# Napoleon Bonaparte — The Man of Destiny character guide

> Napoleon Bonaparte in The Man of Destiny by George Bernard Shaw.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Napoleon, Bonaparte, General Bonaparte, General, the young general, the General

**First appearance:** 0000-the-man-of-destiny

## Snapshot

A twenty-six-year-old artilleryman who has just discovered that cannonballs kill people, and intends to make Europe agree.

## Who they are

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 that the world gives nothing he cannot take by force, yet he still plays brilliantly on the ideals he no longer believes. His restless, calculating energy drives the play's central contest of wits.

## Relationships

### [The Lady](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_of_destiny_se/characters/the_lady)

_psychological_

A tense, manipulative game of wits and seduction where each tries to outmaneuver the other for control of a secret letter.

### [Giuseppe Grandi](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_of_destiny_se/characters/giuseppe_grandi)

_rivalry_

Grandi is a cunning spy working against Napoleon, attempting to steal a compromising letter to undermine his command.

### [Excellency](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_of_destiny_se/characters/excellency)

_rivalry_

Excellency is a political enemy of Napoleon, orchestrating plots to discredit and undermine him.

### [The French](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_of_destiny_se/characters/the_french)

_professional_

Napoleon commands the French army, viewing them as instruments of his ambition and glory.

### [Barras](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_of_destiny_se/characters/barras)

_rivalry_

Barras is a political rival of Napoleon, part of the Directory that seeks to control or eliminate him.

### [The Austrians](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_of_destiny_se/characters/the_austrians)

_rivalry_

Napoleon is at war with the Austrians, viewing them as the primary enemy on the Italian battlefield.

### [Caesar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_of_destiny_se/characters/caesar)

_psychological_

Napoleon compares himself to Caesar, using the historical figure as a mirror for his own ambition and destiny.

## In the story

### [The Man of Destiny](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_of_destiny_se/chapters/the-man-of-destiny)

The young general, confident and manipulative, engages in a psychological duel with the mysterious lady.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_of_destiny_se/characters/napoleon_bonaparte
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_of_destiny_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_of_destiny_se/characters