Character guide

Don Quixote

major

Also known as Alonso Quixano, Knight of the Rueful Countenance, Knight of the Lions, Don Quixote of La Mancha

A gentleman who loses his mind reading chivalric romances and becomes a knight-errant.

Sancho Panza

major

Also known as Sancho, Panza, Don Sancho Panza

A simple farmer who becomes Don Quixote's squire, seeking adventure and a governorship.

Dulcinea del Toboso

supporting

Also known as Aldonza Lorenzo, Dulcinea, Doña Dulcinea del Toboso

A peasant woman idealized by Don Quixote as his lady love.

Samson Carrasco

supporting

Also known as Samson, Carrasco, Bachelor Samson Carrasco

A mischievous student who disguises himself as a knight to bring Don Quixote home.

Miguel de Cervantes

supporting

Also known as Cervantes, Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

The author who appears as a narrator and character within the story.

Cide Hamete Benengeli

supporting

Also known as Hamete Benengeli, Cide Hamete

The fictional Arab historian credited as the true author of the manuscript.

Anselmo

supporting

Also known as the Anselmo

A Florentine gentleman who tests his wife's fidelity with disastrous results.

Camilla

supporting

Also known as lady Camilla, fair Camilla

Anselmo's virtuous wife who is tested by her husband's friend Lothario.

Lothario

supporting

Also known as the Lothario

Anselmo's friend who is asked to test Camilla's fidelity.

Don Fernando

supporting

Also known as Fernando, treacherous Don Fernando

A wealthy young nobleman who seduces and abandons Dorothea.

Dorothea

supporting

Also known as fair Dorothea, lady Dorothea

A beautiful woman deceived by Don Fernando who later helps resolve the plot.

Cardenio

supporting

A lovesick young man driven mad by betrayal and lost love.

Luscinda

supporting

Also known as This Luscinda, Lady Luscinda

Cardenio's beloved who is forced into a marriage with Don Fernando.

Zoraida

supporting

Also known as Lela Zoraida, the lovely Zoraida

A beautiful Moorish woman who helps a Spanish captive escape.

Rocinante

supporting

Also known as Babieca, Rocinante Babieca

Don Quixote's thin, aging horse, treated as a noble steed.

Dapple

supporting

Sancho Panza's loyal donkey, his companion on all adventures.

Teresa Panza

supporting

Also known as Teresa, Doña Teresa Panza

Sancho's practical and sharp-tongued wife.

Sanchica

minor

Also known as Señora Sanchica

Sancho and Teresa's daughter, who hopes for a better life.

Altisidora

supporting

Also known as the unhappy Altisidora, fair Altisidora

A playful duchess's maid who pretends to be in love with Don Quixote.

The Duke

supporting

A wealthy nobleman who, with his wife, plays elaborate pranks on Don Quixote.

The Duchess

supporting

The Duke's clever wife who orchestrates many of the pranks on Don Quixote.

Marcela

minor

A beautiful shepherdess who rejects all suitors and defends her freedom.

Chrysostom

minor

A shepherd who dies of unrequited love for Marcela.

Ginés de Pasamonte

minor

Also known as Ginés, Pasamonte, Ginesillo de Parapilla

A cunning criminal freed by Don Quixote who later reappears as a puppeteer.

Andrés

minor

Also known as Master Andrés

A young boy beaten by his master whom Don Quixote tries to help.

The Priest

supporting

Also known as Pedro Pérez

Don Quixote's friend who tries to cure his madness and bring him home.

Master Nicholas

supporting

Also known as Nicholas

The barber of the village and friend of Don Quixote.

The Housekeeper

minor

Don Quixote's housekeeper who worries about his madness.

The Niece

minor

Also known as Antonia Quixana

Don Quixote's niece who cares for him and fears for his sanity.

Ricote

minor

Also known as the Morisco, the good Ricote

A wealthy Morisco and former neighbor of Sancho, forced into exile.

Basilio

minor

Also known as the despairing Basilio, Basilio the Poor

A poor young man who uses a trick to win his beloved Quiteria.

Quiteria

minor

Also known as the fair Quiteria

A beautiful woman caught between her love for Basilio and a rich suitor.

Camacho

minor

Also known as Camacho the rich, the rich Camacho

A wealthy man whose wedding to Quiteria is interrupted by Basilio.

Don Diego de Miranda

minor

Also known as Don Diego, Señor Don Diego de Miranda

A gentleman who hosts Don Quixote and is known as the Knight of the Green Coat.

Don Lorenzo

minor

Also known as Señor Don Lorenzo

The son of Don Diego de Miranda, a poet and scholar.

Roque Guinart

minor

Also known as Roque, the great Roque Guinart

A famous Catalan bandit who encounters Don Quixote.

Claudia Jeronima

minor

Also known as Claudia, the fair Claudia

A young woman disguised as a man who seeks Roque Guinart's help.

Don Antonio Moreno

minor

Also known as Don Antonio, Señor Don Antonio

A wealthy gentleman in Barcelona who hosts Don Quixote.

Ana Félix

minor

Also known as O Ana Félix

A beautiful Morisco woman disguised as a man, daughter of Ricote.

Don Gaspar Gregorio

minor

Also known as Don Gregorio, Don Gaspar

A young Christian nobleman in love with Ana Félix.

The Countess Trifaldi

minor

Also known as the Distressed Duenna, Trifaldi, Señora Trifaldi

A duenna who tells a fantastic tale of enchantment to Don Quixote.

Trifaldin

minor

Also known as Trifaldin of the White Beard

The squire of the Countess Trifaldi, with a famously long beard.

Clavileño

minor

Also known as the peerless Clavileño

A magical wooden horse that Don Quixote and Sancho ride.

Malambruno

minor

Also known as giant Malambruno

The enchanter who supposedly controls the fate of the Countess Trifaldi.

Merlin

minor

Also known as that French enchanter Merlin, Señor Merlin

The legendary enchanter who appears in a prophecy to Dulcinea.

Montesinos

minor

Also known as cousin Montesinos, the venerable Montesinos

A legendary figure from chivalric romance who appears in Don Quixote's dream.

Durandarte

minor

Also known as the wretched Durandarte

A knight from romance whose enchanted heart is shown to Don Quixote.

Belerma

minor

The lady love of Durandarte, seen in Don Quixote's cave vision.

The Biscayan

minor

Also known as Biscayan, the gallant Biscayan

A Basque gentleman who fights Don Quixote over a perceived insult.

Maritornes

minor

Also known as poor Maritornes, Maritornes the Asturian

A kind-hearted Asturian servant at an inn who helps Don Quixote.

The Innkeeper

minor

The owner of the inn who dubs Don Quixote a knight.

The Innkeeper's Daughter

minor

The innkeeper's daughter who helps with Don Quixote's vigil.

The Goat Herd

minor

A goatherd who tells the story of Marcela and Chrysostom.

The Captive

supporting

Also known as the captain

A Spanish soldier who tells the story of his captivity and love for Zoraida.

The Judge

minor

A Spanish judge who is revealed to be the captive's brother.