I've just finished reading the original trilogy and would like to share my thoughts!! This post summarized: that thing is so pathetic it makes me forget it's evil and I hate him
Throughout story there are basically two main questions, where is second foundation – the one the characters are trying to find answers, and who is the Mule, would it even be revealed, the one mainly readers wounder about.
Magnifico is probably most peoples either last or first suspect, but regardless of what it is it's still really hard to hate on him - as a war criminal he is, purely because he is so pathetic and sad. First time we get to know him he is describing himself as Mules clown-entertainer, and how Mule abuses him, this pathetic, mistreated "poor thing" picture of him only continues to solidify as the story goes on. Occasionally you also have cute moments with him, like when he plays Visi-Sonor first time in the book, wich also adds to it.
Even in the end, when it is revealed that he himself is the mule he continues to be this little poor thing when talking about how he fumbled only because he wanted to feel real love.
“She liked me without my having to juggle her emotions. She was neither repelled by me nor amused by me. She liked me!"
During the whole story, this book is playing with your emotions and jungling them around, especially in this moment. Because wtf this poor little guy is evil???
In a way it's as if Mule himself is forcing you to pity him, especially in the "Foundation and the Empire" considering almost all of what he said was made up, if that makes sense
Now, When I was reading "The Mule" part I first suspected Magnifico to be Mules agent, but after "Interlude in Space" chapter I was convinced he was the Mule, so I tried my best not to like the guy, since yk, he killed a ton of people and stuff, it was hella hard.
And after that constant bullying from Asimov towards the Mule in Second Foundation didn't help😭
"He was not a man to look at, the Mule—not a man to look at without derision"
"And his thin face was nearly drowned out by the prominence of a fleshy beak that thrust three inches outward."
"fleshy beak" is quite a choice to describe a nose
In the end of "Search by the Mule" he basically gets all of his trauma removed and I was so glad for the guy :D
