# The Faerie Queene — Character guide

> Key figures in The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser.

- [Prince Arthur](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/prince_arthur.md): Arthur rides without a fixed quest, appearing wherever another knight's strength fails, his shield a mirror that unmasks falsehood. Spenser names him the embodiment of Magnificence, the virtue that contains all others, y
- [Sir Calidore](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/sir_calidore.md): Calidore's quest is to muzzle the many-tongued Beast that tears reputations apart, but his weapon is courtesy rather than force, and courtesy keeps leading him astray into pastoral idylls and other men's troubles. When h
- [Sir Artegall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/sir_artegall.md): Artegall is the knight who steps out of the crowd when a boaster claims another man's deeds, stripping the lie bare with evidence and wounds. Trained by Astraea and armed with Chrysaor, he embodies justice as equity, but
- [Sir Guyon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/sir_guyon.md): Guyon's quest is to capture the enchantress Acrasia, whose garden turns men into beasts by giving them everything they want. He is young, courteous, and severe with himself, refusing wrath even when provoked, and his age
- [Britomart](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/britomart.md): Britomart loves Artegall before she has ever met him, having glimpsed his image in Merlin's glass, and sets out in disguise to make that vision real. As the Knight of Chastity, she fights men who assume a woman cannot, a
- [Redcrosse Knight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/redcrosse_knight.md): Redcrosse begins as a clownish farm boy who asks the Faerie Queen for the first adventure offered, and is given the arms of a Christian man instead of a hero's. His companion Una is truth itself, but he is easily separat
- [Una](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/una.md): Una travels a hostile land with only a lion and a dwarf for company, her patience and pity set against the world's appetite for slander and disguise. When the Redcrosse Knight is turned from her by a counterfeit vision, 
- [Florimell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/florimell.md): Florimell is the poem's most pursued woman: desired by Marinell, hunted by a beast, and eventually counterfeited by a snow-white impostor who wears her face at court. Her flight from lust and violence exposes how little 
- [Marinell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/marinell.md): Marinell is the poem's great refuser of love, raised by a sea-nymph to believe that desire for a woman will be his death. When Florimell's beauty overwhelms him, he is wounded not by her but by his own fear, and his reco
- [Talus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/talus.md): Talus serves Artegall as squire and executioner, a figure of metal who can neither be wounded nor reasoned with, and whose flail settles disputes that words cannot. He is the poem's hardest question: what happens when ju
- [Duessa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/duessa.md): Duessa is the poem's great counterfeit, a witch whose gorgeous surface hides a foul and diseased body, and whose talent is not violence but persuasion. She attaches herself to the Redcrosse Knight at the exact moment he 
- [Archimago](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/archimago.md): Archimago is the poem's first villain and its most patient, a hermit whose cell hides a laboratory of illusions and whose weapon is the false image. He engineers the rupture between Una and the Redcrosse Knight by conjur
- [Scudamour](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/scudamour.md): A gentle knight whose love for Amoret drives him to assault an enchanter's castle, only to fail where a stranger's sword succeeds.
- [Amoret](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/amoret.md): Scudamour's beloved, held captive by Busirane's hard enchantments, whose rescue becomes a test of what knightly devotion can and cannot accomplish.
- [Sir Calepine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/calepine.md): A courteous knight whose readiness to aid Serena and confront the Blatant Beast shows courtesy as active virtue, not mere manners.
- [Serena](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/serena.md): A lady rescued by Sir Calepine from a savage attack.
- [Pastorella](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/pastorella.md): A shepherdess whose beauty and bounty captivate Sir Calidore, raising the question of whether true worth needs noble birth to shine.
- [Braggadocchio](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/braggadocchio.md): A boastful coward who steals Guyon's horse and Florimell's girdle, mistaking loud self-praise for the substance of knighthood.
- [Trompart](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/trompart.md): Braggadocchio's cunning squire.
- [Belphebe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/belphebe.md): A chaste huntress whose fierce independence and radiant beauty embody a virtue that both attracts and resists the world's desires.
- [Timias](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/timias.md): Timias serves Prince Arthur as squire, riding with him through Faery land in pursuit of the fleeing Florimell. When six knights try to force him to abandon his sworn lady for a castle's mistress, he refuses alone against
- [Satyrane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/satyrane.md): Satyrane is the son of a satyr and a mortal woman, a knight whose woodland upbringing gives him unusual strength and a plain, unfeigned goodness. He offers shelter and help to strangers, and his honest counsel — urging l
- [Paridell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/paridell.md): Paridell arrives at Malbecco's castle as a guest and promptly turns his rhetoric on the host's wife, Hellenore, playing the courtly wooer while his ancestry ties him to the ruin of Troy. His deceit exposes the gap betwee
- [Hellenore](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/hellenore.md): The unfaithful wife of Malbecco who elopes with Paridell.
- [Malbecco](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/malbecco.md): A jealous old husband who is tormented by his wife's infidelity.
- [Radigund](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/radigund.md): Radigund rules a city of women who have sworn to subject men to their law, and she meets Artegall — the knight of Justice — in the field and beats him. Rather than kill him she enslaves him, dressing him in feminine garb
- [Merlin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/merlin.md): The legendary wizard who prophesies Britomart's destiny.
- [Gloriana](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/gloriana.md): Gloriana reigns over Faery land as the source of every quest and the object of every knight's devotion, praised as the flower of grace and chastity whose glory shines like the morning star. Yet she is almost never seen d
- [Palmer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/palmer.md): The Palmer walks beside Guyon as companion, conscience, and interpreter, a reverend figure whose plain words calm inflamed knights and whose judgment names the moral stakes of each encounter. Where Guyon acts, the Palmer
- [Pyrochles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/pyrochles.md): A fiery and wrathful knight, brother of Cymochles.
- [Cymochles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/cymochles.md): A knight of intemperance and brother of Pyrochles.
- [Até](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/at%C3%A9.md): The goddess of discord and mischief who stirs up strife.
- [Cambell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/cambell.md): A devoted brother-knight who stakes his strength on his sister's happiness, fighting any champion who would claim her hand without her heart.
- [Triamond](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/triamond.md): A courteous knight whose fierce loyalty to his brothers-in-arms turns a mortal duel into an unbreakable bond of sworn brotherhood.
- [Blandamour](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/blandamour.md): A false and fickle knight who pursues Florimell.
- [Grantorto](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/grantorto.md): A giant tyrant who oppresses Irena, slain by Artegall.
- [Irena](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/irena.md): A lady whose kingdom is usurped by Grantorto, rescued by Artegall.
- [Mercilla](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/mercy.md): A queen representing Mercy, who judges Duessa.
- [Adicia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/adicia.md): A hag representing Injustice, wife of the Souldan.
- [Sansfoy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/sansfoy.md): A Saracen knight representing Faithlessness, slain by Redcrosse.
- [Sansjoy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/sansjoy.md): A Saracen knight representing Joylessness, defeated by Redcrosse.
- [Sansloy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/sansloy.md): A Saracen knight representing Lawlessness, enemy of Una.
- [Coridon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/coridon.md): A shepherd who loves Pastorella but loses her to Calidore.
- [Meliboe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/meliboe.md): An old shepherd who fosters Pastorella.
- [Tristram](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/tristram.md): A young squire who becomes Calidore's page.
- [Sir Turpine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/turpine.md): A discourteous knight who attacks Calepine and Serena.
- [Briana](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/briana.md): A lady who demands a lock of hair from passing knights.
- [Crudor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/crudor.md): A cruel knight who forces Briana to collect hair for him.
- [Alma](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/alma.md): The lady of the House of Temperance, representing the soul.
- [Orgoglio](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/orgoglio.md): A giant representing Pride who imprisons the Redcrosse Knight.
- [Despair](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/despair.md): A wretch who tempts knights to suicide in his cave.
- [Mutability](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/mutability.md): A Titaness who claims dominion over all change, challenging the gods' authority and threatening to unsettle the very order of Faery land.
- [Dame Nature](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/dame_nature.md): The judge in Mutability's trial before the gods.
- [Jove](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/jove.md): The king of the gods who opposes Mutability's claim.
- [Cynthia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/cynthia.md): The moon goddess, also called Phoebe or Diana.
- [Faunus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/faunus.md): A satyr who spies on Diana bathing and is punished.
- [Molanna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/molanna.md): A river nymph who helps Faunus spy on Diana.
- [Diana](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/diana.md): The goddess of the hunt and chastity.
- [Venus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/venus.md): The goddess of love who aids her son Cupid.
- [Busirane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/busirane.md): An evil enchanter who tortures Amoret with love spells.
- [Malecasta](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/malecasta.md): A lustful lady who tries to seduce Britomart.
- [Acrasia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/acrasia.md): The enchantress of the Bower of Bliss, representing intemperance.

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters