The Facts on File Dictionary of Allusions - Green Valley High School

divorce, he assumed the mantle of Belphegor, muttering
darkly about the vagaries of woman and avoiding all
contact with the fairer sex.
Belshazzar (belshazbr) A corrupt or de cadent
ruler, especially one who is threatened by imminent
disaster. <strong>The</strong> reference is to the biblical Belshazzar,
who was the last Chaldean king of Babylon
(Daniel 5). His name literally means “Bel protect
the king.” “To have been Belshazzar, King of Babylon;
and to have been Belshazzar, not haughtily but
courteously, therein certainly must have been some
touch of mundane grandeur” (Herman Melville,
Moby- Dick, 1851). See also balthazar; belshazzar’s
feast; belshazzar’s palsy; writing on
the wall.
Belshazzar’s feast (belshazbrz) An example of
de cadent indulgence. <strong>The</strong> allusion is to the banquet
hosted by Belshazzar, who was the last Chaldean
king of Babylon, as described in Daniel 5.
<strong>The</strong> feast, attended by a thousand nobles, was
remarkable for the magnifi cence of the gold and
silver utensils, which had been seized from the
Temple in Jerusalem. “ ‘I always like this room,’
said Spandrell as they entered. ‘It’s like a scene for
Belshazzar’s feast’ ” (Aldous Huxley, Point Counter
Point, 1928). See also belshazzar’s palsy; writing
on the wall.
Belshazzar’s palsy (belshazbrz) A fever, especially
one caused by fear. <strong>The</strong> allusion is to the
episode of belshazzar’s feast, a magnifi cent banquet
hosted by belshazzar, king of Babylon, at
which the writing on the wall appeared. <strong>The</strong>
shock caused Belshazzar to be seized by a shaking
fever, as described at Daniel 5:6: “. . . his thoughts
troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were
loosed, and his knees smote one against another.”
<strong>The</strong> effect of this news upon the general was startling.
His face went deathly pale and his hands shook uncontrollably.
Though no doctor, the priest was inclined to
diagnose a severe case of Belshazzar’s palsy.
Benedick (benbdik) A confi rmed bachelor who
fi nds himself snared into marriage. <strong>The</strong> allusion is
to a fi ctional character of the name (sometimes
given as Benedict) in William Shakespeare’s
romantic comedy Much Ado About Nothing (1598).
Despite his avowed intention, Benedick falls in
love with Beatrice and agrees to marry her by the
end of the play. No Benedick could have been more
determined to avoid the altar.
Benedict Arnold (benbdikt ahrnbld) A traitor,
especially a man who betrays his country on a
massive scale. <strong>The</strong> original Benedict Arnold (1741–
1801) was an American general who distinguished
himself in the Continental army during the American
Revolution. Having got heavily into debt, and
feeling embittered toward Congress, he then
changed allegiances and plotted to hand over the
fort of West Point, New York, to the British. <strong>The</strong>
plot was uncovered and Arnold fl ed to safety with
the British, subsequently fi ghting alongside them
against his fellow Americans. He eventually
retired to En gland and remained there for the
rest of his life in disgrace. After he reported the company
to the authorities his former colleagues regarded
him as a Benedict Arnold and would have nothing to do
with him.
Ben Gunn Archetype of a mad old man, especially
one of wild appearance or one who has spent
many years in isolation. Ben Gunn is a character
from Robert Louis Stevenson’s adventure novel
Trea sure Island (1883), in which he appears as a
former member of the pirate crew of Captain Flint
Ben Gunn
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