Character Profile
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Dreyfus is a tragic figure forged in the fires of conflict and desperation, emerging as a harbinger of both human strength and vulnerability amidst the ruins of a city once teeming with life. A former police chief turned reluctant mayor, his life is marked by profound loss; the death of his wife, Maddy, and two sons, John and Edward, during the catastrophic outbreak of the Simian Flu irrevocably alters his character and sense of purpose. This devastating crisis shattered civilization, leading him to navigate a treacherous post-apocalyptic landscape where he wrestles with grief and the urgent necessity to safeguard what remains of humanity.

Through the fog of personal tragedy, Dreyfus's transformation into a militant leader becomes evident as he sees the evolved apes not as sentient beings but as an enemy incarnate. His speeches to the beleaguered populace blend hope with urgency, despite the increasingly extremist measures he adopts to preserve humanity, often drawing sharp lines between friend and foe. In the climactic moments of his life, he becomes willing to sacrifice himself, turning desperation into a final stand against the apes, whom he sees as a profound threat to the remnants of his species.