The Faerie Queene (characters)

*The Faerie Queene* features allegorical characters representing virtues and vices. For example, Gloriana is the symbolic queen embodying Elizabethan ideals of virtue and authority. Knight characters like Redcrosse symbolize holiness and integrity, battling evil represented by dark forces or malicious figures like Error or Despair. Other characters include Calidore (chastity), Britomart (feminine virtue), and Duessa (deceit). Each character personifies moral qualities or societal ideals, their adventures illustrating the ongoing struggle between virtue and vice. The characters serve as moral allegories, encouraging reflection on virtuous behavior and ethical conduct.