# The General — Futility character guide

> The General in Futility by William Gerhardie.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** the General, The General

**First appearance:** 0005-i

## Snapshot

The military authority who tells Nikolai to wait and see, then orders him dragged from the chancery when the waiting finally breaks him.

## Who they are

The General presides over the Kolchak State's bureaucratic machinery, dispensing patience and procedure to petitioners like Nikolai Vasilievich. When Nikolai erupts into abuse, the General resorts to the recognized procedure—'Guard!'—and has him removed with deferential guards. His cold, correct response to human desperation crystallizes the novel's theme of waiting as a form of slow violence.

## Relationships

### [Nikolai Vasilievich](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/futility_se/characters/nikolai_vasilievich)

_professional_

Nikolai serves under The General in a military or official capacity, with a formal superior-subordinate dynamic.

### [Admiral Kolchak](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/futility_se/characters/admiral_kolchak)

_professional_

Admiral Kolchak and The General are professional associates, likely cooperating in military command.

### [Nikolai Vasilievich](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/futility_se/characters/nikolai_vasilievich)

_professional_

Nikolai serves under The General in a military or official capacity, with a formal superior-subordinate dynamic.

### [Admiral Kolchak](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/futility_se/characters/admiral_kolchak)

_professional_

Admiral Kolchak and The General are professional associates, likely cooperating in military command.

### [Nikolai Vasilievich](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/futility_se/characters/nikolai_vasilievich)

_professional_

Nikolai serves under The General in a military or official capacity, with a formal superior-subordinate dynamic.

### [Admiral Kolchak](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/futility_se/characters/admiral_kolchak)

_professional_

Admiral Kolchak and The General are professional associates, likely cooperating in military command.

## In the story

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/futility_se/chapters/i)

Not directly mentioned in this chapter, but Admiral Butt is a general-like figure; however, no explicit mention of 'The General' character.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/futility_se/chapters/iii)

Dances with a painted woman, is called the biggest fool in the Russian Army by the Admiral, and comments on women's appearances.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/futility_se/chapters/iv)

Engages in a drunken theological argument with Uncle Kostia and later walks arm in arm with the narrator.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/futility_se/chapters/v)

A master of evasion and delay; repeatedly puts off Nikolai Vasilievich with promises and platitudes.

### [The Spring Dinner and the Waiting Game](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/futility_se/chapters/x)

The Russian General's eyes blink in the cigar smoke during the dinner.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/futility_se/chapters/i)

Referenced as the Russian General whose army includes the colonels and captain met in London.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/futility_se/characters/the_general
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/futility_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/futility_se/characters