# Prince Trivelino — The Absolute at Large character guide

> Prince Trivelino in The Absolute at Large by Karel Čapek.

**Role:** supporting

**First appearance:** 0014-xv-disaster

## Snapshot

An Italian prince who, amid a room of scheming diplomats, notes with malicious pleasure how the Absolute conveniently becomes whatever each nation needs it to be.

## Who they are

Trivelino moves among the world's diplomats as they debate whether to recognize or deny the mysterious 'He' who adapts to every country—nationalist in Italy, demagogue in France, sportsman in America. His dry observation that the Absolute is 'showing himself such an anti-militarist in your country' reveals his cynical amusement at the divine's political elasticity. He matters because his voice crystallizes the global panic: every nation sees its own reflection in the Absolute, and none can agree on what it is.

## In the story

### [XX: St. Kilda](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_absolute_at_large_se/chapters/xx-st-kilda)

Italian Minister, comments on the Absolute's nationalist and Catholic tendencies.

## Links

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