Ivanhoe

Main Characters and Their Development

• Wilfred of Ivanhoe – a knight returning from the Crusades. He evolves from a disinherited and impoverished knight to a hero who triumphs in a tournament and restores his name and honor.
• Rebecca – the daughter of the Jewish moneylender Isaac. She shows resilience and courage, helping others and defending her beliefs in the face of danger and prejudice.
• Lady Rowena – a noblewoman, desired by many characters, symbolizes the ideal of medieval beauty and virtue, and is Ivanhoe's ultimate love interest.
• Brian de Bois-Guilbert – a Knight Templar and antagonist. He is characterized by religious fanaticism and cruelty, but his character is complicated by internal conflicts and animosity towards his own allies.
• Prince John – the brother of King Richard, seeks to usurp power in the king's absence. His ambitions and betrayal are the cause of many events in the novel.