Orlando Characters

The protagonist of Orlando and the wife of Marmaduke Bonthrop Shelmerdine, Esquire. Orlando is first introduced as a 16-year-old boy living in the 16th century during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. The… read analysis of Orlando

Orlando’s husband. Orlando meets Shel, as she often calls him, during the 19th century, and they are engaged within minutes. Shel has many feminine qualities and traits, and Orlando says he is “as subtle… read analysis of Marmaduke Bonthrop Shelmerdine, Esquire / Shel

A very famous writer and critic whom Orlando first meets during the Elizabethan era. According to Greene, poetry is “dead” in England, and poets like Shakespeare and Marlowe only write for money. He claims they… read analysis of Nicholas Greene

An English poet from the early 18th century. Pope is one of the poets Orlando admires, and she repeats Pope’s name repeatedly “like an incantation.” Orlando finally meets Pope at Lady R.’s reception room… read analysis of Alexander Pope

An Irish essayist and satirist from the early 18th century. Orlando meets Swift after she befriends Alexander Pope. Swift represents the accomplished writers and poets whom Orlando idolizes, and the narrator quotes a passage… read analysis of Jonathan Swift

A nobleman who falls in love with Orlando by simply looking at a painting of him. The Archduke moves near Orlando’s estate in London and dresses as a woman, disguising himself as an Archduchess to… read analysis of The Archduchess Harriet Griselda / Archduke Harry

A prostitute whom Orlando meets some time during in the 18th century. When Orlando initially meets Nell, Orlando is dressed in men’s clothing, and Nell naturally assumes that Orlando is a man. When Nell… read analysis of Nell

One of the Romani people Orlando lives with in Constantinople. The Romani people begin to suspect that Orlando isn’t quite like them, and Rustum says it is because Orlando’s “God is nature.” Rustum and others… read analysis of Rustum el Sadi

A servant employed by Orlando whom the narrator describes as a “Blackamoor,” a derogatory term used around the 16th century to describe North Africans who were typically used by wealthy Europeans as slaves or (lowly)… read analysis of Grace Robinson

A London socialite whose reception room is “the antechamber to the presence room of genius.” Only the greatest writers and intellectuals of the 18th century gather at Lady R.’s, and Orlando is ecstatic when she… read analysis of Lady R.

An English writer and learned man of a wide variety of sciences from the 17th century. Woolf first mentions Browne in the preface, and he is one of the writers she is “perpetually in debt… read analysis of Sir Thomas Browne

An English essayist and poet of the 18th century. Addison is one of the poets Orlando idolizes (Nicolas Green later says that Orlando’s poem, “The Oak Tree,” reminds him of Addison’s tragic… read analysis of Joseph Addison

A noblewoman whom Orlando is engaged to marry early in the novel. Her real name is Lady Margaret, but Orlando refers to her only as Euphrosyne, a popular named used in Elizabethan poetry and the… read analysis of Euphrosyne

A Muscovite Princess whom Orlando falls in love with during the Great Frost, at which time Orlando is betrothed to Euphrosyne. Orlando and Sasha spend much time together during the festival of the Great… read analysis of Sasha

The daughter of a general who attends Orlando’s lavish ball in Constantinople the night Orlando’s patent of nobility arrives from England. Since most historical documents of the time have been destroyed in a fire… read analysis of Penelope Hartopp

Queen of England and Ireland from 1558 until her death in 1603. Queen Elizabeth falls in love with Orlando early in the novel, and she is enraged when she finds Orlando kissing another girl. It… read analysis of Queen Elizabeth I

The chaplain on Orlando’s estate. Like Orlando and a handful of other characters, Mr. Dupper lives for hundreds of years in Orlando. He is in Orlando’s employ during the 16th century, and he… read analysis of Mr. Dupper

Orlando’s housekeeper. Like Orlando, Mrs. Grimsditch lives for hundreds of years. She is employed by Orlando during the 16th century, and she is around when Orlando (now a woman) returns from Constantinople over a… read analysis of Mrs. Grimsditch

An English naval officer. The narrator uses Brigge’s personal diary to piece together the events of Orlando’s party in Constantinople, after which Orlando inexplicably transforms into a woman. Brigge’s diary entry tells of a… read analysis of Lieutenant Brigge

An English poet and playwright from the 16th century. Marlowe was Shakespeare’s contemporary, and he is perhaps best known for his play, The Tragical History of Dr. Faustus. In Nicholas Greene’s harsh… read analysis of Christopher Marlowe / Kit Marlowe

An English poet who lived from 1572-1631. Donne is noted for his sonnets and elegies, and according to the harsh critique of Nicolas Greene during the Elizabethan age, Donne is a “mountebank” who wraps up… read analysis of John Donne

The British officer who delivers Orlando’s patent of nobility. Historically speaking, Sir Adrian Scrope (1601-1660), was one of the 59 signatories who signed King Charles I’s death warrant in 1649. Charles I was accused… read analysis of Sir Adrian Scrope

A Romani dancer whom Orlando supposedly marries the night before he changes into a woman in Constantinople. Rosina never actually appears in the story and is only referred to, and she is another example of… read analysis of Rosina Pepita

The daughter of a poor man from Somersetshire. Orlando dates Favilla, as he calls her “in his sonnets,” early in the novel, and she is yet another example of Orlando’s taste for “low company.” Orlando… read analysis of Favilla

A “sweet-mannered gentle lady” whom Orlando dates for nearly six months in the beginning of the novel. Her real name is never known, and Orlando refers to her only as Clorinda, a popular named used… read analysis of Clorinda