Murtagh from the Eragon series by Rebecca

Murtagh from the Eragon series by Rebecca - April 2014 Scholarship Essay

There are so many characters that I could name and tell how they influenced me, but the more recent one would be Murtagh from the Eragon series. He goes through so many difficult times and has major questions, but he still sticks to doing the right thing. No matter what happens to him, though he still tries to protect those that he loves.

Murtagh is an orphan that just wants to be able to help the Varden in conquering King Galbatorix and freeing the land from his evil reign. He is the son of the King's right hand man and half brother of the main character. He has saved the main character and another man from being killed by Ra'zac, and has fought alongside the Varden when they were attacked, but despite all that the Varden still does not trust him. They look down on him because of who his father was. He is then captured and Murtagh is controlled King Galbatorix, because Galbatorix learns his true name. Even with all the wars and torturing that he has to endure, because he is being controlled, Murtagh finds a way to keep Nasuada (queen of Varden) from going insane. He shows her little ways that she can know what is real and what isn't so she can know when she is being watched and not. He also learns how to do what the king tells him, but not exactly what the king wants. This leads him to more beatings and pain, but he endures that, so that one day everyone will be freed from the king's rule.

Through the book, Murtagh taught me that though many people try to control you, tell you who you have to be, and what you have to do, none of them can take the real you away. He stayed strong through it all and did what he had to. He knew good would always win and that being on the bad side didn't mean that you had to be bad. Just put on a show and let they others think you were with them. In the end the truth would reveal its self and if not at least you can die with a clear conscience.