The Pharisee

Alternate Titles: The Law, Hypocrite, Vigilante, Moneylender

Pride is the Pharisee's ruling vice. He imagines himself to be a person of impeccible character and virtue, but he is in fact hard, unforgiving, and ruthless. Hitler, as he is usually portrayed in stock Nazi movies, is absolutely typical. This is the man who is able to stand on his balcony watching while a catapult, under his orders, flings innocent hostages at the enemy fortifications, and then retire to read his Bible and pontificate about the moral decay of civilization.
Pharisees are absolutely relentless in pursuing what they believe to be justice -- they will pursue a man to the ends of the earth because he once stole a loaf of bread, or squeeze the last coins from a pauper's purse in order to regain what they are owed. Their judgements are quick, immediate, and not subject either to reason or appeal. They often see themselves as the avatars of divine retribution, or as the last bulwark against chaos and disorder, or as the great saviour who will lead the master race into their own rather warped idea of utopia. They generally do not believe in forgiveness, and believe that the majority of men are irremediably unregenerate. John Calvin is their patron theologian.
The worst examples of the type are always working within the official confines of the law: they act in the name of Ceasar, they are the Sherrif of this town, they have been personally approved by the Archbishop. Ironically, the more sympathetic forms of this villain are the ones that drift outside of the Law. In his role as Vigilante, he is at least a little less hypocritical, and often he has the excuse of having been deeply and personally hurt by whatever crime he is out to avenge. Still, in this case he will almost invariably enact his retribution against the innocent.

The Pharisee cannot bear the thought of failure, and he especially cannot endure discovering that someone he has persecuted, or executed, is innocent, or, worse, repentant. Such knowledge very often drives him to suicide.

Archetypal Events: Pursue, Massacre, Suicide, Convict, Execution

Common Pharisee Plots:

Vengeance Quest: The Pharisee has, in some way or other, been wronged. Perhaps a friend or relative was killed, or a whale bit his leg off, or somebody defied his authority, and he's out for blood. He relentlessly pursues the object of his vengeance. A series of false clues may lead him to precipitously arrest, convict and execute an innocent man. If he has followers, they often fall sacrifice to his insane pursuit of "justice."

False Messiah: The Pharisee discovers himself to be the chosen one, and gathers together a band of followers whom he is going to lead to the promised land. He believes himself to be possessed of miraculous or superhuman powers that place him above the ordinary moraOften, al law. He leads his people into failure or death.

Sexual Obsession: The Pharisee has fallen for a woman whom he is forbidden to love (his adolescent step-daughter, a gypsy girl, a Jewess...). He is tortured by the thought of her. He must either possess her or destroy her.

The Panopticon: The Pharisee's home is a place from which he can keep vigilant watch over the sins of others, a porthole through which he can constantly survey the waters seeking his enemy, a psychiatric office where all human madness is carefully filed and recorded. It represents the inevitability of his surveillance, his constant vigilance, and his (presumed) authority over those in his power.
The Executioner's List: Thoroughness and fastidiousness are important to this character, and he often has a list that governs his life: it could be a list of those who intends to kill, a list of draconian reforms that he hopes to carry out, a list of grievances to be addressed, a list of rules, a list of debts, or a list of portents that will occur before his death.
The Scaffold: A Pharisee's weapon can take many forms: a hangman's noose, a firing squad's rifle, an electric chair, a gas chamber, or a simple executioner's axe. It's essential properties are that it is swift, merciless, and impersonal.
The Badge of Authority: This can be a sherrif's badge, a military uniform, a bishop's ring, an IOU, or the rod carried by an Imperial Legate. It confers the respect and authority of the world, and grants the Pharisee's actions the full sanction of the law.
Law and Order: The prize which the Pharisee seeks is the restoration of order, the application of justice, but it is an order without humanity and a justice without mercy.
Minor Symbols: Suicide Note, Pound of Flesh

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