"The Walking Drum" Characters Analysis

List of Characters

Role Identification

Character Descriptions

Mathurin Kerbouchard

Mathurin is a young Breton fleeing persecution. He is resourceful, educated, and motivated by love for his missing father. His character is marked by adaptability, courage, and relentless curiosity. Mathurin’s journey from France to the Middle East tests his intellect, physical endurance, and moral code.

Jean Kerbouchard

Jean is a scholar and adventurer. Though absent for much of the narrative, his presence is felt as Mathurin’s guiding star. Jean’s reputation for wisdom and independence shapes Mathurin’s own values.

Aziza

Aziza is a Persian noblewoman, fiercely intelligent and independent. She challenges Mathurin intellectually and emotionally, serving as both love interest and equal.

Safia

Safia is initially an enslaved woman. She becomes Mathurin’s loyal companion, providing emotional support and resourcefulness. Safia’s practical wisdom contrasts with Aziza’s scholarly approach.

Walther

Walther is a Viking warrior, physically imposing and loyal. He offers protection and friendship. Walther’s bluntness and bravery complement Mathurin’s cunning.

Red Mark

Red Mark is a brutal slave driver. He is a recurring threat and symbolizes the dangers of Mathurin’s journey.

Yusuf ibn Ali

Yusuf is a scholar and mentor who helps Mathurin develop intellectually. He represents the power of knowledge and wisdom.

Amir of Alamut

The Amir is a political leader and antagonist. He embodies the complex power structures Mathurin must navigate.

Zainab

Zainab is the daughter of a merchant. She provides Mathurin with help at crucial moments, demonstrating practical kindness.

Sulieman

Sulieman is a slave trader. He is ruthless and driven by greed, posing a constant threat to Mathurin and his companions.

Character Traits

Character Background

Mathurin Kerbouchard

Mathurin is born in Brittany, France, to Jean Kerbouchard, a learned man persecuted by the local authorities. After his mother’s death and his father's disappearance, Mathurin is forced to flee. He moves through various cultures and roles: galley slave, student, merchant, and warrior. His background as the son of a scholar shapes his intellectual curiosity and cultural adaptability.

Jean Kerbouchard

Jean has a mysterious past, marked by scholarship, travel, and conflict with the Church and nobility. His disappearance launches Mathurin’s quest and influences the protagonist’s values.

Aziza

Aziza is the daughter of Persian nobility. Her upbringing is steeped in learning and privilege, but she defies societal expectations by seeking knowledge and independence.

Safia

Safia’s background is marked by hardship and enslavement. Her resilience and practicality are products of her struggles.

Walther

Walther is a Norseman shaped by a warrior culture. His loyalty to Mathurin comes from shared trials and mutual respect.

Red Mark

Red Mark’s past is not deeply explored, but he epitomizes the cruelty and lawlessness of the era’s slave trade.

Yusuf ibn Ali

Yusuf is a man of learning, with a past dedicated to scholarship. He represents the intellectual centers of the Islamic world.

Amir of Alamut

The Amir’s background is rooted in political intrigue and power. He is a leader invested in maintaining and expanding his influence.

Zainab

Zainab is a merchant’s daughter, familiar with the complexities of trade and negotiation. Her practical wisdom is her greatest asset.

Sulieman

Sulieman’s background in the slave trade makes him cunning and ruthless, always seeking profit over morality.

Character Arcs

Mathurin Kerbouchard

Mathurin’s arc is one of self-discovery and empowerment. He begins as a hunted fugitive, naïve and inexperienced. Through hardship and exposure to different cultures, he gains knowledge, confidence, and leadership. His quest to find his father becomes a journey toward understanding himself and his place in the world. By the novel’s end, Mathurin is no longer running; he is actively shaping his destiny.

Jean Kerbouchard

Jean’s arc is mostly offstage, yet his influence is profound. He is the ideal Mathurin strives toward. His eventual reunion with Mathurin provides closure and validation for both characters.

Aziza

Aziza’s arc involves her movement from protected aristocrat to a woman willing to defy convention for love and knowledge. Her partnership with Mathurin is based on mutual respect, and she represents the possibilities of intellectual and emotional equality between men and women.

Safia

Safia transforms from a victim of circumstance into an assertive, self-reliant woman. Her relationship with Mathurin is crucial for her growth, but she ultimately claims agency over her life.

Walther

Walther’s arc is less pronounced but significant. He starts as a mercenary, motivated by personal gain. Over time, his loyalty to Mathurin deepens, and he becomes more than just muscle—he is a friend and confidant.

Red Mark

Red Mark is a static antagonist. His role is to present continual danger to Mathurin. His eventual defeat is symbolic of Mathurin overcoming the oppressive forces of his world.

Yusuf ibn Ali

Yusuf’s arc is that of a mentor. He guides Mathurin, helping him realize his intellectual potential. Yusuf’s impact is seen in Mathurin’s growing wisdom and adaptability.

Amir of Alamut

The Amir’s arc is that of an adversary. He represents the obstacles Mathurin must outwit to achieve his goals. His defeat underscores Mathurin’s development as a strategist.

Zainab

Zainab begins as a helper and becomes more assertive, using her intelligence and kindness to influence events.

Sulieman

Sulieman remains an antagonist throughout, embodying the darker side of commerce and human nature. He is ultimately outmaneuvered by Mathurin.

Relationships

Mathurin and Jean

Mathurin’s quest is driven by his desire to find and rescue his father. Their relationship is the emotional center of the novel. Jean’s wisdom and reputation shape Mathurin’s moral and intellectual compass.

Mathurin and Aziza

Their relationship is built on mutual respect and attraction. Aziza’s intellect challenges Mathurin, and their romance is as much a meeting of minds as of hearts.

Mathurin and Safia

Safia and Mathurin share a bond forged through adversity. She is both dependent on and fiercely protective of Mathurin at different times, symbolizing resilience and mutual reliance.

Mathurin and Walther

Walther is Mathurin’s loyal friend and protector. Their friendship is deepened by shared dangers and mutual respect.

Mathurin and Yusuf ibn Ali

Yusuf is a mentor to Mathurin, expanding his horizons and shaping his approach to knowledge and life.

Mathurin and Red Mark

Red Mark is a source of constant danger. His pursuit keeps Mathurin vigilant and tests his cunning and endurance.

Mathurin and Amir of Alamut

The Amir is a powerful political obstacle. Mathurin must navigate his court with diplomacy and courage.

Mathurin and Zainab

Zainab provides practical help and emotional support. She represents the kindness and resourcefulness found in unexpected places.

Mathurin and Sulieman

Sulieman’s greed and ruthlessness provide ongoing conflict. Mathurin must use all his skills to evade and outwit him.

In-Depth Character Analysis

Mathurin Kerbouchard

Mathurin is the heart of "The Walking Drum." His journey is not only physical but intellectual and emotional. He is shaped by loss, the son of a persecuted scholar and a loving mother who dies early. Mathurin’s ability to adapt is his greatest strength. He moves seamlessly from slave to scholar to merchant, always learning and growing. His moral compass is strong, influenced by his father’s wisdom and his own experiences. Mathurin values knowledge, freedom, and loyalty above all.

His relationships with women—Aziza, Safia, and Zainab—reveal his respect for intelligence and strength in others. He is not threatened by powerful women; instead, he is drawn to their independence. Mathurin’s friendship with Walther shows his capacity for loyalty and camaraderie. His ability to form alliances across cultural and religious boundaries is a testament to his open mind.

Mathurin’s arc is a classic coming-of-age, but it is also a meditation on the value of learning and adaptability. He survives and thrives not because he is the strongest, but because he is the most resourceful and willing to learn.

Jean Kerbouchard

Jean is a shadowy yet vital presence. He represents the ideals Mathurin strives toward: independence, wisdom, and moral integrity. Jean’s persecution sets the stage for Mathurin’s journey, and his scholarly background provides both a practical and philosophical guide for his son. The eventual reunion is both a literal and symbolic homecoming for Mathurin.

Aziza

Aziza stands out as a rare female intellectual equal in historical adventure fiction. She defies the expectations of her class and gender, pursuing knowledge and autonomy. Her romance with Mathurin is passionate but also cerebral. She represents the possibility of a partnership based on respect and equality.

Safia

Safia’s journey from enslavement to freedom mirrors Mathurin’s own quest for autonomy. She is pragmatic, sometimes cynical, but deeply loyal. Her presence provides emotional grounding for Mathurin, and her resourcefulness saves their lives more than once. Safia’s arc is one of reclaiming agency in a world that would deny it to her.

Walther

Walther is emblematic of the physical strength and loyalty that Mathurin sometimes lacks. He is a man of action, direct and honest. His friendship with Mathurin is forged in adversity, and his willingness to stand by Mathurin even when it is not to his advantage speaks to his integrity.

Red Mark

Red Mark is a one-dimensional antagonist, but he serves an important purpose. His relentless pursuit and cruelty force Mathurin to stay sharp, adapt, and fight for his freedom. Red Mark is less a character than a force of nature, representing the dangers of the world Mathurin must navigate.

Yusuf ibn Ali

Yusuf is the ideal mentor. He introduces Mathurin to the intellectual riches of the Islamic world, opening his mind to new philosophies, sciences, and ways of thinking. Yusuf’s influence is seen in Mathurin’s growing appreciation for learning as a means of empowerment.

Amir of Alamut

The Amir is a political antagonist, representing the complex and often dangerous world of medieval politics. Mathurin’s dealings with the Amir test his diplomatic skills and courage.

Zainab

Zainab is a minor yet significant character. Her kindness, cleverness, and practical help are crucial at key moments. She represents the everyday heroism and resourcefulness found outside the halls of power.

Sulieman

Sulieman’s ruthless pursuit of profit and power makes him a constant threat. He is a reminder of the darker side of human nature and the dangers of unchecked greed.

Character Dynamics and Themes

"The Walking Drum" is a novel of transformation, driven by the characters’ relationships and personal growth. Mathurin’s adaptability and thirst for knowledge are central themes, embodied by his interactions with a diverse cast. The women in his life—Aziza, Safia, Zainab—are not passive; they challenge, support, and shape his journey.

The antagonists—Red Mark, Sulieman, and the Amir—represent external challenges that test Mathurin’s resourcefulness and morality. The mentors—Jean and Yusuf—provide the intellectual and ethical framework within which Mathurin operates.

Friendship, loyalty, and love are explored in depth, with Walther’s steadfastness contrasting with the treachery of characters like Sulieman. The novel suggests that survival and success depend not on brute force, but on adaptability, learning, and the ability to build alliances across cultural and social boundaries.

Conclusion

"The Walking Drum" is rich in character and cultural detail. Mathurin Kerbouchard’s journey is one of self-discovery, shaped by a cast of complex and memorable characters. Each character serves a purpose—challenging, helping, or hindering Mathurin as he seeks his father and his own destiny. The relationships among them provide depth and resonance, making the novel not just an adventure, but a meditation on knowledge, adaptability, and the power of the human spirit.