices his love. He is rightly called the hero of the novel and his good name becomes memorable.
"Good name in man and woman, dear my Lord is the immediate jewel of their souls".
(Shakespeare — Othello)
Post a Comment