Don Quixote Characters

The editor of the translation of Benengeli’s history. According to the novel, he assembled the various parts of Quixote’s story and revised them, commenting here and there on plausibility, tone, and intention. He describes himself as a discoverer, not an inventor.

Quixote’s Moorish chronicler, the author of all but the first section of the first part of the history (the author of the first section is not given).

An old friend of Quixote’s from the village. The priest is an opinionated, nosy, narrow-minded man who dismisses all of Quixote’s ideas and beliefs, and who exerts a great deal of effort to “reform” him – a task that seems a great deal like breaking his spirit.

The barber is a friend of the priest’s. He follows the priest wherever he goes, and does whatever he says.

A middle-aged woman who keeps house for Quixote. She disapproves of his projects and ideas, and urges him to stay home and act sensibly.

A young woman who shares the housekeeper’s opinions.

Sancho’s wife, a strong, sensible, funny woman. She is content with her life as a laborer, but she is also eager to get ahead.

Sancho’s young daughter, who is merry and energetic.

A friendly but money-savvy man, and a lover of chivalry books.

The innkeeper’s servant, clever and mischievous.

A prisoner whom Quixote frees from his chains, and who repays him by stoning him and stealing Sancho's donkey. He later appears disguised as a puppetmaster named Master Pedro.

A student who dies of love for Marcela.

A beautiful, unapproachable shepherdess.

A high-born young man who runs away to the sierras after he thinks himself betrayed by his beloved.

Cardenio’s beloved.

A friend of Cardenio’s, who tries to steal Luscinda away.

A peasant girl, whom Don Fernando seduced and betrayed.

The married friend in the “Tale of Inappropriate Curiosity.”

The unmarried friend in the “Tale of Inappropriate Curiosity.”

Anselmo’s wife.

Camila’s servant

A man who was a prisoner of war in Algiers.

A wealthy, beautiful young Moorish woman who wanted to escape to Christian lands.

The captive’s brother and father of Clara.

The judge’s daughter.

Clara’s beloved.

The stranger from whom Quixote steals Mambrino’s helmet.

A learned clergyman who discusses literature and realism with the priest.

A goatherd who eats lunch with Quixote, Sancho, the priest, the barber, and the canon on their way back to the village.

The goatherd Eugenio's rival for Leandra.

Eugenio’s beloved.

A showy soldier who deceives Leandra.

The author of the spurious history.

A peasant from Quixote and Sancho’s village who pretends to be Carrasco’s squire.

A well-to-do hidalgo who hosts Sancho and Quixote at his house.

Don Diego’s son, a poet.

A beautiful bride to Camacho the Rich, though she actually loves the poor Basilio.

Quiteria’s groom.

The poor man Quiteria loves.

Fictional characters who Quixote encounters in the Cave of Montesinos.

A wealthy, upper-class couple who host Quixote and Sancho and play many tricks on them. They pretend to offer friendship and respect to Quixote and Sancho, but they treat them with contempt and use them solely for their own amusement.

A servant of the Duke’s who helps plan and carry out most of the hoaxes.

The Duchess’s duenna.

A person invented by the Duke and Duchess.

A young girl in the Duke and Duchess’s court who pretends to be in love with Quixote.

The Duke’s lackey, an all-purpose servant.

Two gentlemen that show Quixote and Sancho a copy of the spurious history.

Sancho’s friend from the village, a Morisco who has recently been forced to leave Spain.

Ricote’s daughter

Ana’s beloved.

A gallant captain of thieves.

Roque’s friend.

Claudia’s lover, whom she killed by mistake.

Captain Roque’s friend, who pretends to have a talking bust.

a man who appears in the spurious second half of the history.