Rabadash
From NarniaWeb
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'''First Appearance:''' ''The Horse and His Boy'', Ch. 7 (1954), first referenced in Ch. 4 | '''First Appearance:''' ''The Horse and His Boy'', Ch. 7 (1954), first referenced in Ch. 4 | ||
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===~ The Horse and His Boy ~ (1954)=== | ===~ The Horse and His Boy ~ (1954)=== | ||
[[File:3773.jpg|left]]Rabadash, the crown prince of Calormen, is in search of a bride, and so he invites [[Susan Pevensie|Queen Susan]] to visit Calormen. But while there, [[Susan Pevensie|Susan]] realizes Rabadash's true nature, which is cruel and selfish — a sharp contrast to his behavior while he was a guest in Narnia. ("See the bear in his own den before you judge of his conditions," the Raven says.) [[Susan Pevensie|Susan]]'s brother [[Edmund Pevensie|King Edmund]] warns her that he believes Rabadash will try to make her his queen by force, and they make a plan to leave Calormen secretly. When Rabadash finds that they have escaped, he appeals to his father the Tisroc to allow him to seize his future queen by force and lay waste to the country of Narnia. His father agrees, but warns Rabadash that he will have no part of it himself. Rabadash leads his army through the desert on the way to Archenland toward Narnia, not knowing that [[Aravis]] had overheard his plan. She, along with [[Bree]], [[Hwin]], and [[Shasta]], race ahead and manage to warn [[King Lune]] of Archenland of Rabadash's invasion. Together, the Archenlanders and Narnians defeat Rabadash in a most humiliating manner. During the battle, while trying to leap down dramatically, Rabadash is caught on a hook on a wall, while everyone around him laughs. At the trial of Rabadash, [[King Lune]] and [[Edmund Pevensie|King Edmund]] offer him mercy, but Rabadash calls down the curse of [[Tash]] upon them. Everyone falls silent as [[Aslan]] enters the room and gives Rabadash one last chance to accept the kings' offer, but Rabadash refuses. [[Aslan]] then turns Rabadash into a donkey as punishment. [[Aslan]] tells Rabadash that he will not have to remain a donkey forever, and as Rabadash has appealed to his god [[Tash]], he must return to the temple of [[Tash]] to regain his human form. But he must never stray more than ten miles from [[Tash]]'s temple or he will return to his donkey form permanently. Because of this curse, Rabadash becomes known as "Rabadash the Ridiculous," but only behind his back. To his face, it is much safer to call him "Rabadash the Peacemaker." | [[File:3773.jpg|left]]Rabadash, the crown prince of Calormen, is in search of a bride, and so he invites [[Susan Pevensie|Queen Susan]] to visit Calormen. But while there, [[Susan Pevensie|Susan]] realizes Rabadash's true nature, which is cruel and selfish — a sharp contrast to his behavior while he was a guest in Narnia. ("See the bear in his own den before you judge of his conditions," the Raven says.) [[Susan Pevensie|Susan]]'s brother [[Edmund Pevensie|King Edmund]] warns her that he believes Rabadash will try to make her his queen by force, and they make a plan to leave Calormen secretly. When Rabadash finds that they have escaped, he appeals to his father the Tisroc to allow him to seize his future queen by force and lay waste to the country of Narnia. His father agrees, but warns Rabadash that he will have no part of it himself. Rabadash leads his army through the desert on the way to Archenland toward Narnia, not knowing that [[Aravis]] had overheard his plan. She, along with [[Bree]], [[Hwin]], and [[Shasta]], race ahead and manage to warn [[King Lune]] of Archenland of Rabadash's invasion. Together, the Archenlanders and Narnians defeat Rabadash in a most humiliating manner. During the battle, while trying to leap down dramatically, Rabadash is caught on a hook on a wall, while everyone around him laughs. At the trial of Rabadash, [[King Lune]] and [[Edmund Pevensie|King Edmund]] offer him mercy, but Rabadash calls down the curse of [[Tash]] upon them. Everyone falls silent as [[Aslan]] enters the room and gives Rabadash one last chance to accept the kings' offer, but Rabadash refuses. [[Aslan]] then turns Rabadash into a donkey as punishment. [[Aslan]] tells Rabadash that he will not have to remain a donkey forever, and as Rabadash has appealed to his god [[Tash]], he must return to the temple of [[Tash]] to regain his human form. But he must never stray more than ten miles from [[Tash]]'s temple or he will return to his donkey form permanently. Because of this curse, Rabadash becomes known as "Rabadash the Ridiculous," but only behind his back. To his face, it is much safer to call him "Rabadash the Peacemaker." | ||
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| + | ==About Rabadash== | ||
| + | Rabadash is a proud, selfish prince. Though he can appear genteel and well mannered, in reality he is a cruel man who thinks of nothing but his own pleasure. Part of this is due to his upbringing in the decadent, wicked court of his father. Childishly, Rabadash delights in tormenting others, often making horrifying faces to terrify his inferiors. Because of his self-centered focus, Rabadash is unable to look at the big picture to make wise decisions when he is denied what he wants. Instead, he mulishly continues to fight for his own way. But all his tantrums avail nothing when he faces [[Aslan]] and the Narnian and Archenlander kings. Rabadash's impotent rage and lack of self control render him a laughingstock, and his later title, "the Ridiculous," is a succinct summation of his personality. | ||
