Artemis Fowl contains a very renowned dwarf thief named Mulch Diggums, a character who is noted for his realistic escapes and underground tunneling skills. One of the most memorable moments in the series involves Mulch finding himself in the no-nonsense gaze of Commander Root, leader of the LEP, the police who deal with the nether regions of Earth.
How does Mulch manage to escape from Commander Root? Let's find out through the brilliant getaway that Much pulled off with a combination of his unique talents, quick thinking, and a bit of good fortune.
Why Commander Root Needs Mulch?
Artemis Fowl introduces Mulch in the middle part of the movie, during which Commander Root has to seek his assistance in infiltrating Fowl Manor. He is promised some leniency with his sentence, provided he utilized his tunneling skills to break into the manor, find the Aculos, and then successfully help with the mission to save Holly Short.
Mulch Diggums has the special ability to tunnel through nearly any material, using his digestive system as an enormous tool. The things he can do are literally impossible for any LEP officer to attempt, like taking Commander Root to places she wouldn't have been able to reach without him.
In addition, with his vast knowledge of the darker side of the law as a professional thief, Mulch brings insight and a set of skills unparalleled by normal law enforcement. His experience proves invaluable in helping Commander Root outwit slippery opponents such as Artemis Fowl.
Furthermore, going against the genius schemes of Artemis Fowl, Commander Root needs someone who can work outside the legal and moral bonds of the LEP. The experience in crime and willingness to bend these rules are the needed advantages of Mulch in retrieving the stolen fairy technology to safeguard the fairy world.
How Does Mulch Actually Deceive Commander Root?
However, Mulch Diggums is not only an excellent thief but, in fact, an outstanding fake. His game plan was to deceive the Commander, Root, into believing he was loyal and working for recovering the Aculos back to the LEP while Mulch was playing at both sides. He was to help Commander Root, but eventually decided, with cunning, to instead help Artemis Fowl and his allies by turning the Aculos over to them instead of the LEP. And here it is:
1. Playing the Passive Partner
Mulch Diggums at first introduces himself to Commander Root as a harmless, passive partner. All along their joint work, Mulch has been growing the image of a docile friend. He does not openly question her authority; he only shows himself as a helpful colleague.
This submissiveness, premeditated by Mulch, puts Root in a false sense of security, making her feel that Mulch works in her interest.
2. Distraction and Disorder
Misdirection is one of the major talents used by Mulch in fooling Commander Root.
During their operation, where actually Root is concentrating on the apprehension of Artemis Fowl and the recovery of the stolen fairy technology, Mulch really works out opportunities to serve his own interests. He creates moments of disorder or chaos when he wants the attention of Root to shift away from what he is really doing.
3. Utilizing His Dwarf Abilities to Escape
One aspect that makes the deviousness of Mulch quite critical to the plot is his dwarfish physiology appearance. Whereas most creatures in the fairy world cannot, Mulch's peculiar digestive system allows him to tunnel through solid earth. This physical advantage indeed becomes quite crucial during key moments of missions.
Just when Commander Root thought she had everything under control, Mulch uses his talent to tunnel, bypass security, and escape undetected. His ability to travel underground allows him to move unrestricted, undetected, and unhindered.
4. Using Humor and Charm to Disarm Root
He even breaks the tension, as tight as it can be at times, with humorous comments and jokes to lighten the situation. It is this light character that makes it hard for Commander Root to take him as a serious threat. His charm serves as a shield, preventing her from realizing the extent of his deception.
Root is used to the dangerous type of criminals, whereas Mulch is easy-going and humorous; he catches her off-guard. His playful behavior allows him to cloak his true intentions and influence her decisions without appearing to be anything out of the ordinary.
5. Applying Root's Sense of Duty
Mulch also manipulates the strong sense of duty Commander Root has towards the realm of the fairies. He knows her ultimate goal is to protect the LEP and keep the human and fairy worlds separate. Mulch uses this fact in manipulating her priorities, playing with her fears of human interference.
By presenting himself as a useful tool in achieving her mission, he keeps her focused on larger threats like Artemis Fowl while he works quietly on his own agenda.
Mulch uses his unique talents and combines them with charisma and wit to cleverly outsmart Commander Root as he makes his escape, leaving her in the dark.
What Happens After the Escape?
The aftermath is that Mulch gets to escape with Artemis, Holly, and the rest after getting back with the Aculos. It would seem that Commander Root and his LEPrecon forces do not get to catch them since Mulch had assisted in their escape.
Mulch also gains freedom from further imprisonment due to his sell-out of LEPrecon's original plan and hitching his wagon to Artemis and his team, having manipulated both sides to his advantage. And this is really quite an interesting plot twist in Artemis Fowl.
The escape of Mulch Diggums, the double dealing that he possesses, and the ability to fool even the experienced Commander Root add a layer of complexity to this plot. It just shows his cunningness and resourcefulness that Mulch has managed to stay ahead of both parties and manipulated each situation to his advantage, hence making him one of the more interesting characters in the story.
In conclusion
Through the article above, we can get the answer to the question, "How does Mulch escape from Commander Root?". He had managed it by using his special abilities and to play with the situation so cleverly that even a criminal managed to direct the outcome.
YOU MAY WANT TO READ:
