Avaric

Avaric, the Margreave of Tenmeadows, is a wealthy, handsome, and cynical Gillikinese aristocrat who befriends Boq at Briscoe Hall and moves through the story as a figure of privilege, casual cruelty, and worldly detachment, embodying the moral emptiness of the ruling class. His presence in the narrative serves as a foil to the earnestness of characters like Boq and Elphaba, and his trajectory from a callous student to a jaded, powerful adult illustrates the corrosive effects of unchecked power and wealth.

Identity and Background

Avaric is introduced as a strapping Gillikinese bucko at Briscoe Hall, the son of a margreave, a title that places him among the highest echelons of Gillikinese nobility. He is described as handsome, with a bronzed summer leisure look, and he moves through the world with an air of entitlement and casual cruelty. His wealth is evident in his attire—a tunic-jacket lined with deep red velvet plush, a single ribbon of privilege—and in his ability to command resources, such as when he plunks down an embarrassment of coins to demand a salver of saffron cream at a pub. He is a dissipated Gillikinese of decaying nobility, as he himself admits, and his cynicism is a hallmark of his character.

Life and Plot Trajectory

Avaric's role in the plot is largely as a catalyst for others' actions and a representative of the corrupt establishment. He is the one who tempts Boq to visit the Philosophy Club, a dive known for its decadent and dangerous rituals, and he later participates in the club's debauched ceremonies. He is present at the Lake Chorge trip, where he mocks Elphaba and flirts with Shenshen and Pfannee. Years later, he is established in the Emerald City, where he meets Fiyero and Glinda, and he hosts a dinner party for Elphaba after she claims to have killed Madame Morrible. His trajectory is one of increasing wealth and power, but also of moral stagnation.

Key Actions and Objectives

Avaric's key actions are driven by a desire for pleasure, status, and the maintenance of his social position. He teases Boq about his love for Galinda, suggesting a visit to the Philosophy Club as a cure. He is the one who organizes the trip to Lake Chorge, and he later stays behind to disport himself with Pfannee and Shenshen. In the Emerald City, he is a fixture at the club, and he is the one who recognizes the dwarf from the Clock of the Time Dragon at a carnival. His objective is to enjoy life without consequence, and he does so with a cynical detachment that allows him to observe the world's horrors without being moved.

Relationships and Conflict

Avaric's relationships are marked by a superficial charm and a lack of genuine connection. He is a friend to Boq, but he mocks him and treats him with condescension. He is a rival to Elphaba, whom he insults about her skin color, calling it the color of shit, and she responds with sharp wit. He is a flirt with Shenshen and Pfannee, but he does not form any lasting attachments. His relationship with Fiyero is one of old acquaintance, and he is the one who tells Fiyero about the Philosophy Club. His conflict is with the moral seriousness of characters like Elphaba, whom he dismisses as a caricature of a witch.

Change and Ending

Avaric does not undergo a significant change. He remains a cynical, wealthy aristocrat throughout the story. When Elphaba visits him in Shiz after claiming to have killed Madame Morrible, he is amused and entertained, hosting a dinner party where the guests debate the nature of evil. He does not turn her in, but he also does not take her seriously. His final appearance is as a figure of the establishment, a man who has profited from the Wizard's regime and who views the world with a detached, ironic eye. He embodies the moral emptiness of the ruling class, a man who has everything and yet is capable of nothing but cynicism.

Narrative Role and Evaluation

Avaric serves as a foil to the earnestness of characters like Boq and Elphaba. His wealth and privilege allow him to move through the world without consequence, and his cynicism is a defense against the horrors he witnesses. He is a representative of the corrupt establishment, a man who has profited from the Wizard's regime and who views the world with a detached, ironic eye. His presence in the narrative highlights the moral decay of the ruling class and the impossibility of genuine connection in a world defined by power and privilege. He is a figure of privilege, casual cruelty, and worldly detachment, embodying the moral emptiness of the ruling class.