# Duessa — The Faerie Queene character guide

> Duessa in The Faerie Queene by Edmund Spenser.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** false Duessa, Fidessa, the proud Duessa

**First appearance:** 0023-canto-i

## Snapshot

A sorceress who wears beauty like a mask, she seduces the Redcrosse Knight into betraying Una and nearly destroys him with the truth of what he has done.

## Who they are

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 is most vulnerable, and her power lies in making falsehood feel like comfort. Her exposure strips both the knight and the reader of the illusion that evil announces itself.

## In the story

### [The Faerie Queene](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/the-faerie-queene)

The false lady representing Duplicity, who opposes Una and leads the Redcrosse Knight astray.

### [Book I: The Legend of the Knight of the Red Cross, or of Holiness](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/book-i-the-legend-of-the-knight-of-the-red-cross-or-of-holiness)

The false Dame who, disguised as Fidessa, leads the Redcrosse Knight to the enchanted fountain and his subsequent capture.

### [Canto II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-ii)

Appears as the distressed Fidessa, telling a fabricated story to the disguised Archimago, and later accompanies the Redcrosse Knight.

### [Canto IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-iv)

Leads the Redcrosse Knight to the House of Pride; secretly visits Sansjoy at night to incite him against the knight.

### [Canto V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-v)

Saves Sansjoy by taking him to Hell for healing; reveals herself as daughter of Deceit and Shame.

### [Canto VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-vii)

The false Dame, cloaked as Fidessa, deceives the Redcrosse Knight and leads him to his capture.

### [Canto VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-viii)

Rides her many-headed beast alongside Orgoglio; after the giant's defeat, she flees but is captured by Arthur's squire.

### [Canto IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-ix)

Referenced by Despair as the false lady with whom the Redcrosse Knight defiled himself.

### [Canto XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-xii)

False woman who attempts to sabotage the wedding by sending a forged letter under the name Fidessa.

### [Canto I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-i)

Disguised by Archimago as a weeping virgin to deceive Guyon.

### [Book III: The Legend of Britomartis, or of Chastity](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/book-iii-the-legend-of-britomartis-or-of-chastity)

Referenced in the canto argument as part of the 'traines' that are defaced.

### [Canto I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-i)

The false sorceress who rides with Blandamour and sows discord, accusing Britomart of dishonor.

### [Canto IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-ix)

Mentioned as one of the instigators of the discord among the knights, along with Até.

### [Canto IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-ix)

Brought before Mercilla as a prisoner, accused of treason and other crimes; her guilt is established but Mercilla shows mercy.

### [Canto X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/chapters/canto-x)

Condemned by all but shown mercy by Mercilla, who laments her fall.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters/duessa
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_faerie_queene_se/characters