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Ferdinand, King of Navarre
While the play’s dramatis personae lists the King as Ferdinand, throughout the play he is referred to only as “King.” He has sworn an oath to focus on scholarship at the expense of earthly pleasures, including romantic pursuits.
Read an in-depth analysis of Ferdinand.
Berowne, Longaville, and Dumaine
Three lords who have joined the King in his oath of scholarship. They fall in love with Rosaline, Maria, and Katherine, respectively.
Read an in-depth analysis of Berowne.
Princess of France
This character never has a name other than “Princess.” She travels to Navarre as an ambassador, intending to discuss political matters with the King on her father’s behalf. However, she and her attending ladies end up in a flirtatious game of wits with the King and his lords.
Read an in-depth analysis of the Princess of France.
Rosaline, Maria, and Katherine
Three ladies attending the Princess, who catch the fancy of the King’s lords.
Boyet
A lord attending the Princess. He serves as a messenger to the King’s court and exchanges jokes with the lords.
Don Adriano de Armado
Described in the list of characters as “a fantastical Spaniard.” A comic figure admired by King and his lords for his vocabulary, yet mocked by Holofernes for his verbosity, Armado falls in love with the wench Jaquenetta. His name, a variant of armada, is likely meant to mock the fallen glory of the Spanish Armada.
Read an in-depth analysis of Armado.
Mote
Armado’s page.
Costard
He is described as “a clown,” and therefore fills the role of the fool, a common character in many of Shakespeare’s plays. Both Don Armado and Berowne ask him to deliver letters to their respective ladies, but Costard accidentally switches the letters.
Jaquenetta
A country wench caught with Costard by Don Armado.
Sir Nathaniel and Holofernes
A curate and schoolmaster, respectively. They serve the role of providing learned commentary on the letters of the other characters. They are also responsible for the masque of the Nine Worthies near the end of the play.
Dull
A constable, usually appearing with Sir Nathaniel and Holofernes. He provides a dull contrast to their scholarship.
Mercade
Another lord attending on the Princess. His only appearance in the play comes when he arrives to tell the Princess that her father has died.
