An Apology for Poetry Characters

Sir Philip Sidney is the writer and narrator of the essay who defends poetry against its critics. He speaks with calm confidence and a polite, honest tone, presenting himself as an amateur who nonetheless deeply loves poetry. He acts as a true courtly gentleman, aiming to win the reader's trust rather than simply argue his case. His strong values and measured voice give the essay its authoritative yet approachable character.

The Poet is the central symbolic figure that Sidney defends throughout the essay. Unlike the historian or philosopher, the poet uses imagination to both teach and delight, improving upon the world rather than merely copying it. Sidney elevates the poet to the status of a 'maker' comparable to God, capable of creating entirely new worlds. The poet's purpose is to reveal what should be, not simply what is.

Edward Wotton is Sidney's friend and travel companion who appears briefly at the opening of the essay. He and Sidney studied horse-riding together in Europe, and Sidney refers to him as 'right virtuous.' A renowned scholar and diplomat, Wotton's presence helps establish Sidney's own connections to royal and learned society. His role is small but serves to situate Sidney within an elite, educated circle.

Giovanni Pietro Pugliano was the horse-riding master at the court of Maximilian II who taught both Sidney and Wotton. He spoke of horses and horsemanship with extraordinary praise, even claiming that a horseman represented the finest kind of man. Sidney uses Pugliano's passionate style of speech as the opening inspiration for the essay. Though mentioned only briefly, Pugliano serves as a model for the enthusiastic and thoughtful voice Sidney adopts throughout his defence of poetry.