Ludo

The central character in The Last Samurai is Ludo, whose legal name is likely Stephen or David. Ludo is an indisputable genius; by the age of six, he speaks multiple foreign languages and masters various complex scientific and mathematical concepts. His mother, Sibylla, describes him as a “monomaniac” who “would leap out of bed at 5:00 in the morning… and get to work” (142). Much of the novel takes place when Ludo is 11 years old. He is mature, articulate, and curious, although in some moments his youth becomes obvious. Ludo cares deeply about his mother and appears to worry about her mental health. Over the course of the novel, Ludo—who grew up without a father—obsessively searches for a suitable father figure.

Throughout Ludo’s childhood, Sibylla continually screens Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai for him. She hopes that the film will provide him with suitable “male role models” (175), given...