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“ | Stupid boy. | „ |
~ Tavington insulting Benjamin's son Thomas whom he murdered |
“ | So you're the Ghost, are you? I remember you! On that farm, and that stupid little boy! Did he die? Hm? You know, it's an ugly business, doing one's duty. But just occasionally... it's a real pleasure. | „ |
~ Tavington taunting Benjamin about Thomas' death |
Col. William Tavington is the main antagonist of the 2000 historical war film The Patriot.
Being the direct subordinate of General Cornwallis, while seemingly a sophisticated and cunning individual, his tactics are brutally barbaric and he fully believes in the end justifies the means, willing to commit obscene atrocities to complete his goals. His campaign of terror and cruelty made him Benjamin Martin’s archenemy. He is supported by his subordinate Captain Wilkins and his chief intelligence officer Captain Bordon.
He was portrayed by Jason Isaacs, who also played Colonel Mekum in Soldier, Lucius Malfoy and the Basilisk in the Harry Potter film franchise, Captain James Hook in the 2003 Peter Pan film, Zhao in Avatar: The Last Airbender, Ra's al Ghul in Batman: Under the Red Hood.
Personality[]
As the colonel (and therefore leader) of the Green Dragoons, Tavington is portrayed as a charismatic sociopath and a brutal commander. Long ago, his late father squandered the family fortune, along with Tavington's inheritance. He becomes interested in becoming a landowner in the Ohio territory after the war, and is nicknamed "The Butcher" by Brigadier General O'Hara. The character is loosely based on Banastre Tarleton.
Despite being an archnemesis to protagonist Benjamin Martin, Tavington has quite a lot in common with him. Like Benjamin, he's a experienced military leader who often engages in violent, unorthodox tactics in battles to achieve victory. Additionally, Tavington wishes to be a landowner so that he can live a normal life, like Benjamin did following the French and Indian War. However, the similarities stop there. Benjamin felt ashamed and horrified by the atrocities he had committed during the war, and had trouble forgiving himself for what he had done. Tavington, by contrast, shows absolutely no remorse whatsoever for the atrocities he commits, both past and present, and will stoop to whatever low he can to achieve his goals and cement his legacy. Furthermore, while Benjamin sought to avoid conflict whenever he could, Tavington sought to provoke it, like he tried to do when he taunted Benjamin for his murder of Thomas.
Biography[]
When a young man named Gabriel Martin signs up to join the Continental Army during the American Revolution in 1776, he is eventually forced to return home to his father, a French and Indian War veteran named Benjamin Martin, and his six siblings following the Siege of Charleston. Gabriel is accompanied by many British and American soldiers who were also injured during the battle, but as Benjamin and his family take care of them, Tavington and his Dragoons appear in an attempt to arrest Gabriel. When Benjamin's son Thomas tries to free Gabriel from Tavington's men, Tavington shoots him dead. As Benjamin grieves for his son, Tavington has his house burned down and orders every wounded American soldier to be executed. Benjamin and his other two sons, Nathan and Samuel, track the redcoats holding Gabriel and ambush them in the forest, brutally murdering them. Tavington hears this news from a lone survivor, though he is unable to discover who is behind the massacre and labels the assailant as the "Ghost".
Benjamin is soon given the rank of colonel by his former commanding officer, Colonel Harry Burwell, and he and Gabriel then plan to fight the British forces. Lord Cornwallis, a general in the British army who Tavington is serving under, discovers that the "Ghost" and his followers have been attacking his units, stealing his belongings (including his two Great Danes given to him by King George III) and destroying his ferries heading to Charleston. Cornwallis angrily blames Tavington for provoking the attackers with his brutal mannerisms, yet Tavington manages to persuade Cornwallis to allow him to use these mannerisms to deal with them. Tavington goes out in search of the identities of some of the assailants and murders their families before burning their houses down. He discovers Benjamin's identity and travels to the house of Benjamin's sister-in-law, Charlotte, who is looking after his children. Tavington and his men search the house but Charlotte and the children manage to hide from them. Tavington later rides to the town that supplies Benjamin's forces and assembles its inhabitants within the church, claiming that they will be forgiven for their actions if they reveal to him where Benjamin's secret hideout is located. One man reveals the location to him but Tavington has the church burned down anyway by Captain Witkins, killing everyone inside, including Gabriel's new wife, Anne.
Gabriel hears word of Tavington's slaughter and furiously attacks him and his men at their encampment. When only Tavington remains, Gabriel shoots him and he collapses to the ground. Unsure if he is dead or not, Gabriel slowly approaches the body in an attempt to stab him, only to have Tavington rise up and stab Gabriel himself before fleeing. Benjamin arrives and cradles his dying son in his arms, but manages to gather enough strength to continue fighting after being reminded of Gabriel's dedication to the cause.
Benjamin, his followers, and a Continental Army regiment later attack Cornwallis' forces in a grueling battle, during which Tavington targets Benjamin personally. Benjamin manages to knock Tavington off his horse and prepares to shoot him, but ends up hitting him in the shoulder after an explosion distracts his aim. Tavington attacks Benjamin with a sword and despite Benjamin's attempts to block him, he is soon beaten and Tavington prepares to deliver the final blow. However, Benjamin ducks just in time and grabs a bayonet lying nearby before stabbing Tavington in the gut. Tavington stumbles and gasps, and Benjamin finally avenges his two sons by stabbing Tavington once more through the throat, killing him.
After Tavington's death, Cornwallis and his men surrendered in 1781 in Yorktown Virginia, thus giving the USA their independence.
Quotes[]
“ | Benjamin: Colonel, this is a uniformed dispatch rider and he's carrying a marked case. He cannot be held as a spy. Tavington: Well, we're not going to hold him. We're going to hang him. |
„ |
~ Benjamin protesting Tavington's orders to have Gabriel executed |
“ | The rules of war. Would you like a lesson, sir, in the rules of war? Or perhaps your children would. | „ |
~ Tavington threatening Benjamin and his family |
“ | Stupid boy. | „ |
~ Tavington after murdering Thomas |
“ | Cornwallis: My reputation suffers because of your incompetence! That man insults me! Tavington: Quite impressive for a farmer with a pitchfork, wouldn't you say? |
„ |
~ Cornwallis and Tavington after Benjamin's "prisoner exchange" |
“ | Hardwick: But, you said we'd be forgiven. Tavington: And indeed you may! But that's between you and God. |
„ |
~ Tavington condemning the townspeople to death even after getting information on Benjamin |
“ | Wilkins: Ready to fire the town on your orders, sir. Tavington: The town? Heh, burn the church. Wilkins: [beaten] There's no honor in this. Tavington: Didn't you say all that those who stand against England deserve to die a traitor's death? Hmm? Burn the church, captain. |
„ |
~ Tavington orders Wilkins to burn the church full of townspeople |
“ | The honor's found in the end, not the means. This'll be forgotten. | „ |
~ Tavington to Wilkins as the church burns |
“ | Kill me before the war is over, will you? It appears that you are not the better man. | „ |
~ Tavington's last words during his final battle with Benjamin before the hero wounds and kills him |
Trivia[]
- William Tavington was inspired by real life British commander Banastre Tarleton, who was implicated in multiple war crimes during the Revolutionary War.
- William Tavington would later serve as an inspiration for Bryan Konietzko and Michael Dante DiMartino to create the character of Zhao in Avatar: The Last Airbender, who was also voiced by Jason Isaacs, whom Konietzko and DiMartino incidentally got after asking their casting director Maryanne Dacey to find someone who sounded like Jason Isaacs only for her to get the actual actor.
External Links[]
- William Tavington on the Pure Evil Wiki