The carle Character Analysis in The Faerie Queene

The carle is an unnamed wild man who lives in the woods and who rapes and eats women. He captures Amoretta and Aemylia. Though he is based on racist stereotypes of a “savage,” he may also be a parody of Catholics, who believe in literally eating the body of Christ during communion (which is “cannibalism” to Protestants like Spenser who believe the Eucharist is only symbolic).

The carle Character Timeline in The Faerie Queene

The timeline below shows where the character The carle appears in The Faerie Queene. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon

...wild-looking “savage” man with hair everywhere and huge teeth who is known only as the carle (similar to churl, a rude person). He wears nothing except a green loincloth as he... (full context)

The other captive cries that she has been imprisoned by an evil carle who deflowers chaste women, then eats them—the captive has already seen it happen seven times.... (full context)

Soon, the carle comes back, and Amoretta decides she’s going to run. She flees through the forest with... (full context)

Timias and the carle fight, with the “savage” man using his club and even using Amoretta as a human... (full context)

The carle believes Belphoebe will be the cause of his death, so he flees back to his... (full context)

British Identity and Nationalism Theme Icon

...are staying. He is moved because both of them seem seriously injured after escaping the carle’s den. He gives them a liquor to cure them. They explain how they were saved... (full context)