Sclaunder

Character Analysis

Sclaunder, whose name is an early version of the English word "slander," is pretty much the most annoying and inaccurate gossip you can imagine. Miserable and unwilling to help Arthur and Amoret, Sclaunder instead follows them around inventing untrue lies about how they've been sleeping together and other such accusations.

In the courtly world that Spenser operated in, in which reputation was crucial and everyone was talking, Sclaunder would have been an especially nefarious threat, sometimes capable of ruining a courtier or ladies entire career. So while Sclaunder is not one of the most awful characters in The Faerie Queene, she can do some serious damage.