The peasant laborer—greedy but kind, faithful but cowardly—whom Don Quixote takes as his squire. A representation of the common man, Sancho is a foil to Don Quixote and virtually every other character in the novel.
He has an awestruck love for Don Quixote but grows self-confident and saucy, ending the novel by advising his master in matters of deep personal philosophy. Rocinante is slow but faithful, and he is as worn out as Don Quixote is. The fictional writer of Moorish decent from whose manuscripts Cervantes supposedly translates the novel. Cervantes uses the figure of Benengeli to comment on the ideas of authorship and literature explored in the novel and to critique historians.
Dulcinea, a peasant woman whom Don Quixote envisions as his ladylove, has no knowledge of his chivalric dedication to her. Though constantly mentioned and centrally important to the novel, she never appears as a physical character. Read an in-depth analysis of Dulcinea del Toboso. Cervantes intentionally creates the impression that he did not invent the character of Don Quixote. Like Benengeli, Cervantes is not physically present but is a character nonetheless.
Bored and snobby, the Duke and Duchess feign interest in Don Quixote and Sancho but continually play pranks on them for their personal entertainment. The Duke and Duchess spend so much money and effort on their ploys that they seem as mad as Don Quixote. Altisidora pretends to love Don Quixote, mocking his concept of romantic love. Sampson mocks Don Quixote at first but loses to him in combat and then dedicates himself to revenge.
The priest disapproves of fictional books that, in his opinion, negatively influence society. Nonetheless, he enjoys tales of chivalry so much that he cannot throw them away. Teresa speaks in proverbs, exhibiting more wisdom than most other characters. An honorable man who is driven mad by the infidelities of his wife, Lucinda, and the treachery of a duke, Ferdinand. Cardenio is the quintessential romantic lover.
Silent and beautiful, Lucinda is a model of the courtly woman. Docile and innocent, she obliges her parents and her lover. Sancho Panza A local laborer who is enlisted to serve the newly dubbed knight, lured principally by the promise of his own island to govern.
His primary means of transportation is an ornery mule, Dapple. Teresa Panza's wife, who runs the household and cares for the couple's two children while Sancho is off in his chivalric pursuits with Quixote. Aldonza Lorenza A young country girl who barely knows Don Quixote, she nevertheless becomes the newly dubbed knight's womanly ideal.
John Haldudo, the Rich The rich man who, in Quixote's first knightly adventure, is castigated by Quixote for beating his servant-boy. Andrew A young apprentice whom Quixote attempts to help, in the process causing more trouble.
Antonia Quixote's loving niece, who is conflicted by her desire to keep her uncle safely at home and her wish for the old gentleman to enjoy himself at his new preoccupation. Samson Carrasco A young student from Quixote's village. He believes that by providing Quixote with adventures, he will make the "knight" tire of chivalric pursuits.
Carrasco is a key character; he appears in many guises, especially as knights-at-arms, and finally is the cause of Quixote's return home. The Duke and Duchess A pair of decadent, high-ranking nobles who become amused by Quixote and Panza, orchestrating lavish and complex pranks as a source of amusement. They are frequent causes of pain and humiliation for the pair from La Mancha.
Appearing as a satiric character, he is constantly being accused of dishonesty by Cervantes in authorial asides. Cardenio ends up with Lucinda in the end. The priest A good friend of Quixote, who tries to be supportive but who also engages in plans with other of Quixote's friends, notably the barber, to bring Quixote to his senses.
A barber Not Quixote's barber friend. Quixote attacks this barber and steals the basin, believing it to be "the helmet of Mambrino. Dorothea "The Princess Micomicona" A woman who has been deceived by a man, Don Fernando, who promised to marry her, but married Lucinda instead. Disgraced, Dorothea leaves her village disguised in men's clothing.
She conspires with Cardenio to hunt down Don Fernando, and she also helps the priest and barber bring Don Quixote home. She pretends to be the Princess Micomicona, winning Quixote's promise to slay a giant so that she might regain her kingdom. With the Princess's help, the priest is able to get Quixote under his control. Lucinda The woman Cardenio hoped to marry.
She instead marries Cardenio's friend, Don Fernando, who is the son of a Duke. Lucinda marries Don Fernando to appease her parents but she truly loves Cardenio. Lucinda and Cardenio are reunited late in Book I. Don Fernando has also taken Dorothea's virginity, only to break his promise to marry her.
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