# General Greatauk — Penguin Island character guide > General Greatauk in Penguin Island by Anatole France. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Greatauk, That scoundrel Greatauk, the astonished Greatauk, But Greatauk **First appearance:** 0049-i-general-greatauk-duke-of-skull ## Snapshot A decorated general whose martial glory masks a career built on self-preservation, appearing in the later political storms of Penguinia. ## Who they are Greatauk belongs to the class of officers who survived the great wars by cutting off the heads of unlucky soldiers while claiming credit for victories. He moves through the martial, barrack-filled capital with the pride of a man who has outlasted his own battles. His presence in the political machinery of Penguinia signals how military prestige and cynical self-interest have become inseparable. ## Relationships ### [Unknown Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/penguin_island_se/characters/unknown_narrator) _social_ General Greatauk appears in the narrator's account as a pompous military figure, often ridiculed for his vanity. ### [Pyrot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/penguin_island_se/characters/pyrot) _rivalry_ General Greatauk is Pyrot's primary antagonist, orchestrating his false conviction for treason out of personal spite. ### [Pyrot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/penguin_island_se/characters/pyrot) _rivalry_ General Greatauk is Pyrot's primary antagonist, orchestrating his false conviction for treason out of personal spite. ### [Unknown Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/penguin_island_se/characters/unknown_narrator) _social_ General Greatauk appears in the narrator's account as a pompous military figure, often ridiculed for his vanity. ### [Unknown Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/penguin_island_se/characters/unknown_narrator) _social_ General Greatauk appears in the narrator's account as a pompous military figure, often ridiculed for his vanity. ### [Pyrot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/penguin_island_se/characters/pyrot) _rivalry_ General Greatauk is Pyrot's primary antagonist, orchestrating his false conviction for treason out of personal spite. ## In the story ### [III: Setting Bounds to the Fields and the Origin of Property](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/penguin_island_se/chapters/iii-setting-bounds-to-the-fields-and-the-origin-of-property) The big red-haired penguin who kills a smaller penguin to claim his field, thereby founding a noble house and becoming 'Lord Greatauk, Dreaded Prince'. ### [IV: The First Assembly of the Estates of Penguinia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/penguin_island_se/chapters/iv-the-first-assembly-of-the-estates-of-penguinia) As the noblest Penguin, sits on the highest stone and declares he will not contribute because it is ignoble. ### [Book V: Chatillon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/penguin_island_se/chapters/book-v-chatillon) A military figure who interacts with Chatillon, representing the old guard of power. ### [Book VI: The Affair of the Eighty Thousand Trusses of Hay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/penguin_island_se/chapters/book-vi-the-affair-of-the-eighty-thousand-trusses-of-hay) Military figure involved in the affair, representing corrupt authority. ### [I: General Greatauk, Duke of Skull](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/penguin_island_se/chapters/i-general-greatauk-duke-of-skull) Minister of War, Duke of Skull; orchestrates the framing of Pyrot for the missing hay. ### [II: Pyrot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/penguin_island_se/chapters/ii-pyrot) Minister of War; orchestrates the demand for Pyrot's confession, showing cunning and foresight. ### [Count de Maubec de la Dentdulynx](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/penguin_island_se/chapters/iii-count-de-maubec-de-la-dentdulynx) The general who orchestrated the false case against Pyrot, boasting that the case is 'made out of nothing'. ### [IV: Colomban](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/penguin_island_se/chapters/iv-colomban) Minister of War who appears transfigured in Parliament and swears that Pyrot is a rascal, satisfying the public conscience. ### [V: The Reverend Fathers Agaric and Cornemuse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/penguin_island_se/chapters/v-the-reverend-fathers-agaric-and-cornemuse) Mentioned by Cornemuse as having confidence in him regarding the Pyrot affair. ### [VI: The Seven Hundred Pyrotists](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/penguin_island_se/chapters/vi-the-seven-hundred-pyrotists) Minister of War; expresses unease about the accumulation of proofs against Pyrot, preferring none. ### [VII: Bidault-Coquille and Maniflore, the Socialists](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/penguin_island_se/chapters/vii-bidault-coquille-and-maniflore-the-socialists) Mentioned as the military figure who condemned Pyrot and is opposed by the Pyrotists. ### [VIII: The Colomban Trial](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/penguin_island_se/chapters/viii-the-colomban-trial) Minister of War who testifies that the Pyrot affair must remain secret to prevent national ruin. ### [Mr. Justice Chaussepied](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/penguin_island_se/chapters/x-mr-justice-chaussepied) Former Minister of War who advises Pariler to keep the Pyrot affair veiled and later criticizes the accumulation of excessive documents. ### [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/penguin_island_se/chapters/xi-conclusion) Obtains second conviction by suppressing evidence; disarms Maniflore's attack with courtesy; secures her release. ### [Book VII: Madame Cérès](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/penguin_island_se/chapters/book-vii-madame-c-r-s) Involved in the political maneuvering and corruption depicted in the chapter. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/penguin_island_se/characters/general_greatauk - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/penguin_island_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/penguin_island_se/characters