A Comprehensive Analysis of Literary Protagonists - Ievgen Sykalo 2026

Conan the Barbarian - “Conan” series” by Robert E. Howard

The Paradox of the Rational Savage

The most enduring contradiction of Conan is that he is frequently the most rational and morally consistent character in a world defined by "civilized" decadence. While the term barbarian typically denotes a lack of culture or intellect, Robert E. Howard uses this label as a critique of the artificiality of urban society. Conan is not a brute to be tamed, but rather a mirror reflecting the inherent savagery hidden beneath the silk robes and marble facades of the Hyborian Age. The reader is forced to ask: who is truly the savage—the man who kills openly to survive, or the politician who kills secretly to maintain power?

The Ideological Conflict: Barbarism versus Civilization

At the heart of Conan’s character is the tension between the natural world and the constructed world. Howard does not present barbarism as a state of ignorance, but as a state of purity and vitality. For Conan, the wilderness of Cimmeria provided a foundation of honesty and resilience that the cities of the south lack. In the eyes of the protagonist, civilization is a process of decay; it softens the body, corrupts the spirit, and replaces genuine courage with bureaucratic treachery.

This conflict is not merely atmospheric; it drives Conan's interactions with every society he enters. He views the laws of "civilized" men as arbitrary shackles designed to protect the weak and the corrupt. By remaining an outsider—even when he occupies positions of high authority—he maintains a psychological autonomy that allows him to see through the illusions of social status and religious dogma. He embodies the will to power in its most primal form, where authority is derived from competence and strength rather than inheritance or deception.

The Veneer of Sophistication

Throughout the series, Conan encounters sorcerers, priests, and kings who view him as a primitive tool. However, these encounters typically serve to expose the fragility of their own sophistication. Howard frequently juxtaposes the complex, often convoluted schemes of his antagonists with Conan's direct, pragmatic approach. This creates a recurring thematic arc: the "civilized" man builds a tower of lies that eventually collapses under the weight of a single, honest blow from a barbarian's sword.

The Intellectual Barbarian

To categorize Conan as a simple warrior is to ignore the strategic depth Howard imbues in him. His survival across diverse terrains—from the frozen north to the steaming jungles—is not the result of muscle alone, but of an extraordinary capacity for adaptability. He is a polyglot, a student of human nature, and a tactician who can outthink his more "educated" opponents.

His intelligence is visceral rather than academic. He possesses a keen perception of the human condition, recognizing the scent of betrayal or the flicker of fear long before a diplomat would notice. This cognitive agility allows him to navigate various social strata, moving seamlessly from the role of a thief to that of a general. His mind is a tool for survival, stripped of the ideological clutter that blinds those who believe themselves superior to him.

The Arc of Ambition: From Outcast to Sovereign

The trajectory of Conan is one of the most compelling evolutions in pulp fantasy. He does not follow a linear path of "improvement" in the traditional sense; he does not seek to become more civilized. Instead, his arc is an expansion of his sphere of influence. He begins as a youth driven by the basic need for survival, evolves into a mercenary seeking wealth and adventure, and eventually ascends to the throne of Aquilonia.

This ascent to kingship is not a betrayal of his barbarian roots, but the ultimate expression of them. Conan does not seek the crown out of a desire for luxury or a need for validation; he seeks it because he recognizes that the only way to truly be free is to hold the levers of power. His reign is characterized by a refusal to succumb to the very decadence he despised in other kings. He remains a warrior-king, ruling not by divine right, but by the right of the strongest, yet tempering that strength with a surprising degree of fairness and pragmatism.

The Price of Ascendancy

As Conan rises in status, his internal conflicts shift from the physical to the existential. The solitary warrior who answered only to his own instincts must now navigate the burdens of leadership. Howard explores the loneliness of power through Conan, showing that while he can conquer a city, he cannot entirely escape the isolation that comes with being a man of two worlds—too civilized for the wilderness, yet too wild for the court.

Ethics and the Primal Code

While Conan operates outside the bounds of conventional law, he is far from amoral. He adheres to a strict, if primitive, code of honor. This code is rooted in loyalty and reciprocity: he is fiercely protective of those who have proven their worth and merciless toward those who break their word. His morality is transparent; there is no gap between his stated values and his actions.

This transparency stands in stark contrast to the religious and political figures he encounters. While the priests of the Hyborian Age preach piety while indulging in secret vices, Conan is honest about his desires for gold, wine, and conquest. This honesty makes him a more trustworthy ally than the most polished courtier. His relationships, though often tumultuous and fleeting, are marked by a sincerity that is rare in his world. When he loves or respects someone, it is a visceral, absolute commitment, unburdened by the social games of the aristocracy.

Function as a Literary Catalyst

Ultimately, Conan serves as the primary vehicle through which Robert E. Howard explores the cyclical nature of history. By placing a Cimmerian in the heart of crumbling empires, Howard suggests that all civilizations eventually succumb to their own softness and that the "barbarian" is the inevitable force that clears the ground for something new. Conan is the catalyst of destruction and renewal.

He represents the archetype of the Eternal Outsider. Even at the height of his power, he remains detached from the systems he controls. This detachment is his greatest strength, allowing him to act with a clarity and decisiveness that paralyzed the "civilized" men around him. Through Conan, Howard argues that the only true security is found in the individual's own strength and the only true freedom is the ability to walk away from the ruins of a dying world.

By stripping away the pretenses of society, Conan reveals the raw essence of humanity: the struggle for survival, the hunger for power, and the enduring value of personal integrity in a world devoid of objective justice. He is not merely a hero of adventure, but a philosophical statement on the resilience of the human spirit when it refuses to be domesticated.

Written by

S.Y.A.

Literature educator and essay writing specialist. Over 20 years of experience creating educational content for students and teachers.