The Faerie Queene

The Faerie Queene

by

Edmund Spenser

The Lady of Delight (Malecasta) Character Analysis

The Lady of Delight (also called Malecasta) is the lady of a castle themed after Venus. When she sees Britomart in her armor, she thinks Britomart is a man and falls in love with her. But when she tries to embrace Britomart at night, Britomart fights back and runs away.
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The Lady of Delight (Malecasta) Character Timeline in The Faerie Queene

The timeline below shows where the character The Lady of Delight (Malecasta) appears in The Faerie Queene. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Book III: Canto I
Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon
British Identity and Nationalism Theme Icon
Protestantism Theme Icon
Love and Friendship Theme Icon
The Role of Women Theme Icon
The castle turns out to be Castle Joyous, where the Lady of Delight (Malecasta) resides. The castle is sumptuously decorated, with references to mythology like the story of Venus... (full context)
Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon
British Identity and Nationalism Theme Icon
Protestantism Theme Icon
Deception and Lies Theme Icon
Love and Friendship Theme Icon
The Role of Women Theme Icon
...trained in knightly skills and civility, they are little more than shadows to Britomart. The Lady of Delight keeps insisting that Britomart take off her armor, full of lust and believing that Britomart... (full context)
Virtue, Allegory, and Symbolism Theme Icon
British Identity and Nationalism Theme Icon
Protestantism Theme Icon
Deception and Lies Theme Icon
Love and Friendship Theme Icon
The Role of Women Theme Icon
After a lavish dinner with everyone, Malecasta (the name of the Lady of Delight) can’t rest that night. She sneaks out of... (full context)