# Rudy Marek — The Absolute at Large character guide > Rudy Marek in The Absolute at Large by Karel Čapek. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Rudy, Marek, Rudolf Marek **First appearance:** 0001-ii-the-karburator ## Snapshot The inventor of the Karburator, who retreats to the mountains to track the Absolute's moves like a detective hunting an omnipotent fugitive. ## Who they are Marek built the atomic motor and unwittingly unleashed the Absolute, and now he watches its career with the cool, obsessive eye of a scientist compiling evidence. Where Bondy fears the Absolute, Marek studies it, convinced its miracles are unsystematic improvisations rather than divine strategy. His running analysis of its economic and political blunders makes him the novel's sharpest, most skeptical counterweight to the spreading faith. ## Relationships ### [G. H. Bondy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_absolute_at_large_se/characters/g_h_bondy) _friendship_ Bondy and Marek are close friends and business associates, with Marek often acting as Bondy's confidant and partner in the chaos caused by the Absolute. ### [Bishop Linda](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_absolute_at_large_se/characters/bishop_linda) _rivalry_ Bishop Linda views Rudy Marek as a secular ally of Bondy and a threat to religious authority, leading to frequent clashes. ### [G. H. Bondy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_absolute_at_large_se/characters/g_h_bondy) _friendship_ Bondy and Marek are close friends and business associates, with Marek often acting as Bondy's confidant and partner in the chaos caused by the Absolute. ### [G. H. Bondy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_absolute_at_large_se/characters/g_h_bondy) _friendship_ Bondy and Marek are close friends and business associates, with Marek often acting as Bondy's confidant and partner in the chaos caused by the Absolute. ### [Bishop Linda](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_absolute_at_large_se/characters/bishop_linda) _rivalry_ Bishop Linda views Rudy Marek as a secular ally of Bondy and a threat to religious authority, leading to frequent clashes. ### [Bishop Linda](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_absolute_at_large_se/characters/bishop_linda) _rivalry_ Bishop Linda views Rudy Marek as a secular ally of Bondy and a threat to religious authority, leading to frequent clashes. ## In the story ### [I: The Advertisement](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_absolute_at_large_se/chapters/i-the-advertisement) Engineer and old schoolfellow of Bondy; advertises an invention for sale; revealed to be a successful factory owner in Břevnov. ### [II: The Karburator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_absolute_at_large_se/chapters/ii-the-karburator) Reveals his invention, the Karburator, and demonstrates its power; shows intense agitation and concern for Bondy's safety. ### [III: Pantheism](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_absolute_at_large_se/chapters/iii-pantheism) Reveals the Karburator's ability to achieve total combustion and release the Absolute; expresses despair over its spiritual side effects; insists Bondy must take over. ### [IV: God in the Cellar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_absolute_at_large_se/chapters/iv-god-in-the-cellar) Explains the Karburator's production of the Absolute, recounts his own miraculous experiences, and expresses horror at the consequences of letting God loose. ### [Bishop Linda](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_absolute_at_large_se/chapters/v-bishop-linda) Engineer and inventor of the Karburator, vehemently opposes the Church's attempt to control the Absolute. ### [VII: Developments](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_absolute_at_large_se/chapters/vii-developments) Mentioned as having been made an honorary member of ten learned societies and likely to win the Nobel Prize. ### [XI: The First Blow Struck](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_absolute_at_large_se/chapters/xi-the-first-blow-struck) His original Karburator is stolen from his factory; the machine later ends up in Binder's hands. ### [XIII: The Chronicler’s Apology](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_absolute_at_large_se/chapters/xiii-the-chronicler-s-apology) Mentioned as undergoing a rest cure at Spindelmühl; the chronicler regrets abandoning him. ### [XIV: The Land of Plenty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_absolute_at_large_se/chapters/xiv-the-land-of-plenty) Inventor of the Karburator whose perfect combustion releases the Absolute. ### [XVI: In the Mountains](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_absolute_at_large_se/chapters/xvi-in-the-mountains) Found in the mountains, studying the Absolute's actions and criticizing its lack of organization. ### [XXI: The Telegram](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_absolute_at_large_se/chapters/xxi-the-telegram) Receives the telegram confirming his predictions. ### [XXIV: The Napoleon of the Mountain Brigade](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_absolute_at_large_se/chapters/xxiv-the-napoleon-of-the-mountain-brigade) Not directly present; the Karburator is a key element in Bobinet's campaign. ### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_absolute_at_large_se/chapters/endnotes) Marek is the inventor of the atomic boiler, which he named 'Karburator'. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_absolute_at_large_se/characters/rudy_marek - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_absolute_at_large_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_absolute_at_large_se/characters