General Antolini is the ant version of a dictator who may seem familiar to many from real history – a mix of Stalin, Hitler, and Mussolini in the body of an insect. He appears in the story already at the height of his power, commanding the terrifying system of the anthill. Brutal, merciless, and fanatically devoted to “order,” he is the embodiment of the myth of the strong leader – and the illusion that everything is under control.

But behind the façade of an unshakable ruler lie fears. He knows that his power depends on the silence of the Mother Queen, whose charisma and symbolic authority surpass his own. When she speaks, he crumbles.

In the second book we find him in a secret mountain dungeon – imprisoned, yet still dangerous. With a single speech, he manages to turn the ant authorities against Anne and have her imprisoned. In the third book he has regained his power – now commanding a secret army of giant ants, transformed with the help of magical mushrooms. But even then, he is merely the executor of the will of an even more mysterious master. And in the end, he falls again.

Thus his arc traces a circle: power, downfall, new power – and another downfall. But this circle is not eternal. Somewhere at its end lies retribution.

– Uniform = fetishized power

– Microphone = control over the narrative

– Helmet = the autocrat’s paranoia

– Mountain prison = the illusion that evil has been defeated

– Giant ants = extremism taken to the point of absurdity

Ahhh, so you’ve been doing one of your little... investigations again, as I understand it. Remarkable curiosity... for someone of your advanced age. I must admit, Mother, you truly surprise me.

The ideals we believe in, the values upon which this society was built, the great goals we set years ago – all of that comes not only from me, but from you as well, dear Mother! I am not the only one who should bear the responsibility... and the glory for all that has been achieved. Let us be clear: Antazonia is the result of our mutual efforts!

What I believe is this: on the path to a great goal, a leader cannot choose the means! Even the gentlest flower must be crushed if it stands in the way of that goal. The happiness of all justifies the suffering of a few.

📘 Book I

– Ruthless, self-assured leader of the ant dictatorship.

– Confronted with the shock that the Mother Queen begins to doubt the regime.

– Forces her into silence through threats and violence.

– Later arrested after the uprising sparked by her speech.

📗 Book II

– Reappears as a prisoner in a secret mountain dungeon.

– Manages to convince the authorities to imprison Anne.

– Reveals that even in captivity, he has ways to cause harm.

📙 Book III

– Commands a new army – this time of giant ants.

– No longer independent: serves an unknown new master.

– As before – his power collapses in the end.

– Final arrest and ultimate downfall.

– How did he rise to the top of power in the first place?

– Who is the mysterious master in the third book?

– Does he believe in a greater ideology, or does he simply love power?

– Is it possible he was once an idealist like the Mother Queen?