Vizzini

Vizzini is a fictional character in William Goldman’s novel The Princess Bride (1973) and its 1987 film adaptation. In the story, he is a Sicilian criminal mastermind who plans to kidnap Princess Buttercup to incite a war between the kingdoms of Florin and Guilder. He leads a small crew for the kidnapping and appears as the principal antagonist in the early part of the tale.

In both the book and the film, Vizzini is characterized as vain, arrogant, and quick-witted, confident in his own cleverness. He bungles some of his plans through overconfidence and underestimates his opponents. A key moment is the climactic “Battle of Wits” with the Man in Black (Westley), in which Vizzini tries to outthink his rival using iocane powder—a colorless, odorless poison. Westley’s ruse involves swapping or misdirecting the powders, leading to Vizzini’s death from poison and Westley’s victory.

In the 1987 film, Vizzini is portrayed by Wallace Shawn, whose performance emphasizes his fast-talking bravado and habit of exclaiming “Inconceivable!” as a running catchphrase associated with the character. The scene and Vizzini’s death became one of the film’s most memorable moments and contributed to the character’s lasting presence in popular culture.

Vizzini’s legacy rests on his role as a dramatic foil to Westley and as a catalyst for the story’s subsequent rescue and quest themes. He remains one of The Princess Bride’s best-known antagonists, frequently cited in discussions of the work’s blend of humor, suspense, and fairy-tale adventure.