Dulcinea del Toboso is a fictional character who does not appear in Miguel de Cervantes's novel Don Quixote. Don Quixote believes that chivalry requires him to have a lady, so he creates Dulcinea as the perfect example of feminine beauty. He describes her in great detail: "Her name is Dulcinea, her country is El Toboso, a village in La Mancha. Her rank must be at least that of a princess, since she is my queen and lady. Her beauty is superhuman, with golden hair, a forehead like Elysian fields, eyebrows like rainbows, eyes like suns, cheeks like roses, lips like coral, teeth like pearls, a neck like alabaster, a bosom like marble, hands like ivory, and skin as white as snow. What modesty hides from view, I imagine to be so perfect that only thoughtful reflection can praise, not compare" (Part I, Chapter 13, translation by John Ormsby).

Don Quixote is shown as both noble and silly in the story. Sancho Panza understands this and supports Dulcinea, saying, "If you search for treasures at the bottom of the ocean, you might find her."

The name "Dulcinea" comes from the Spanish word dulce (meaning "sweet") and suggests an extremely elegant kind of sweetness. Today, calling someone your "Dulcinea" means showing idealistic love and devotion for her.

Spurious Part II of the work

In 1614, an unknown writer who used the false name Alonso Fernández de Avellaneda published a second part of Don Quijote.

Although some details about Dulcinea in Avellaneda’s work appear in the first part of Don Quixote, he does not focus on the noble and imaginary character of Dulcinea. Many experts believe that because of this and other errors in Avellaneda’s book, which upset the author Miguel de Cervantes, Cervantes decided to finish his own unfinished second part. This part was published the next year.

Quotes from the text include: "…especially my lady the princess Dulcinea, who staggers one's senses." and "…who went skipping and capering like goats over the pleasant fields there…"

Opera

The opera Don Quichotte by Jules Massenet shows Dulcinée as an important character. She is the queen of the town and sends the knight on a mission to get back her jewels.

In popular culture

• A prostitute named Aldonza is the main female character in Man of La Mancha, a play based on the story of Don Quixote. She is called "Dulcinea" in this version and its movie adaptation.
• The French composer Maurice Ravel wrote a set of three songs titled Don Quichotte à Dulcinée between 1932 and 1933. These songs are performed by a baritone singer with musical accompaniment.
• In the TV series The Adventures of Puss in Boots, Dulcinea is the main female character.
• In the Japanese anime series Zukkoke Knight – Don De La Mancha, Dulcinea’s real name is Fedora in the English version. She is the daughter of a bandit king named Poormouth. Her role is to help her father by stealing, but she usually fails. She tricks Don Quixote into helping her. The character is voiced by Mami Koyama.
• The first episode of the Syfy TV show The Expanse is titled "Dulcinea."
• In the novel series The Locked Tomb, Dulcinea Septimus is the heir to the Seventh House. Her relationship with Palamedes Sextus follows the pattern of a beautiful woman who is difficult to reach.
• In Limbus Company, a South Korean video game, Dulcinea is one of the "kindreds" representing Alonso Quijano. She leads the parade of "La Mancha land" and is the second boss in the third area of Canto VII.
• The alternative rock band Toad the Wet Sprocket explored themes of hidden motivation on their 1994 album Dulcinea. Their music is sometimes compared to the character from Don Quixote.
• The post-metal band Isis included a song titled "Dulcinea" on their 2006 album In the Absence of Truth.