What is Hobgoblin

A hobgoblin represents the mischievous spirit of Otto Quangel as he stirs up trouble among the German people of Berlin. In A Midsummer's Night's Dream, William Shakespeare writes of Puck, a troublesome sprite who creates havoc among the human lovers in the play. Similarly, Inspector Escherich nicknames his prey the "Hobgoblin" since he is a troublesome character who is unseen and difficult to catch. This name is a perfect allusion to the well-known character.