TIRANT LO BLANC characters: main and secondary characters

Tirant lo BlancIt is a chivalric novel written by the Valencian Joanot Martorell, around 1460. This is one of the most important books in universal literature, since it is considered a very modern novel compared to what was written at that time. Between his lines you discover love, humor, reflection on death and war.

In this lesson from a TEACHER, we are going to discover the characters of Tirant lo Blanc, introducing yourself to the main and secondary characters that Joanot Martorell invented so that they would carry the weight of history.

The characters are not mere names that we must remember when we read a book, but they are creations that the author has designed so that They explain history to us from a certain point of view. For example, it would not be the same to read Little Red Riding Hood from the perspective of the wolf than from that of the girl. Therefore, it is important that you know in depth the main characters of Tirant lo Blanc.

Tirant lo Blanc

Tirant lo Blanc He is the main character of the novel of chivalry and

Throughout the novel, Tirant demonstrates his abilities as a warrior, leader and strategist, but he also uses his wisdom and sense of honor. He falls in love with Carmesina, the daughter of the emperor of Constantinople, and their love relationship is one of the most relevant parts of the novel's plot.

Tirant lo Blanc is a complex character which presents some of the typical elements of knights in chivalric novels, but always from a more realistic and human approach. Unlike the protagonists of the other chivalric novels, Tirant faces real challenges and she experiences both success and failure. Her character is credible and close to reality.

Carmesine

She is a 14 year old girl who falls in love with Tirant at first sight. Between them they exchange many love games without going to bed, since the girl does not want to until she gets married. He never invites Tirant to his room, even though he likes him a lot and always remains firm to his convictions.

The main character of Carmesina She represents the social values ​​of the author Joanot Martorell. When Tirant dies of illness, Carmesina dies with him out of sadness.

Plaerdemavida

Plaerdemavida She is the intermediary between the two lovers and plays a decisive role in the love scenes. In fact, It is she who provokes the meeting between the two lovers. Plaerdemavida's love behavior is unclear. She presents herself as a very sensual woman who wants to participate in all the love affairs, since the fulfillment of Her sexual desire is based more on her imagination or her participation as a spectator, and not so much on being the protagonist.

She knows well the desires of the heart, but also those of the body. She is very witty, sensitive, mischievous and very sensual. She speaks clearly and always says things by their name.. It is discovered that she is the king's mistress.

Guillem de Varoic

Guillem de Varoic He was a nobleman who retired to become a hermit. He meets Tirant when the boy was going to England to be knighted. This character does not appear much in the novel, but he is very important, since It is he who listens to the story that Diafebus explains to him about Tirant.

Diafebus

Diafebus is the narrator of the story. He is Tirant's cousin and the one who went to find Guillem de Varoic to tell him about the knight's adventures. He explains to her all of his adventures, from when he is knighted until he dies and, thanks to this, We readers can also find out.

The secondary characters have less weight in the plot, since they are not essential to the story, just as Tirant lo Blanc or Carmesina are. However, these are the characters that give depth to the novel and contextualize the protagonists in a specific environment and situation. These are the characters of Tirant lo Blanc considered secondary:

• The emperor: He is the ruler of Constantinople, who hires Tirant to fight in the war against the Turks.
• The Empress: She is the wife of the Emperor, who also falls in love with Tirant.
• The Great Turk: He is the leader of the Turks and the main antagonist of the novel.
• The Great Khan: He is the leader of the Tatars, an ally of Constantinople and from whom Tirant learns military techniques.
• The patriarch: He is the religious leader of Constantinople, who advises the Emperor in critical moments of the war.
• The Duchess of Athens: She is Tirant's enemy, who tries to sabotage his relationship with Carmesina.
• The Restful Widow: She is a woman who offers love advice to Plaerdemavida.
• The Abbot of Cluny: She is the character who represents the Catholic Church, and who participates in a theological debate with the Patriarch.
• The Moor: She is a knight who challenges Tirant to a duel.

Now you know the main and secondary characters of the novel of chivalry Tirant lo Blanc. In this other lesson we discover a summary of Tirant lo Blanc by chapters.

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