Geralt of Rivia
Encyclopedia
Geralt of Rivia is a fictional character and protagonist of The Witcher
series by Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski
, as well as its adaptations.
In the stories, Geralt, the central character, is said to be one of the world's best witchers. He is said to have resisted the "changes" during his childhood better than most, which encouraged his makers to perform even more dangerous experimental procedures on him. Because of these additional procedures, Geralt lost all body pigmentation. Because of his pale skin and white hair, he is also known in Starsza Mowa (Older Speech) as "Gwynbleidd" (which has been incorrectly translated from the Welsh language, with the correct translation being "Blaidd Gwyn"), the White Wolf.
Despite his name, Geralt does not really come from Rivia
(although he is described, during his first visit to Wyzim, as having an "unpleasant" Rivian accent), but young witchers were encouraged to make up surnames for themselves by master Vesemir, to make their names sound more trustworthy. His first choice was Geralt Roger Eric du Haute-Bellegarde, but was dismissed by Vesemir as silly and pretentious.
Geralt lives in an ambiguous moral universe, yet manages to maintain his own coherent code of ethics. At once cynical and noble, Geralt has been compared to Raymond Chandler
's signature character Philip Marlowe
. The fantasy
world in which these adventures take place owes much to Polish history and Slavic mythology
.
Geralt was the son of sorceress Visenna and (presumably) a warrior called Korin. Shortly after being born, Geralt was abandoned by his mother at Kaer Morhen — the Witchers' stronghold. Geralt survived numerous mutations during the Trial of Grass, thanks to which he gained practically superhuman physical and mental abilities (including enhanced speed, strength, reflexes, endurance, heightened senses and regenerative abilities) with minimal side effects. Because of that, he was one of the few selected for additional experiments, which he alone survived, albeit at the cost of losing all pigmentation in his body. After completing his witcher training, he received his Wolf medallion (the symbol of Kaer Morhen) and embarked into the world on his horse called Płotka - The Roach (he gave the same name to every horse he owned) to become a monster slayer for hire.
Even though Geralt did not believe in destiny, he demanded the unborn child of princess Pavetta and her husband Duny as a reward for his services. As the child turned out to be a girl, he did not take her. However, fate or blind chance causes Geralt and Ciri, the daughter of Duny and Pavetta to cross their paths thrice, and after the death of her grandmother, queen Calanthe, Geralt ended up taking care of the girl and loving her as his own daughter. His best friend was Dandelion the bard (Polish: Jaskier), while his lover and the love of his life was Yennefer
.
After seemingly being killed by a mob during a slaughter of non-humans at the end of the Witcher saga, Geralt story continues in the recent computer game. Geralt returns to life with no recollection of the details of his sudden reappearance. He is rescued by the last remaining witchers in the world and taken back to Kaer Morhen. It is hinted that in the game, he will reluctantly uncover a conspiracy concerning the Witchers.
In the film
(2001) and the subsequent television series (2002) he was portrayed by Michał Żebrowski. Geralt is also the main hero of several comic books, a role playing game and a recent series of video games ("The Witcher" and "The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings
"). In the original Polish versions of the video games, he is voiced by Jacek Rozenek and in the English versions by Doug Cockle.
Geralt has been compared to Raymond Chandler
's signature character Philip Marlowe
.
The Witcher
The Witcher, or , by Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski is a cult series of fantasy short stories and five novels about the witcher Geralt of Rivia...
series by Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski
Andrzej Sapkowski
Andrzej Sapkowski, born 21 June 1948 in Łódź, is a Polish fantasy writer. He is best known for his best-selling book series The Witcher.-Biography:...
, as well as its adaptations.
Fictional biography
In Sapkowski's books, witchers are monster-hunters who receive special training and have their bodies modified at an early age to provide them with supernatural abilities so they can kill extremely dangerous monsters and survive. These modifications (which involve herbal preparations, magic potions and virus inoculations) leave them with inhuman reflexes, dexterity and the ability to open and contract their pupils at will (giving them improved night-vision). These modifications also leave them sterile and they are said to be completely devoid of human emotions (this is later discovered to be false)(see albino bias). Witchers are mistakenly called "mutants", although their condition is not congenital.In the stories, Geralt, the central character, is said to be one of the world's best witchers. He is said to have resisted the "changes" during his childhood better than most, which encouraged his makers to perform even more dangerous experimental procedures on him. Because of these additional procedures, Geralt lost all body pigmentation. Because of his pale skin and white hair, he is also known in Starsza Mowa (Older Speech) as "Gwynbleidd" (which has been incorrectly translated from the Welsh language, with the correct translation being "Blaidd Gwyn"), the White Wolf.
Despite his name, Geralt does not really come from Rivia
The Witcher universe
The fictional universe of The Witcher saga was created by Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski in his cult series of books . The universe was never officially named by the writers; the largest entity - the continent - is simply called The Continent, and Polish fans have labeled the universe Wiedźminland...
(although he is described, during his first visit to Wyzim, as having an "unpleasant" Rivian accent), but young witchers were encouraged to make up surnames for themselves by master Vesemir, to make their names sound more trustworthy. His first choice was Geralt Roger Eric du Haute-Bellegarde, but was dismissed by Vesemir as silly and pretentious.
Geralt lives in an ambiguous moral universe, yet manages to maintain his own coherent code of ethics. At once cynical and noble, Geralt has been compared to Raymond Chandler
Raymond Chandler
Raymond Thornton Chandler was an American novelist and screenwriter.In 1932, at age forty-five, Raymond Chandler decided to become a detective fiction writer after losing his job as an oil company executive during the Depression. His first short story, "Blackmailers Don't Shoot", was published in...
's signature character Philip Marlowe
Philip Marlowe
Philip Marlowe is a fictional character created by Raymond Chandler in a series of novels including The Big Sleep and The Long Goodbye. Marlowe first appeared under that name in The Big Sleep published in 1939...
. The fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
world in which these adventures take place owes much to Polish history and Slavic mythology
Slavic mythology
Slavic mythology is the mythological aspect of the polytheistic religion that was practised by the Slavs before Christianisation.The religion possesses many common traits with other religions descended from the Proto-Indo-European religion....
.
Geralt was the son of sorceress Visenna and (presumably) a warrior called Korin. Shortly after being born, Geralt was abandoned by his mother at Kaer Morhen — the Witchers' stronghold. Geralt survived numerous mutations during the Trial of Grass, thanks to which he gained practically superhuman physical and mental abilities (including enhanced speed, strength, reflexes, endurance, heightened senses and regenerative abilities) with minimal side effects. Because of that, he was one of the few selected for additional experiments, which he alone survived, albeit at the cost of losing all pigmentation in his body. After completing his witcher training, he received his Wolf medallion (the symbol of Kaer Morhen) and embarked into the world on his horse called Płotka - The Roach (he gave the same name to every horse he owned) to become a monster slayer for hire.
Even though Geralt did not believe in destiny, he demanded the unborn child of princess Pavetta and her husband Duny as a reward for his services. As the child turned out to be a girl, he did not take her. However, fate or blind chance causes Geralt and Ciri, the daughter of Duny and Pavetta to cross their paths thrice, and after the death of her grandmother, queen Calanthe, Geralt ended up taking care of the girl and loving her as his own daughter. His best friend was Dandelion the bard (Polish: Jaskier), while his lover and the love of his life was Yennefer
Yennefer
Sorceress Yennefer of Vengerberg is a fictional character, created by Andrzej Sapkowski for his Witcher stories. Yennefer first appeared in the collection of short stories, The Last Wish, featuring in both The Last Wish short story and The Voice of Reason frame story. She went on to appear in...
.
After seemingly being killed by a mob during a slaughter of non-humans at the end of the Witcher saga, Geralt story continues in the recent computer game. Geralt returns to life with no recollection of the details of his sudden reappearance. He is rescued by the last remaining witchers in the world and taken back to Kaer Morhen. It is hinted that in the game, he will reluctantly uncover a conspiracy concerning the Witchers.
In the film
The Hexer (film)
Wiedźmin is a 2001 Fantasy film by director Marek Brodzki, starring Michał Żebrowski as main character Geralt of Rivia...
(2001) and the subsequent television series (2002) he was portrayed by Michał Żebrowski. Geralt is also the main hero of several comic books, a role playing game and a recent series of video games ("The Witcher" and "The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings is a third-person role-playing video game developed by Polish studio CD Projekt RED for Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360. It is a sequel to the 2007 video game The Witcher, and was released internationally on May 17, 2011. Just like its predecessor, the game is based...
"). In the original Polish versions of the video games, he is voiced by Jacek Rozenek and in the English versions by Doug Cockle.
Literary analysis
Geralt has been described as a character embodifying "the neo-liberal anti-politics" spirit of the Polish popular culture of the 1990s. He is a professional, carrying out his duties and unwilling to became involved in the "petty quarrels" of the contemporary politics.Geralt has been compared to Raymond Chandler
Raymond Chandler
Raymond Thornton Chandler was an American novelist and screenwriter.In 1932, at age forty-five, Raymond Chandler decided to become a detective fiction writer after losing his job as an oil company executive during the Depression. His first short story, "Blackmailers Don't Shoot", was published in...
's signature character Philip Marlowe
Philip Marlowe
Philip Marlowe is a fictional character created by Raymond Chandler in a series of novels including The Big Sleep and The Long Goodbye. Marlowe first appeared under that name in The Big Sleep published in 1939...
.