# Shagpat — The Shaving of Shagpat character guide > Shagpat in The Shaving of Shagpat by George Meredith. **Role:** major **First appearance:** 0000-the-thwackings ## Snapshot The unshorn man whose impossible hair is the prophecy's target, a figure whose name alone unsettles kings and cities. ## Who they are Shagpat is the man whose shaving will make Shibli Bagarag Master of the Event, and his name carries enough weight that a king's eyebrows lift at the mention of Shiraz holding out against him. He is described as dense of wit, expected to feign ignorance when the blade approaches, and his profusion of hair is unmatched save by one shadowing figure behind him. Whether he is tyrant, fool, or something stranger, his unshorn state is the hinge on which the whole quest turns. ## Relationships ### [Shibli Bagarag](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/characters/shibli_bagarag) _rivalry_ Shagpat is the central antagonist whose magical hair must be shaved by Shibli, creating a direct conflict. ### [Noorna bin Noorka](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/characters/noorna_bin_noorka) _rivalry_ Noorna actively works against Shagpat, using her magic to undermine his power and protect her husband. ### [Feshnavat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/characters/feshnavat) _rivalry_ Feshnavat is an enemy of Shagpat, as his barbering art is key to Shagpat's downfall. ### [Mashalleed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/characters/mashalleed) _professional_ Mashalleed is Shagpat's chief sorcerer and protector, maintaining the illusion of his power. ### [Genie Karaz](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/characters/genie_karaz) _psychological_ Genie Karaz is bound to serve Shagpat but harbors a malevolent obsession with his power. ### [Baba Mustapha](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/characters/baba_mustapha) _professional_ Baba Mustapha is a barber who serves Shagpat, but his skills are ironically useless against the magical hair. ### [Shibli Bagarag](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/characters/shibli_bagarag) _rivalry_ Shagpat is the central antagonist whose magical hair must be shaved by Shibli, creating a direct conflict. ### [Noorna bin Noorka](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/characters/noorna_bin_noorka) _rivalry_ Noorna actively works against Shagpat, using her magic to undermine his power and protect her husband. ### [Mashalleed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/characters/mashalleed) _professional_ Mashalleed is Shagpat's chief sorcerer and protector, maintaining the illusion of his power. ### [Feshnavat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/characters/feshnavat) _rivalry_ Feshnavat is an enemy of Shagpat, as his barbering art is key to Shagpat's downfall. ### [Genie Karaz](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/characters/genie_karaz) _psychological_ Genie Karaz is bound to serve Shagpat but harbors a malevolent obsession with his power. ### [Noorna bin Noorka](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/characters/noorna_bin_noorka) _rivalry_ Noorna actively works against Shagpat, using her magic to undermine his power and protect her husband. ## In the story ### [The Thwackings](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/chapters/the-thwackings) The clothier and enemy of the Vizier, whose shaving is prophesied to bring greatness to Shibli. ### [The Betrothal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/chapters/the-betrothal) The clothier who holds the city in enchantment through a single hair; he had demanded Noorna in marriage and is the target of the shaving quest. ### [And This Is the Story of Noorna Bin Noorka, the Genie Karaz, and the Princess of Oolb](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/chapters/and-this-is-the-story-of-noorna-bin-noorka-the-genie-karaz-and-the-princess-of-oolb) Receives the Identical hair from Noorna, causing the city's lamentation and establishing his power. ### [The Palace of Aklis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/chapters/the-palace-of-aklis) Appears in a vision to Shibli, reminding him of his barbering mission and strengthening his resolve to seek the Sword. ### [The Sons of Aklis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/chapters/the-sons-of-aklis) Shibli mentions Shagpat as the target of his quest, and the youths become solemn at the name. ### [Koorookh](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/chapters/koorookh) Seen in a grand procession, crowned and majestic, with his hair supported by slaves. ### [The Revival](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/chapters/the-revival) Illuminated by the beams of Aklis, singled out on the palace roof; target of the shaving. ### [The Plot](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/chapters/the-plot) The target of the plot, visible from afar, and whose head is to be shaved. ### [The Dish of Pomegranate Grain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/chapters/the-dish-of-pomegranate-grain) The idol of the city; he is brought to the palace in a lather after Baba Mustapha's attempt to shave him. ### [The Burning of the Identical](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/chapters/the-burning-of-the-identical) Sits serene on his throne of cushions, smiling behind the lathers, as the Identical rises burning when Baba Mustapha attempts to shave him. ### [The Flashes of the Blade](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/chapters/the-flashes-of-the-blade) The Identical flame returns to his hair; he is shorn on one side, then carried off by Karaz and later by Rabesqurat. ### [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/chapters/conclusion) Shaved by Shibli, departed with Kadza to the realms of Rabesqurat. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/characters/shagpat - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_shaving_of_shagpat_se/characters