# Holofernes — Love’s Labour’s Lost character guide

> Holofernes in Love’s Labour’s Lost by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Sir Holofernes

**First appearance:** 0010-act-iv-scene-ii

## Snapshot

A schoolmaster so drunk on his own Latin that he cannot hear how ridiculous he sounds, he corrects everyone and performs in the pageant of worthies.

## Who they are

Holofernes presides over the play's subplot of pedants, parsing every word of a misdelivered letter and turning a dead deer into an alliterative epitaph. He mistakes his own bombast for learning, and his vanity makes him a target for the wits of the court even as he tutors their children. His scene with Nathaniel and the letter is where the play's mockery of academic pretension sharpens into comedy.

## Relationships

### [Biron](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/love_s_labour_s_lost_se/characters/biron)

_social_

Biron interacts with the pedantic schoolmaster Holofernes as a fellow participant in the courtly entertainments.

### [Costard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/love_s_labour_s_lost_se/characters/costard)

_social_

Costard, the clown, and Holofernes, the pedant, interact as comic foils in the play's subplot.

### [Moth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/love_s_labour_s_lost_se/characters/moth)

_rivalry_

Holofernes and Moth engage in a battle of wits, with Moth often outsmarting the pompous schoolmaster.

## In the story

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/love_s_labour_s_lost_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-ii)

The pedantic schoolmaster who critiques the letter and verses, displaying his learning and wit.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/love_s_labour_s_lost_se/chapters/act-v-scene-i)

Engages in pedantic discourse and proposes the Nine Worthies pageant.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/love_s_labour_s_lost_se/characters/holofernes
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/love_s_labour_s_lost_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/love_s_labour_s_lost_se/characters