# Dulcinea del Toboso — Don Quixote character guide > Dulcinea del Toboso in Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Aldonza Lorenzo, Dulcinea, Doña Dulcinea del Toboso **First appearance:** 0007-part-i-i ## Snapshot A peasant girl from Toboso whom Don Quixote has never spoken to, transformed by his imagination into the peerless empress of his heart. ## Who they are Dulcinea exists in the book almost entirely as a name — the lady whose beauty Don Quixote demands strangers confess, and whose identity he insists must appear plainly in any verse written for her. The tension she embodies is that between a real village woman, Aldonza Lorenzo, and the ideal lady who exists only in her admirer's mind, a gap no one else can see or verify. She matters because she is the fixed star of Don Quixote's quest: every adventure, every battle, every letter home is performed in her name, and the comedy of the book depends on her remaining forever unseen. ## Relationships ### [Don Quixote](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/characters/don_quixote) _psychological_ Don Quixote is obsessively devoted to Dulcinea, an idealized peasant woman he imagines as a noble lady. ### [Sancho Panza](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/characters/sancho_panza) _social_ Sancho knows Dulcinea is really Aldonza Lorenzo and often plays along with Quixote's delusions about her. ### [Don Quixote](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/characters/don_quixote) _psychological_ Don Quixote is obsessively devoted to Dulcinea, an idealized peasant woman he imagines as a noble lady. ### [Sancho Panza](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/characters/sancho_panza) _social_ Sancho knows Dulcinea is really Aldonza Lorenzo and often plays along with Quixote's delusions about her. ### [Don Quixote](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/characters/don_quixote) _psychological_ Don Quixote is obsessively devoted to Dulcinea, an idealized peasant woman he imagines as a noble lady. ### [Sancho Panza](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/characters/sancho_panza) _social_ Sancho knows Dulcinea is really Aldonza Lorenzo and often plays along with Quixote's delusions about her. ## In the story ### [II: About Cervantes and Don Quixote](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/ii-about-cervantes-and-don-quixote) Referenced in the context of Sancho's matchless mendacity about her, which supplies much of the action in the Second Part. ### [Don Quixote Part I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/don-quixote) The idealized lady whom Don Quixote worships from afar. ### [Some Commendatory Verses](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-i-some-commendatory-verses) Celebrated by the Lady of Oriana as the fairest and compared to Oriana's own beloved. ### [Chapter II: Which treats of the first sally the ingenious Don Quixote made from home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-i-ii) Don Quixote addresses her as 'Princess Dulcinea, lady of this captive heart,' lamenting her scorn and banishing him from her presence. ### [Of what happened to our knight when he left the inn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-i-iv) Invoked by Don Quixote as the lady to whom he dedicates his deeds, demanding traders confess her beauty. ### [Chapter VIII: Of the good success which the valorous Don Quixote had in the most terrifying and never-to-be-imagined adventure of the windmills, with other events worthy of happy memory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-i-viii) Invoked by Don Quixote during the battle with the Biscayan. ### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-i-ix) Mentioned in a marginal note about salting pigs; Don Quixote demands the defeated Biscayan present himself to her. ### [Of the pleasant discourse that passed between Don Quixote and his squire Sancho Panza](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-i-x) Mentioned by Sancho as the lady before whom the defeated knight must present himself. ### [Chapter XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-i-xiii) Named by Don Quixote as his lady, from El Toboso, a princess and superhuman beauty. ### [Of the unexampled and unheard-of adventure which was achieved by the valiant Don Quixote of La Mancha with less peril than any ever achieved by any famous knight in the world](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-i-xx) Invoked by Don Quixote as his lady, to whom Sancho is to deliver a message if he dies. ### [Which treats of the strange things that happened to the stout knight of La Mancha in the Sierra Morena, and of his imitation of the penance of Beltenebros](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-i-xxv) The lady to whom Don Quixote's letter is addressed; he idealizes her as the most beautiful and virtuous princess. ### [XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-i-xxvi) The object of Don Quixote's devotion; Sancho carries a lost letter addressed to her. ### [Of the delectable discussion between Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, his squire, together with other incidents.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-i-xxxi) Described by Sancho as winnowing red wheat, unable to read or write, and commanding Don Quixote to come to El Toboso. ### [Chapter XLIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-i-xliii) Invoked by Don Quixote in his romantic soliloquy as the object of his devotion. ### [Of the laughable conversation that passed between Don Quixote, Sancho Panza, and the bachelor Samson Carrasco](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-iii) Referenced as the object of Don Quixote's platonic love; Sancho objects to her being called 'Doña'. ### [IV In which Sancho Panza gives a satisfactory reply to the doubts and questions of the bachelor Samson Carrasco, together with other matters worth knowing and telling.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-iv) Don Quixote requests acrostic verses for her as a farewell. ### [Wherein is related what befell Don Quixote on his way to see his lady Dulcinea del Toboso](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-viii) Mentioned as the lady whose blessing Don Quixote seeks; Sancho describes her sifting wheat. ### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-ix) Sought by Don Quixote; her palace cannot be found in the night; Don Quixote admits he has never seen her. ### [Wherein is related the crafty device Sancho adopted to enchant the lady Dulcinea, and other incidents as ludicrous as they are true](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-x) The idealized lady whom Sancho claims to have found, though she is actually a platter-faced, snub-nosed village girl. ### [Of the strange adventure which the valiant Don Quixote had with the car or cart of the Cortes of Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xi) Mentioned as enchanted into a village lass; Don Quixote obsesses over her transformation. ### [Of the strange adventure which befell the valiant Don Quixote with the bold Knight of the Mirrors](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xii) Referenced by Don Quixote as his lady, whom he claims has never scorned him; Sancho describes her as 'a lamb, and softer than a roll of butter.' ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xvi) Referenced as the lady Don Quixote wishes to disenchant. ### [Of what happened Don Quixote in the castle or house of the Knight of the Green Gabán, together with other matters out of the common](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xviii) Mentioned when Don Quixote sees wine jars from El Toboso, which remind him of his enchanted Dulcinea. ### [XXII Wherin is related the grand adventure of the Cave of Montesinos in the heart of La Mancha, which the valiant Don Quixote brought to a happy termination.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xxii) Invoked by Don Quixote in prayer before descending into the cave. ### [Of the wonderful things the incomparable Don Quixote said he saw in the profound Cave of Montesinos, the impossibility and magnitude of which cause this adventure to be deemed apocryphal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xxiii) Referenced as the lady who sends a request for six reals through a damsel, prompting Don Quixote's distress and vow to disenchant her. ### [Of Don Quixote’s adventure with a fair huntress](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xxx) Mentioned as the lady of Don Quixote's heart; the duke insists she should not be overshadowed by other beauties. ### [XXXI Which treats of many and great matters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxi) Mentioned as enchanted into a peasant wench; Sancho claims to have seen her and praises her agility. ### [Of the reply Don Quixote gave his censurer, with other incidents, grave and droll](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxii) Discussed as an imaginary or real lady; Don Quixote defends her virtue and lineage. ### [XXXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxiii) Discussed as the enchanted lady; the duchess insists the peasant girl Sancho saw was truly Dulcinea, enchanted by enchanters. ### [XXXIV Which relates how they learned the way in which they were to disenchant the peerless Dulcinea del Toboso, which is one of the rarest adventures in this book.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxiv) Mentioned as being brought on a triumphal car by enchanters for disenchantment instructions. ### [Wherein is continued the instruction given to Don Quixote touching the disenchantment of Dulcinea, together with other marvellous incidents](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xxxv) Appears as a beautiful nymph on the car, pleads with Sancho to accept the lashes, weeping and appealing to his pity. ### [Of what befell Don Quixote with Doña Rodriguez, the duchess’s Duenna, together with other occurrences worthy of record and eternal remembrance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-xlviii) Invoked by Don Quixote as the lady to whom he owes unwavering fidelity. ### [Of the prodigious and unparalleled battle that took place between Don Quixote of La Mancha and the Lackey Tosilos in defence of the daughter of Doña Rodriguez](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-lvi) Invoked by Don Quixote as he commends himself before the battle. ### [Which tells how adventures came crowding on Don Quixote in such numbers that they gave one another no breathing-time.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-lviii) Referenced as the peerless lady of Don Quixote's thoughts, excepted from his praise of the shepherdesses. ### [Chapter LIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-lix) Referenced as the object of Don Quixote's constant love and the subject of the enchantment needing Sancho's lashes. ### [LXII Which deals with the adventure of the enchanted head, together with other trivial matters which cannot be left untold.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-lxii) Invoked by Don Quixote as the queen of his heart during the dance. ### [Of the resolution Don Quixote formed to turn shepherd and take to a life in the fields while the year for which he had given his word was running its course; with other events truly delectable and happy.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-lxvii) Don Quixote remains devoted to her; her disenchantment is a recurring concern, tied to Sancho's whipping. ### [Of the bristly adventure that befell Don Quixote](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-lxviii) Referenced as the object of Don Quixote's disenchantment efforts and his grief. ### [Of what passed between Don Quixote and his squire Sancho on the way to their village](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-lxxi) Mentioned as the object of the disenchantment that Sancho's whipping is meant to achieve; Don Quixote hopes for her restoration. ### [Of how Don Quixote and Sancho reached their village](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/chapters/part-ii-lxxii) Don Quixote hopes to find her disenchanted after Sancho's penance. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/characters/dulcinea_del_toboso - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/don_quixote_se/characters