Conchita Herdman Marianella's book develops the words "Duena” and "Doncella” in their Cervantine context. The book offers the two sides of this character type in pre-Cervantine usage, from the tendency of the duena or doncella to appear as a lady-in-waiting, damsel in distress, or other high-level intermediary and to behave in patterns commensurate with that socio-cultural status.