# The Man of Destiny — Character guide

> Key figures in The Man of Destiny by George Bernard Shaw.

- [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_of_destiny_se/characters/napoleon_bonaparte.md): Fresh from seizing the bridge at Lodi, the young General Bonaparte commands the French army in Italy with a specialty in cannonading and an unsentimental read of human nature. Poverty and repeated failure have taught him
- [Giuseppe Grandi](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_of_destiny_se/characters/giuseppe_grandi.md): Giuseppe keeps the inn at Tavazzano where the young General stops, moving between kitchen, courtyard, and the dangerous gossip of an occupied country. His loyalties are useful and flexible, which makes him both a reliabl
- [The Lady](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_of_destiny_se/characters/the_lady.md): Arriving at Tavazzano under circumstances she controls far better than she admits, the Lady refuses to be handled, questioned, or dismissed by any man in the room. Her composure and quick irony unsettle Napoleon precisel
- [The Lieutenant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_of_destiny_se/characters/lieutenant.md): The Lieutenant rides into Tavazzano with orders for the General and a soldier's naive faith in the honesty of his superiors. Confronted with the gap between what he has been told and what he can see, he becomes an awkwar
- [Barras](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_of_destiny_se/characters/barras.md): A powerful member of the French Directory, mentioned as Napoleon's rival.
- [Beaulieu](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_of_destiny_se/characters/beaulieu.md): The elderly Austrian general opposing Napoleon in Italy.
- [Caesar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_of_destiny_se/characters/caesar.md): Historical figure invoked by Napoleon as a model of ambition.
- [The Austrians](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_of_destiny_se/characters/the_austrians.md): The enemy army fighting the French in Italy.
- [The French](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_of_destiny_se/characters/the_french.md): The French army and nation under Napoleon's command.
- [Excellency](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_of_destiny_se/characters/excellency.md): A title used to address Napoleon by subordinates.

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_of_destiny_se/characters