Teresa Panza

Also known as: Doña Teresa Panza / Juana Gutierrez / Mari Gutierrez / Sancho's wife / Señora Teresa / Teresa / Teresona / my Teresa / my wife / my wife Teresa Panza / the wife of the governor Sancho / thy wife Teresa Panza / wife / your Teresa · Family: Panza · Role: Sancho Panza's wife · First appears: Part 1, Ch. 7.2

In Part 1, Ch. 7, Teresa is married to Sancho Panza, who imagines that she might become queen if he became king. By Ch. 11, she is involved in a quarrel with the goatherd after he insults her appearance. In Part 2, Ch. 5, she is the mother of Sanchico and Sanchica: she agrees to dress her son for the station Sancho Panza hopes to gain, but refuses consent to Sanchica becoming a countess, saying, “You do as you like, make a duchess or a princess of her, but I can tell you it will not be with my will and consent.” She also permits Sancho Panza to accompany Don Quixote on another adventure.

While Sancho Panza is away, Teresa remains at home, hackling flax and drinking wine. When the duchess sends letters and coral beads announcing that Sancho Panza has become governor of Barataria through Don Quixote, Teresa shares the news with the curate and the barber, declaring, “None of us poor now, faith! We’ve got a little government!” She regards the duchess as a friend despite their difference in rank, while accepting her gifts and sending letters to both the duchess and Sancho Panza. She does not let Samson Carrasco write her replies because she suspects he is too fond of joking, and she welcomes the page who brings the messages by serving him eggs and bacon.

Later, Sancho Panza speaks warmly of Teresa, calling her his wife and saying he loves her better than his own eyelids; he also chooses “Teresona” as a name for their daughter. The duchess receives Teresa’s letter and later gives Teresa’s letters to Sancho Panza, who sheds tears over them. In Part 2, Ch. 73, Teresa runs out with Sanchica to meet him, and the family returns together to their house. In 1614, Sancho Panza also produces a letter to Teresa recounting his adventures and plans connected with his governorship, which the duchess approves for the duke to read.