Character Relationship Map: That Lady

Characters

• Ana de Mendoza (played by Olivia de Havilland) — protagonist

  A swashbuckling princess who loses an eye defending King Philip II's honor. Forced into a marriage with an aging noble, she becomes a widow. Later, she assists in tutoring the commoner Antonio Perez,...

• Antonio Perez (played by Gilbert Roland) — supporting

  A commoner assigned to be tutored by Ana de Mendoza. He develops a romantic relationship with her, which leads to a decline in his popularity, facilitated by the king's jealous minister.

• King Philip II of Spain (played by Paul Scofield) — supporting

  The Spanish king whose honor Ana defends. He later abandons Ana to marry Mary I of England and entrusts her with tutoring Antonio Perez. His court dynamics and jealousy drive the central conflict.

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• King Philip II of Spain → Antonio Perez (Professional Royal Assigner) — Philip places Antonio on a path toward service as his first secretary.

  Philip asks Ana to assist in tutoring Antonio Perez as his first secretary.

• Ana de Mendoza → Antonio Perez (Professional Tutor And Pupil) — Ana is assigned to help prepare Antonio for his role.

  Philip asks Ana to assist in tutoring the commoner Antonio Perez as his first secretary.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Ana de Mendoza → King Philip II of Spain (Alliance Defender) — Ana risks her safety to defend Philip's honor.

  Ana loses an eye in a duel while defending the honor of King Philip II of Spain.

Story Analysis

Ana de Mendoza's heroic past, imposed marriage, and forbidden love become entangled with Philip's royal authority and court conflict.

Plot Progression

1. The Wounded Defender — Ana defends Philip's honor in a duel and loses an eye. Philip later jilts her, redirecting her life through a politically determined marriage.
2. A Widow's Turning Point — Ana is married to the aging Ruy Gómez de Silva, who later dies and leaves her a widow. Her widowhood creates the circumstances for Philip to seek her assistance again.
3. The Secretary's Education — Philip asks Ana to help tutor Antonio Perez, a commoner intended to become his first secretary. The professional arrangement brings Ana and Antonio into sustained contact.
4. Love at Court — Ana and Antonio fall in love during the tutoring relationship. Their romance is followed by a decline in Antonio's popularity and increasing court tension.
5. Jealousy and Decline — The romance becomes entangled with Philip's court dynamics and jealousy. Antonio's popularity continues to fall as the personal relationship drives the central conflict.