10 Renowned cinematic figures from world literatures

By Sazzad Haider

Among the thousands of heroes in world literature, there exist ten whose acclaim is indisputable. Readers easily connect with them, often envisioning themselves in their roles. Each of these ten confronts destiny, with some emerging victorious while others face defeat, yet they never cease to battle. Readers embark on journeys alongside them, sharing in their grief and celebrating their triumphs. Numerous films, theaters, cartoons, comics strip, video games have been created in various countries depicting these ten characters.

Long John Silver: The most captivating character in Robert Louis Stevenson's novel Treasure Island is the pirate Long John Silver, who, despite lacking legs, travels around with a bird perched on his shoulder.

"His left leg was cut off close by the hip, and under the left shoulder, he carried a crutch, which he managed with wonderful dexterity, hopping about upon it like a bird. He was very tall and strong, with a face as big as a ham—plain and pale, but intelligent and smiling." According to Jim Hawkins, narrator of the story.

He is exceptionally astute, exhibiting cruelty at times, yet occasionally displaying humane behavior. To entertain Jim, he concocts various tales about the bird that rests on his shoulder. Long John Silver has emerged as an emblematic figure of the pirate of sailing ship on the high seas, perpetually transitioning between land and ocean, viewing the act of taking and giving life as a mere game.

Since, Robert Louis Stevenson introduced Long John Silver in 1883, the character's appeal has remained unwavering.

Captain Nemo: Before the invention of the submarine, numerous readers across the world have envisioned the ocean's depths by journeying aboard Captain Nemo's Nautilus. The fame of Captain Nemo and the Nautilus, still continues to thrive. Throughout his life, Captain Nemo has accumulated both knowledge and wealth while residing in the Nautilus. He represents the roles of a scientist, philosopher, warrior, oceanographer, and musician. Although he is a humanitarian, he also harbors a vengeful disposition. Nemo's character commands admiration from both his friends and foes.

Nemo, the prince of Prince Dakkar in Bundelkhand, and a descendant of Sultan Fateh Ali Khan Tipu of the Kingdom of Mysore during India's colonial period, was first introduced by Jules Gabriel Verne in his novel, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas (1870). Later, in The Mysterious Island (1875), the solitary Nemo dead, and the Nautilus is ultimately destroyed on Lincoln Island in the South Pacific.

Novels featuring Nemo have been translated into nearly every language around the globe. The first nuclear submarine of the United States is named in tribute to Nemo’s Nautilus.

Quasimodo: The Hunchback of Notre Dame, authored by Victor Hugo and published in 1831, stands as one of the most extensively read novels globally. Among its numerous main and minor characters, the most intricate and pivotal figure is bell-ringer of the cathedral, deformed Quasimodo, who experiences unreciprocated love for the enchanting sixteen-year-old Roma dancer, Esmeralda. She attracts the sexual attention of several men, including Captain Phoebus, poet Gringoire, and Quasimodo's guardian, Archdeacon Claude Frollo. When Esmeralda is abducted, Quasimodo attempts to rescue her but is mistaken for the assailant and is subjected to severe flogging.

Out of compassion, Esmeralda offers him water, which captures his heart. Esmeralda endures a series of misfortunes, with many, including Frollo, seeking to exploit her. Ultimately, Esmeralda is executed by hanging on the king's orders. Frollo and Quasimodo, positioned on the church roof, witness this tragic event. Unable to withstand the pain any longer, Quasimodo hurls Claude Frollo from the roof.

Subsequently, Quasimodo disappears without a trace. Much later, two entwined skeletons are discovered—one belonging to Quasimodo and the other to Esmeralda. It is believed that, Quasimodo found Esmeralda's remains and embraced them before his own demise.

Napoleon: George Orwell's Napoleon is distinct from the French emperor of the same name – a large, somewhat intimidating Berkshire boar who, after founding the animal kingdom, gradually consolidates all power for himself, thereby establishing a dictatorship. As a political satire, Orwell's Animal Farm ranks among the finest in world literature. The character of Napoleon is crafted in the likeness of Stalin, the dictator of the former Soviet Union. The traits and mindset of Stalin are reflected in Napoleon's character. This allegorical novel also features Old Major (representing Lenin) and Snowball (symbolizing Trotsky). However, the character of Napoleon remains the central focus. From the outset of the novel, parallels between Napoleon and Stalin are evident. By the conclusion of the narrative, the alliance between humans and animals is portrayed, as they begin to intermingle. In this context, both democracy and dictatorship are presented in a convoluted manner. This represents a form of victory for Napoleon – essentially, a victory for Stalin. Consequently, the character is highly controversial, and this controversy is likely to persist into the near and distant future.

Edmond Dantès: Alexandre Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo is a remarkable romantic narrative filled with intrigue, deception, and vengeance, featuring a nineteen-year-old sailor named Edmond Dantès. This adventure novel was released in 1846.

Edmond was wrongfully arrested during his wedding ceremony, receiving a life sentence. He endured fourteen years in the Château d'If, which was considered the most dreadful prison in France at that time.

After six years of solitary confinement, while contemplating suicide, the Italian priest and scholar Abbé Faria, a fellow life-sentenced inmate, emerged in his cell through a tunnel. Faria educated him in science, arts, culture, and philosophy. Inspired to escape, Dante learned from Faria the whereabouts of a hidden treasure. Upon Faria's death, he cleverly concealed himself in Faria's body-sack to flee from prison. Subsequently, he discovered the treasure as Faria had indicated. He was reborn as The Count of Monte Cristo.

Thereafter, he embarks on a quest for revenge against those whose schemes resulted in the loss of his beloved, his father, and fourteen years of his imprisonment.

Santiago: The world renowned novella by Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea, tells the story of an elderly Cuban fisherman named Santiago and was first published in 1952.

Santiago is not depicted as a handsome young man or a heroic figure endowed with great strength; rather, he is an old, solitary fisherman. His world consists of the boat, the sea, and the fish. Despite lacking traditional heroic traits, he possesses an unyielding desire to succeed. Santiago embodies those individuals who may be defeated but not destroyed. The narrative commences with Santiago experiencing a drought of fish for eighty-four days. The other fishermen regard him with disdain. Undeterred, Santiago ventures out to sea once more, where he encounters a multitude of large fish—a massive marlin becomes ensnared in his line. Although relentless struggle, he is unable to hoist the fish into his boat. Sharks begin to attack the fish, consuming it. Santiago fights valiantly to save his catch.

As he pulls on the line, his palm is lacerated. Ultimately, after three days of perseverance, he manages to retrieve the fish from the jaws of the sharks—only the skeleton of the enormous eighteen-foot-long marlin remains. Santiago regains his honor and the resolve to continue fighting. The prime themes surrounding Santiago's character include the struggle of man and his relationship with nature, as well as man's battle against fate.

Ruslan: In 1820, Alexander Pushkin compiled Russian folk tales and published the poem Ruslan and Ludmila. The central character of this poem is the warrior Ruslan. He continues to be a cherished figure among fairy tale lovers not only in Russia but around the world. Princess Ludmila is married to Ruslan. However, three other suitors - Prince Rogday, Prince Farlaf, and Prince Ratmir - also aspire to marry her. On the night of their wedding, Ludmila mysteriously disappears. The unfortunate Ruslan sets off on a journey to rescue her. Simultaneously, Ruslan's three rivals embark on their own adventures to save the princess. The sorcerer Chernomor has kidnapped Ludmila with the aim of marrying her. In the end, Ruslan overcomes the challenges and rescues his beloved from the sorcerer's clutches. This story exemplifies the struggle between good and evil, ultimately showcasing the triumph of good. In this narrative, Ruslan is characterized as an honest, courageous, and remarkably valiant knight, while Ludmila is depicted as an exceptionally beautiful and innocent princess.

Don Quixote: The character of Don Quixote, conceived by the Spanish author Cervantes, is truly remarkable, unmatched in the realm of world literature. Numerous writers and scholars have proclaimed this novel to be the greatest of all time. Miguel de Cervantes published his novel "Don Quixote” in 1615.

The narrative is crafted by intertwining reality with fantasy, transcending the traditional boundaries of the novel genre. The sole occupation of the fifty-year-old Alonso Quixote is to read books and envision the characters within them as his own.

One day, he envisioned himself as a knight from the medieval era - adopting the name Don Quixote. He selected a female laborer from the village to be his beloved, naming her Dulcinea del Toboso.

To fulfill the responsibilities of a knight (one of which includes rescuing distressed women), he mounted an old horse, appointing the peasant Sancho Panza as his squire, and embarked on an adventure. Together, they engage in numerous humorous escapades - at times finding themselves in perilous situations while attempting to merge fantasy with reality. He perceived the inn as a fortress, the windmill as monster and the prostitutes as aristocrat ladies. The tale unfolds by blending various fantasies with actual events. Without delving into the discussion of whether Don Quixote succeeds or fails as a knight, it is evident that he has captured the hearts of millions of readers globally and will undoubtedly continue to do so in the future.

Sinbad: Sinbad, a character from "Arabian Nights," is recognized by nearly everyone globally; his popularity endures to this day. Sinbad was a prosperous individual residing in Baghdad during the reign of Caliph Harun al-Rashid. He narrates the tale of how he became a wealthy man. As the son of a rich man, he squandered all his inheritance following his father's demise and fell into poverty. To restore his wealth, he embarked on a journey with limited resources.

On his inaugural voyage, he faced grave peril. In the midst of the ocean, Sinbad and the other ship passengers mistakenly believed they had discovered an island, only to find themselves aboard a massive whale. When the whale submerged, all aboard perished. Sinbad managed to cling to a piece of wood and found refuge on an island. He earned the favor of the island's king and returned to Baghdad with immense riches. Subsequently, he undertook six additional sea voyages, each fraught with danger; yet, he consistently outsmarted the threats he encountered.

Tom Sawyer: There are very few children who do not know Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer. Tom Sawyer is a character through whom adults rediscover their lost childhood. He surprises everyone with his mischief and intelligence.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, a novel by Mark Twain, was published in 1876. Twain wrote four novels featuring Tom Sawyer: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Tom Sawyer Abroad, and Tom Sawyer, Detective. These works depict the simple lives along the Mississippi River and the people who inhabited its banks in the 19th century. Although Tom Sawyer was created in the 19th century, he remains just as popular in the 21st century.

Tom Sawyer presents the first deeply felt portrayal of boyhood in English literature.