Dreamworks Animation Wiki
Register
No edit summary
Tags: Visual edit apiedit
(Adding categories)
Tag: categoryselect
Line 105: Line 105:
 
[[Category:Fathers]]
 
[[Category:Fathers]]
 
[[Category:Orphans]]
 
[[Category:Orphans]]
  +
[[Category:Real Life]]

Revision as of 20:56, 26 April 2017

“'I have to maintain the ancient traditions; I bear the weight of my father's crown.'
―Rameses

Rameses II (c.1303 BC-1213 BC) is the main antagonist (formerly a supporting protagonist) of the 1998 film, The Prince of Egypt, the secondary villains being Hotep & Huy and his father Pharaoh Seti I. He is based on the Pharaoh from the Biblical tale of Moses; indeed, the movie, for the most part, follows the story faithfully. However, in The Prince of Egypt, he and Moses were raised as brothers and the conflict between them is seen as a deeply personal one on both sides.

Personality

Rameses is one of the few Dreamworks villains to be considered a tragic villain, mostly from his close relationship he has with Moses in the movie. He was not evil; just stubborn. His cruelty and stubbornness apparently stem from his past, where his father taught him to hold fast to a strong will, and an unwavering mindset; it is worth noting that Rameses' principal objective was getting his father's acceptance. Rameses also did genuinely and deeply care about his son, and was heartbroken by his son's death.

At the start of the movie, Rameses did have a true brotherly bond with Moses, and they considered each other quite close. The two were playful with each other, though Rameses shouldered more of the responsibilities being the older brother. He was very concerned and serious on becoming the next Pharaoh and cares very much for his father's approval.

Also while genuinely caring about his son, Rameses was thrilled to see Moses come back. He became very upset at the fact that Moses came back for his people, and not for him.

Role in Film

Childhood & Early Rise To Power

Rameses was but a toddler when an infant Moses was discovered by his mother; during this period in history, his father had ordered the death of all Hebrew boys after a prophecy saying that the slaves would be united under a leader chosen by God (similar to how Herod would many years later, attempt another Massacre Of The Innocents). The young Rameses was by his mother's side as she took his new baby brother to meet the Pharoah. The Pharoah agreed to raise the infant, and Rameses presumably shared a happy childhood with Moses, accepting him as his own brother.

When we next meet them, Rameses and Moses are in their early teens and prone to mischief, engage in wild chariot races. Both brothers were competitive but fairly good-natured towards one another; however, their chariot race caused great damage to their surroundings, infuriating Rameses' father who was harsh with his eldest son, calling him a "weak link," and insult that deeply wounded Rameses and would continue to affect him later in life.

However, a short time later, Rameses was appointed Prince Regent by his father (who was moved by an appeal with Moses on his brother's behalf), and he promptly appointed Moses as Royal Chief Architect. During the celebrations, Hotep & Huy were ordered to give Rameses a gift as a sign of respect for their new superior, and the two high priests offered Rameses a kidnapped women from a desert tribe as his bride (or more likely, a concubine). However, due to her fiery nature, Rameses didn't want her and tried to give her to Moses, which simply angered her more and she fought back until she was humiliated by Moses; Rameses found this amusing and ordered the guards to "dry her up and have her delivered to Prince Moses' chambers" (although Moses ultimately set her free).

At a later point, Rameses was overseeing the building of a great temple when Moses (who had recently learned of his true Hebrew heritage) fought against a guard abusing an old slave and accidentally killed him in the process. Rameses was shocked and confused, and ran after his brother as he fled; he showed little concern over the death of the guard and even told Moses that, as royalty, he could see to it that the crime would never be heard of again. However, Moses was too full of regret and confusion and fled into the desert, leaving Rameses alone in Egypt.

Taking the Throne

During Moses' time in the desert, Rameses has taken power following the death of his father, and the oppression of the Hebrews has become worse as Rameses continued to build, determined to make a legacy as great as that of his father. When Moses returned, Rameses was overjoyed. Hotep and Huy were quick to try and ruin the reunion, however, by insisting Rameses enforce the death sentence on Moses for killing the guard; however, Rameses dismissed them and proclaimed Moses innocent of all crimes and a prince of Egypt. Unfortunately for Rameses, Moses was charged by God to stand against Rameses and free the Hebrews, which would quickly cause the two brothers into a confrontation.

Conflict With Moses

When Moses transformed his staff into a cobra as his first miracle, Rameses was unimpressed and had Hotep and Huy perform a magic act of their own in order to try and humiliate Moses. Following this event, he motioned to Moses to follow him in a secluded area so as to talk alone. Once Rameses was away from the public eye, he conserved more openly with Moses, trying to justify not only his own actions but that of his father. However, he was visibly hurt when Moses rejected his words, then grew angry and told Moses that he "knew not this God," that he would not let the Hebrews be free and that he would not be the weak link. Rameses then informed Moses that all slaves would have their workload doubled, implicitly blaming Moses.

When the two next met, Rameses was enjoying a boat ride on the Nile when Moses once again demanded that he "set his people free." Rameses grew tired of Moses and ordered his guards to bring Moses to him. His guards attempted to capture Moses, only for God to turn the Nile River into blood as another of His miracles. At first, Rameses was shocked at this show of power and demanded that Hotep and Huy explain how it was done. When the two magicians replicated the miracle via the use of dye. Rameses' fear subsided and he laughed it off, then warned Moses that the "joke" must now end, unaware that this was just the beginning of God's wrath.

The Plagues

The two brothers' confrontation reached its climax during the event known as the Ten Plagues of Egypt, in which God unleashed His greatest curses upon the kingdom of Egypt. Although the suffering was unbearable, Rameses refused to give into Moses' demands; as a result, the people of Egypt suffered for many days and nights as the wrath of God manifested as frogs, flies, death of livestock, fire from the sky, painful boils, locusts and darkness.

During the onset of the great darkness, Rameses was visiting by Moses in the temple. Though he still loved Moses and wishes they could be a family again, he was embittered and angry from the plagues, paralleling his father when he expressed a desire to re-create the events of the massacre (stating that his father may have had the right idea about dealing with the Hebrews); this saddened Moses, who told Rameses that he had brought the final plague upon himself. Thus, due to Rameses' hubris, the Tenth Plague was unleashed upon Egypt and all of the kingdom's firstborn children died, including Rameses' own son.

Overwhelmed with grief, Rameses told Moses to go and take his people with him; thus the Hebrews (along with some Egyptians) left Egypt behind and began their great exodus.

Final Confrontation

However, Rameses had a change of heart and pursued the Hebrews across the desert, cornering them at the Red Sea alongside a small army. He charged at them with the intent of either recapturing them or killing them; however, God intervened by sending a pillar of flame to stop Rameses and his army long enough for Moses to part the Red Sea using his staff. The Hebrews then proceeded to cross the sea.

However, Rameses wouldn't stop and, once God removed the pillar of flame, he resumed his charge, prompting God to close the path made by Moses, drowning many of Rameses' men and sending Rameses himself hurling back onto the shore. He later yells Moses' name after his defeat.

Gallery

Trivia

  • Rameses is played by Ralph Fiennes who also played Lord Voldemort (the primary antagonist of the Harry Potter series) and M in the James Bond series. He also voiced Jesus in the "The Miracle Maker" and Hades god of the Underworld in Clash of the Titans and Wrath of the Titans.
  • Ralph Fiennes's brother Joseph Fiennes later voiced Proteus, also a prince, in another DreamWorks animated feature Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas.
  • Ralph Fiennes would also voice Lord Victor Quartermaine in Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.
  • Historically, the real Ramesses II is known being close to if not the greatest builder among the Pharaohs and had extensive building projects throughout Egypt and Nubia. This is shown in the movie by Rameses's ambition and enthusiasm in his new role as Prince Regent to rebuilt the temple he and Moses destroyed. He had also built monuments of himself later on as Pharaoh that were shown being damaged by the plagues later on in the movie.
  • Ramses II had 200 wives, 96 sons, and 60 daughters. By the time he was Pharaoh he had 20 children. In the film, only one son is seen and none of his wives or daughters are there (However there is a woman standing next to Ramses's throne possibly Nefretari.)
  • Ramses II was around 25 when he became Pharaoh and 95 when he died. He was preceded by his 13th son Merneptah who actually wrote about how the Hebrews conquered Canaan.
  • In the film, Rameses goes through three different ages he is first seen as a two-year-old. Then he is seen as a 20-year-old. In the end, he is at least 33 but could be 59.
  • In the original script, Ramses was gonna have a pet cat on par with Moses and his two dogs.
  • Rameses is one of the few DreamWorks villains to be a tragic villain.
  • He shares a similarity with the Disney villain Scar. After the protagonists (Simba and Moses) run away from their respective homelands, Scar and Rameses rule said homelands, but the protagonists eventually return and defeat them.


v - e - d
The-prince-of-egypt-50945689d919b
Media
Films: The Prince of EgyptJoseph: King of Dreams

Books: Read-Along

Characters
Main Characters: MosesRamsesTzipporahAaronMiriamGod

Minor Characters: AmunBakaDathanHotep and HuyJacobJethroJethro's daughtersJoshuaKahmaNefretiriNeriaSheti IShepherdsThe Angel of DeathTuyaYochevedSlaves of Egypt
Prequel Characters: JosephPotipharAsenathJacobJacob's sonsRachelZuleikaRameses IButlerBaker

See also
Locations: EgyptMount Sinai

Songs: All I Ever Wanted (Reprise) • Deliver UsI Will Get TherePlaying With the Big Boys NowThe PlaguesThrough Heaven's EyesWhen You Believe


v - e - d
Dreamworks Animation logo
Franchise Villains
Shrek: Lord FarquaadTheloniousMonsieur HoodMerry MenFairy GodmotherPrince CharmingRumpelstiltskinFifiJack & JillHumpty DumptyRapunzelCaptain HookEvil QueenHeadless HorsemanCyclopsPied Piper"Big" Jack HornerDeathGoldilocksPapa BearMama BearBaby BearSerpent Sisters

Spirit: ColonelHendricks
Madagascar: FossasNanaMakungaTeetsiSharkChantel DuBoisChantel DuBois' menDaveOctopusesBlowholeKarlChauncey
Kung Fu Panda: Tai LungLord ShenBoss WolfWolf ArmyWu SistersScorpionKe-PaKaiThe Chameleon
How to Train Your Dragon: The Red DeathDrago BludvistGrimmel the GrislyAlvin the TreacherousDagur the DerangedMildewViggo GrimbornRyker GrimbornDragon HuntersKroganTrader JohannDrago's Enslaved BewilderbeastScreaming DeathLead StingerSpeed StingersDeathgrippersWarlordsIvar the Witless
The Croods: BearowlTurkeyfishSpiny MandrillaPunch Monkeys
Trolls: ChefCreekKing Gristle Sr.Queen BarbRiffKing ThrashVelvetVeneerCrimp
The Boss Baby: Francis E. FrancisEugene FrancisDr. Erwin Armstrong

Films Villains
Antz: MandibleCutterTermitesRidgeway

The Prince of Egypt: Rameses IIHotep & HuyAmunSeti IBakaKahmaZuleikaWolves
The Road to El Dorado: Tzekel-KanHernán Cortés
Chicken Run: Mrs. TweedyMr. TweedyDogs
Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas: ErisCetusScorpioMuscaLeoLacertaRocDraco
Shark Tale: Don LinoLolaSykesErnie and BernieFrankieLucaDon FeinbergGreat White Sharks
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit: Victor QuartermainePhilip the Dog
Over the Hedge: VincentGladys SharpDwayne LaFontant
Flushed Away: The ToadLe FrogSpikeWhiteyFat BarryLadykillerThimblenose TedBlonde HenchratHenchfrogsMarcel Marceau the Frog Mime
Bee Movie: Layton T. MontgomeryKen
Monsters vs. Aliens: GallaxharAlien ProbeDerek Dietl
Megamind: Tighten
Rise of the Guardians: Pitch Black
Turbo: Guy Gagne
Mr. Peabody & Sherman: Ms. GrunionRobespierreAy
Home: Captain SmekKyleGorg Commander
Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie: Professor PoopypantsMelvin SneedlyTurbo Toilet 2000
Abominable: Dr. ZaraBurnishGoon Leader
Rocky & Bullwinkle: Fearless LeaderBoris BadenovNatasha Fatale
The Bad Guys: Professor MarmaladeCuddles
Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken: NerissaGordon LighthouseDavey

Television Villains
VeggieTales: ScallionsNebby K. NezzerGoliathWally P. NezzerPenguinsFibDefenders of JerichoRumor WeedsMother WeedHamanPeaoni BrothersVikingsOlafAwful AlvinLampyAngry EyebrowsAlchemistMother PearlAlter EgoGreta Von GruesomeCrazy Clay MonsterApollo GourdOtis the ElevatedProfessor RattanLord ScarymanSporksBad AppleCurly the WormMayor of Dodgeball CityChesterWizard of Ha'sMr. DooleyWicker RattanGustavMirrorMiss MinchinDr. FlurryGiantPrince JohnPompous MaximusBruce OnionScalliniThe Emperor of EnvyButtons Crimini

3-2-1 Penguins!: The Lizard KingThe Koala TwinsUncle BlobbBaron Von CavitusBaron Von Cavitus' MinionsGnat-botPiranha PlantGreen-Eyed MonstersGiant AntsGopher GusGopher Gus' GangWorm Guards
Where's Waldo?: OdluluFritzChinese Guardian LionsStone DragonFritzesMr. GrouchyCyclopsMega Noodle MonsterLeopard SealsVinesBanana TreesPitcher PlantsShadowsShadow OdluluShadow PeopleShadow AnimalsKnights of EnglandKnight CaptainTarbosaurusHalloween DecorationsDraculaFrankieMumsFinnySkeletonsPumpkinsBatsGhostsWitchesScarecrowsBig TurnipSnow QueenHelka and OliverOctopuses