In Edmund Spenser’s (1552/53-1599) “The Faerie Queene, Book 1, Canto 1” (1590), Archimago is an important character. Archimago is a magician, but he pretends to be a holy religious man. His name comes from two words: “archi” (meaning chief or highest) and “magos” (meaning magician or wizard). So, he is a powerful sorcerer. In the poem, he represents hypocrisy, especially in religion. He looks like a good man on the outside, but he is full of evil inside. His main role is to trick the Red Cross Knight and make him fall from his path of holiness.

Archimago’s First Appearance: We first see Archimago in Stanza 29 of Book I, Canto I. He appears suddenly in the forest where Red Cross Knight and Lady Una are traveling. He looks like an old hermit, someone holy and peaceful. He wears long black clothes, has a long white beard, carries a book of prayers, and walks with eyes looking down. He looks very gentle and kind. He pretends to pray and repent all the time.

“And all the way he prayed, as he went,

And often knockt his brest, as one that did repent.”

Invitation to His Hermitage: Archimago offers them a place to stay in his little house, called a hermitage. This is inside a quiet forest. The place looks very peaceful, holy, and safe.

“A little lowly Hermitage it was”

The Magic Spell and Evil Plan: That night, while the Knight and Una are sleeping, Archimago begins his evil plan. He opens his magic books. He performs black magic to call two evil spirits. He wants to use these spirits to create a lustful dream for the knight and a fake Una. As Spenser writes:

“He seekes out mighty charmes, to trouble sleepy mindes.”

Archimago Tricks the Knight:  When Red Cross Knight wakes up from the lustful dream, he sees Lady Una lying beside him. Lady Una is trying to seduce him. The knight is shocked. He is disappointed to see the lady so unchaste. Archimago’s trick works. The Red Cross Knight loses trust in Lady Una. Even though she has done nothing wrong, the knight now thinks she is impure. He decides to leave her without asking or confirming anything. The knight is so angry that,

“He thought have slaine her in his fierce despight:”

Archimago’s Symbolic Meaning: Archimago is not just a character; he stands for something deeper. Archimago pretends to be holy but is full of evil. So, he represents the hypocrisy and lies of false religion. Spenser’s “The Faerie Queene” is an allegorical work. Archimago stands for the evil Roman Catholic priests. In this poem, Archimago’s main role is to separate Holiness (Red Cross Knight) from Truth (Una). This is very important because Spenser wants to show that without truth, holiness becomes weak.

In fine, Archimago is a key villain in “The Faerie Queene.” He is dangerous because he is not an open threat like Monster Error; he uses false appearances and lies. His role is to test the knight’s faith, trust, and spiritual strength. Through Archimago, Spenser warns us to be careful of people who seem religious but are secretly evil.