The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám · Character

The Bonhomme

Generic everyman figure used in philosophical musings.

minor

Also known as the man

First appearance: omar khayy m the astronomer poet of persia

The Bonhomme's tie to Omar Khayyám is one of the pressures that moves The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám—worth meeting in the text, not only on a cast list.

Implied as the 'Thou' or companion, representing the human connection that elevates the simple scene to paradise.

In the storyXIIOpen this moment free

The Bonhomme first appears in 0000 omar khayy m the astronomer poet of persia.

With Omar Khayyám (friendship): The Bonhomme is a jovial, common-sense companion who shares wine and philosophical banter with Omar. With Nizám ul Mulk (social): Nizám ul Mulk and The Bonhomme are acquaintances from different social spheres, connected through Omar. With Háfiz (friendship): Háfiz and The Bonhomme share a camaraderie over wine and earthy humor.

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Character Web

6 connections

A slice of how The Bonhomme sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Friendship
Social
Rivalry

Character groups

Historical & Literary Figures
Protagonist

+1 more in the full Character Web

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Relationships

Omar Khayyám
friendship · positive
The Bonhomme is a jovial, common-sense companion who shares wine and philosophical banter… How this plays out →
Nizám ul Mulk
social · ambivalent
Háfiz
friendship · positive
Hasan Ben Sabbáh
rivalry · negative
Monsieur Nicolas
social · ambivalent
The Súfi
rivalry · negative

Omar Khayyám
The Bonhomme is a jovial, common-sense companion who shares wine and philosophical banter with Omar.
Nizám ul Mulk
Nizám ul Mulk and The Bonhomme are acquaintances from different social spheres, connected through Omar.
Háfiz
Háfiz and The Bonhomme share a camaraderie over wine and earthy humor.
Hasan Ben Sabbáh
Hasan Ben Sabbáh's fanaticism clashes with The Bonhomme's simple, worldly pleasures.
Monsieur Nicolas
Monsieur Nicolas observes The Bonhomme as a representative of the common folk in Omar's world.
The Súfi
The Bonhomme's carnal realism is at odds with the Súfi's spiritual austerity.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See The Bonhomme in omar khayy m the astronomer poet of persia

In the story

The Bonhomme appears across 15 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

XII
Implied as the 'Thou' or companion, representing the human connection that elevates the simple scene to paradise.
XXIII
The speaker, representing humanity, reflects on the inevitability of death.
XXXV
Implied as the everyman listener of the urn's advice.
XXXVII
The speaker who remembers stopping to watch the Potter.
XLI
The addressee urged to abandon perplexity and embrace hedonistic pleasure.
XLIX
Addressed as 'Friend,' the companion urged to abandon the quest for ultimate truth.
LVIII
The speaker who encounters the angel at the tavern door.
LXX
The 'you' addressed in the poem, representing every human being tossed into the field of life without choice.
LXXII
The speaker, representing everyman, is urged not to seek help from the indifferent sky.
LXXXII
The speaker stands alone in the Potter's house, observing the shapes of clay.
LXXXIV
The speaker among the company who voices existential doubt about the purpose of being molded from Earth only to be destroyed.
LXXXV
The second speaker, presenting a theological argument against divine destruction.
LXXXVIII
The speaker who dismisses the threat of damnation for flawed pots.
LXXXIX
The speaker who murmurs about his clay being dried by oblivion and hopes to recover through wine.
XCV
The speaker, reflecting on wine's cost and value.

Chapter companion notes

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