Onufry Zagłoba

Fictional character biography

After meeting another character of the Trilogy, Jan Skrzetuski, Zagłoba, until now living a meaningless life of a lesser noble, trying to survive by exploiting the good faith of others, becomes drawn into the company of hero-like personas, and slowly changes, to become worthy of their trust and friendship. Together with them, Zagłoba engages in various adventures, fighting for the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, and seeking adventures and glory. During a feast, in a rather drunken state, he was the first to call prince Janusz Radziwiłł a traitor. Eventually he becomes a widely known person, treated with respect by powerful magnates and offering counsel to the king. He was balding and half-blind, known for his love of drinking and story-telling (usually glorifying his own exploits), tendency to poke fun at everyone and everything, later also renowned as a cunning tactician.

His coat of arms is Wczele or Zagłoba.

Significance and literary analysis

Zagłoba appears in Sienkiewicz's The Trilogy series of three books: With Fire and Sword (Ogniem i Mieczem) and The Deluge (Potop), and the last part of the series, Colonel Wolodyjowski (Pan Wołodyjowski).'

Stanisław Kozłowsk notes that Zagłoba is seen as one of Sienkiewicz most popular and significant characters. Roman Dyboski wrote that Zagłoba's humorous persona was one of the most enduring of Sienkiewicz characters. Horst Frenz wrote that Zagłoba "belongs forever to the gallery of immortal comic characters of world literature, and he is throughly original."

He has been often compared to the Shakespearean character of Falstaff. This comparison, made by Dyboski and others, is often based on his propensity for drinking and partying, sharp tongue and cunning, cowardice, and telling exaggerated tales of his youthful adventures. Unlike Falstaff, he grows to become a more mature character, and this transformation can be observed in the first book, beginning with the moment where he decides to risk his life to protect the proverbial damsel in distress, Helena, in the midst of the ongoing Chmielnicki uprising. This transformation is likely the most crucial difference between Zagłoba and Falstaff. Sienkiewicz himself wrote about Zagłoba and Falstaff thus:

William Lyon Phelps notes that if Zagłoba is a copy of Falstaff, he is as good as the original, a feat he applauds Sienkiewicz for. Edward Bolland Osborn notes he is too complex to be compared to only one character, and has a qualities of many, preferring to describe him as a caricature "of the Polish character in the last days of the chevalerie, when the sabre was still the final argument and [Poland] was the chief bulwark of the Christendom against the vast armies of [the Turks].". In political views, Zagłoba is a model petty Polish noble from the times of sejmik-dominated Polish politics, a rather intolerant Catholic, vocal supporter of sarmatism values such as Golden Freedoms and liberum veto, seeing the noble class as superior to others.

Another character Zagłoba has been compared to is Odysseus (Ulysses), due to their cunning mind, always full of plans and strategies. He has also been compared to a number of other characters, such as Thersites or the main character of the Roman play Miles Gloriosus (The Swaggering Soldier").

Stanisław Kozłowski notes that the good-natured and light-hearted portrayal of Zagłoba is used by Sienkiewicz to counterbalance the dark setting of the stories, set during the time of war and devastation. He is the symbol of undying optimism and hope, and a strategist who can find his way out of trouble. He is often considered both a comic figure as well as the patriotic hero, even if the latter more often comes from the necessity of the moment. He is respected for his ideas, intelligence and sharp tongue. For example, when Swedish king Charles X Gustav wanted to give Jan Zamoyski Lublin Voivodeship in hereditary possession for opening the gates of Zamość he asked Jan to reply that he will give Swedish king province of Netherlands in exchange which Jan has passed in Latin to Swedish deputy. Everyone who heard that were laughing from Swedish king.

Zagłoba's enduring influence on Polish culture can be seen for example in his appearance in a 2000 Polish television advertisement for the Okocim brewery.

Zagłoba in film and television