Line #7 Literature/TheDwarf

Context Literature / TheDwarf

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1	[[quoteright:317:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_dwarf.jpg]]
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3	''The Dwarf'' is a 1944 novel by Swedish author and Nobel laureate Pär Lagerkvist, considered to be one of his greatest works. Written as the diary of a court dwarf in an [[{{UsefulNotes/Italy}} Italian]] city state during UsefulNotes/TheRenaissance, it explores human evil and self-perception through the thoughts of its VillainProtagonist.
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5	!!The novel contains examples of:
6	* TheBlackDeath: The plague eventually reaches the city. A large portion of the book is spent with the Dwarf inside the stricken city while the body count rises and its inhabitants grow increasingly desperate.
7	* DepravedDwarf: Could be the trope codifier. The protagonist, the [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin titular dwarf]], is utterly, irredeemably evil.
8	* TheFilmOfTheBook: Creator/PeterDinklage has been trying to gather support for a film adaptation for decades, and it now seems to be becoming reality.
9	* ForcedPrizeFight: The Dwarf was forced to wrestle the other court dwarf, Jehoshaphat. He [[MakeAnExampleOfThem strangled him to death]].
10	-->"Since then I have been the only dwarf at this court."
11	* KickTheDog: When she's a little girl, the Dwarf sneaks into Angelica's room while she's sleeping and ''decapitates'' her beloved kitten. For no other reason than that he's tired of playing with her.
12	* MisanthropeSupreme: The Dwarf. He looks up to his master, the Prince. Everyone else he hates - including himself.
13	--> "All these creatures who call themselves men, and who inspire such disgust and nausea! Why should they exist? Why should they revel and laugh and love and overrun the earth? Why should these lying dissemblers and braggarts exist, these lustful shameless creatures whose virtues are even viler than their sins? May they burn in the fires of hell!"
14	* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Master Bernardo is a thinly disguised Creator/LeonardoDaVinci. He paints, he dissects cadavers, he designs war machines... He even apparently creates ''Art/TheMonaLisa'' (basing it on Princess Teodora) and ''Art/TheLastSupper'' during his stay with the Prince.
15	* NoNameGiven:
16	** The protagonist. The book is written in first person as a diary and there's very little dialogue, so we never find out the Dwarf's name.[[note]]Angelica calls him "Piccolino" at one point, which many then take to be his name. It is in fact just Italian for "little one".[[/note]]
17	** The Prince.
18	* PeriodPiece: The book is set during the Italian renaissance.
19	* PrivateMilitaryContractors: One recurring character is the condottiere Bocarossa.
20	* ShownTheirWork: Subverted. The setting is impeccably researched, but Lagerkvist deliberately leaves out any mentions of real names and places.
21	* StraightEdgeEvil: The dwarf has no interest in sex, doesn't drink and only eats as much as it's necessary. He's utterly disgusted by gluttony, lust and even love.

Context Literature / TheDwarf