Homonym: Svengali (Manipulator)
"Svengali" refers to a character from the 1894 novel "Trilby" by George du Maurier. In the story, Svengali is a manipulative musician who exerts control over a young singer named Trilby O'Ferrall, using his hypnotic powers to shape her talent and career. The term has since come to symbolize someone who exerts excessive control over another person, often in a creative or artistic context.
The concept of a "Svengali" has permeated popular culture, appearing in various forms of media, including films, music, and literature. It highlights themes of manipulation, control, and the complexities of mentor-mentee relationships, often serving as a cautionary tale about the dangers of losing one's autonomy.