Guide Mentor

Character Role Analysis

Una

Although we could also consider Una the Love Interest of Redcrosse, her role as his guide is actually much more important. She is constantly offering Redcrosse words of wisdom and advice and it is when they are separated through the trickery of Duessa and Archimago that things really go down hill for Redcrosse.

Going above and beyond the role of guide, Una actually saves Redcrosse's life twice, showing herself to be not just a passive guide for Redcrosse (like the Palmer often is for Guyon), but active. Her symbolic connection to truth and the One True Faith clearly make her a good candidate for being a mentor and it makes sense that Redcrosse's embodiment of faith would need to be always guided by truth.