El Cid: sneers, swash and buckle.
July 8, 2010, filed under: Characters,El Cid, by LexHere are few more cast members of Kid Beowulf vs. El Cid. For some reason I didn’t have nearly as much trouble coming up with these looks as I did Rodrigo’s. I especially like the look of this fellow below: Ordoñez.
He’s Rodrigo’s competition, as a knight and as a potential love interest for Ximena. Ordoñez has been in more battles than Rodrigo and is Count Gormaz’s lieutenant (Ximena’s father). He’s reliable and will do what you ask him; he does not confuse orders with moral clarity (something Rodrigo has trouble with). Ordoñez’s main goal is to best Rodrigo in whatever way he can.
Thankfully, Rodrigo has a few friends on his side including the fellow above, Pedro. Pedro is sometimes referred to as “Pedro the Mute,” though in the epic poem he does in fact speak–just not very often. I thought that was an interesting idea and am going to try and keep this Pedro mute through the book, to communicate he’ll draw images and signs on his slate breastplate. I’m not sure if this concept will work, but I’m going to give it a try and see what happens. It could result in some cool (and hopefully clever) iconography.
Along with Pedro, Rodrigo’s other close friend and confidant is Martín. Martín does speak–though his mouth sometimes gets him into trouble–he’s the quick wit or dry observation a grim story needs. In the original epic, both Pedro and Martín are bequeathed El Cid’s blades, Tizona and Colada, which they use in a final duel. Rodrigo inspires many men to his cause, but it’s Pedro and Martín who knew him from the start, join him in exile and keep him honest.
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