| Abdallah | |
|---|---|
 Stock illustration to represent Abdallah | |
|
Real Name |
Abdallah |
|
First Appearance |
Abdallah or the Horrible Sacrifice (1795) |
|
Created by |
Ludwig Tieck |
Origin[]
Abdallah is a conflicted, tragic figure caught between love, duty, and manipulation. Raised by his honorable father Selim, a man of justice and valor, Abdallah’s inherent virtues are gradually subverted by the influence of his tutor, Omar. Despite initially trusting Omar as a mentor and friend, Abdallah becomes vulnerable to the darker philosophies Omar espouses.
Abdallah is torn between obeying his father’s expectations and following his own heart. His love for Zulma—the daughter of the despotic Sultan Ali—forces him into a painful dilemma, pitting familial loyalty against personal desire. Under Omar’s guidance, Abdallah is led down a perilous path. Omar exploits Abdallah’s inner turmoil and manipulates him by mixing decadent, relativistic philosophies with ominous supernatural visions. This results in Abdallah increasingly rationalizing morally dubious decisions, including the betrayal of his own father.
Influenced by both external pressures and his own emotional vulnerability, Abdallah ultimately commits acts that lead to irreversible consequences. His betrayal culminates in the execution of Selim, and the ensuing events leave Abdallah haunted by visions and tormented by guilt. His eventual physical and moral disintegration manifests through his “distorted” features, reflecting the depth of his internal decay.
Public Domain Literary Appearances[]
- Abdallah or the Horrible Sacrifice (1795)