This extensive dictionary compiles biographical sketches and critical analyses of famous personages drawn from world fiction, drama, and mythology. The author systematically catalogs characters ranging from classic antiquity to Renaissance epics and modern nineteenth-century novels, elucidating their narrative roles and allegorical significance. Each entry provides precise contextual details regarding the original work, the creator, and the cultural impact of the figure described.
The volume embraces a vast breadth of literature, covering mythical deities, historical archetypes transformed into fiction, and purely invented literary creations. From the tragic lovers Abelard and Heloise to the faithful seraph Abdiel in Milton's paradise, the entries explore the complex motivations and moral dimensions of each subject. The work carefully distinguishes between genuine classical mythology and later literary adaptations, maintaining strict adherence to source texts.
Attention is given to allegorical personifications such as Abessa, representing monastic corruption in Spenser, and various embodiments of abstract qualities like intemperance and jealousy. The dictionary highlights the structural mechanics of plots, detailing how specific characters drive the narrative progression within epic poetry and theatrical works. It traces the lineage of tropes such as the boastful braggart, the simple-minded parson, and the devoted friend across diverse literary traditions.
Throughout the compilation, Brewer examines the intricate relationships between characters and their creators' philosophical or political intents. Figures from Dryden's political satires, Shakespearean drama, and classic Greek epics are placed in direct conversation with one another through cross-references and thematic groupings. The text illuminates how authors adapt traditional legends to reflect contemporary societal concerns and moral frameworks.
By categorizing these diverse personages, the volume reveals the recurring patterns and archetypes that underpin Western storytelling. It demonstrates how certain character types, such as the faithful retainer or the tragic lover, persist across centuries while adapting to new cultural contexts. The compilation ultimately functions as an indispensable map of the imaginative terrain constructed by dramatists and novelists through the ages.
