Antagonist

Character Role Analysis

Valerian

It feels sort of mean to call Valerian the antagonist of this novel. He's really a nice enough guy. But his constant teasing of his wife, the way in which he destroyed the tropical beauty of his island, and his neglect toward his loyal servants eventually turns us against him. By the end of the novel Valerian is shattered, wondering about what his life has meant. He has to take a good, hard look at himself in the mirror and think about how blind he's been to the needs of the people around him.