Inigo Montoya Character Analysis in The Princess Bride

In the story of The Princess Bride, Inigo is a fencing wizard" who was born in a village in Spain and idolizes his father, a sword maker named Domingo. Inigo has been interested in fencing from a young age, given that Domingo makes them, but he doesn't decide to dedicate his life to learning to fence until after Count Rugen brutally murders his father. After this, Inigo spends the next ten years training all over the world to learn to fence so he can avenge his father's death, though he does briefly fall in love while studying in Italy. When finding Count Rugen proves more difficult than Inigo expected, he turns to brandy and is an alcoholic when Vizzini finds him. With Vizzini, Inigo finds that he has a purpose and always knows what to do. He befriends Fezzik, Vizzini's other employee, and the two men become great friends. Inigo doesn't think Fezzik is silly for being interested in rhymes, so he makes up rhymes and plays games with him. Both men, however, seriously doubt their own abilities to think and plan thanks to Vizzini's abuse, though Inigo is better about standing up for himself. Inigo is thrilled at first to fight Westley, but he becomes distraught when he loses their fencing match. He returns to the Thieves Quarter and to brandy until Fezzik rescues him a month later. Once Inigo learns that Count Rugen is in the castle, he formulates a plan to find Westley so that Westley can plan their attack on the castle. Despite this, Inigo is the one who does most of the planning and legwork as he and Fezzik penetrate Prince Humperdinck's Zoo of Death and then purchase a miracle to bring Westley back to life. When Inigo finally confronts Count Rugen, Rugen immediately throws a knife into Inigo's belly. Inigo's rage and desire for revenge is so great that he's able to rise above the pain and cut out Count Rugen's heart.

Inigo Montoya Quotes in The Princess Bride

The The Princess Bride quotes below are all either spoken by Inigo Montoya or refer to Inigo Montoya. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

“I just feel better when I know what's going on, that's all,” the Turk mumbled. “People are always thinking I'm so stupid because I'm big and strong and sometimes drool a little when I get excited.”

“The reason people think you're so stupid,” the Sicilian said, “is because you are so stupid. It has nothing to do with your drooling.”

Related Characters: Fezzik (speaker), Vizzini (speaker), Inigo Montoya, Buttercup

Page Number and Citation: 101

Explanation and Analysis:

“I can feel him,” Fezzik said. “His body weight on the rope.”

“He'll never catch up!” the Sicilian cried. “Inconceivable!”

“You keep using that word!” the Spaniard snapped. “I don't think it means what you think it does.”

Related Characters: Fezzik (speaker), Vizzini (speaker), Inigo Montoya (speaker), Buttercup, Westley/Farm Boy/The Man in Black

Page Number and Citation: 114

Explanation and Analysis:

Inigo lay flat, staring down, trying to pierce the moonlight and find the climber's secret. For a long while, Inigo did not move. He was a good learner, but not a particularly fast one, so he had to study.

Related Characters: Inigo Montoya, Westley/Farm Boy/The Man in Black

Page Number and Citation: 101

Explanation and Analysis:

“I understand everything,” he said.

“You understand nothing, but it really doesn't matter, since what you mean is, you're glad to see me, just as I'm glad to see you because no more loneliness.”

“That's what I mean,” said Fezzik.

Related Characters: Fezzik (speaker), Inigo Montoya (speaker), Westley/Farm Boy/The Man in Black

Page Number and Citation: 278

Explanation and Analysis:

“Down is our direction, Fezzik, but I can tell you're a bit edgy about all this, so, out of the goodness of my heart, I will let you walk down not behind me, and not in front of me, but right next to me, on the same step, stride for stride, and you put an arm around my shoulder, because that will probably make you feel better, and I, so as to not make you feel foolish, will put an arm around your shoulder, and thus, safe, protected, together, we will descend.”

Related Characters: Inigo Montoya (speaker), Fezzik

Related Symbols: The Zoo of Death

Page Number and Citation: 299

Explanation and Analysis:

“I wish I could remember what it was like when I was dead,” the man in black said. “I'd write it all down. I could make a fortune on a book like that. I can't move my legs either.”

Related Characters: Westley/Farm Boy/The Man in Black (speaker), Inigo Montoya, Fezzik

Page Number and Citation: 333

Explanation and Analysis:

“Fezzik, I need you,” Inigo screamed.

“I'll only be a minute,” Fezzik said, because there were some things you did, no matter what, and when a friend needed help, you helped him.

Related Characters: Inigo Montoya (speaker), Fezzik (speaker)

Page Number and Citation: 346

Explanation and Analysis:

We've traveled a long way, you and I, from when Buttercup was only among the twenty most beautiful women on earth (because of her potential), riding Horse and taunting the Farm Boy, and Inigo and Fezzik were brought in to kill her. You've written letters, kept in touch, you'll never know how much I appreciate that. I was on the beach at Malibu once, years back, and I saw this young guy with his arm around his girl and they were both wearing T-shirts that said WESTLEY NEVER DIES.

Loved that.

Related Characters: William Goldman (speaker), Buttercup, Westley/Farm Boy/The Man in Black, Fezzik, Inigo Montoya

Page Number and Citation: 449

Explanation and Analysis:

Inigo Montoya Character Timeline in The Princess Bride

The timeline below shows where the character Inigo Montoya appears in The Princess Bride. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...sword with the other museum patrons and Goldman notices that all the children are mouthing Inigo's famous words. He thinks that Morgenstern would be thrilled. They look at a mold of... (full context)

...looking through the letters and photo albums, but then Willy says that Count Rugen killed Inigo. He reads out of a notebook labeled “The Princess Bride diary,” which contains Morgenstern's musings... (full context)

The Value of Cleverness and Humility Theme Icon

...a humpback (Vizzini) explains that he and his companions, a giant (Fezzik) and a Spaniard (Inigo), are circus performers looking for a nearby village. Vizzini leaps at Buttercup, touches her neck,... (full context)

Inigo suggests that they tell Buttercup that they're kidnapping her for ransom, but Vizzini declares that... (full context)

Buttercup wakes up and without even blinking, she dives into Florin Channel. Both Fezzik and Inigo refuse to dive in after her and Vizzini listens carefully for the sounds of her... (full context)

...never heard of secret passages through the Cliffs and thinks her captors can't climb them. Inigo asks if anyone could be following, something Vizzini deems is “inconceivable.” Inigo points out that... (full context)

...following them, they can cut the rope before he can use it to climb up. Inigo lifts Buttercup onto Fezzik's shoulders, ties himself to Fezzik's waist, and then Vizzini clings to... (full context)

...man in black, who is indeed getting closer. He tells Fezzik to go faster and Inigo compliments Fezzik's climbing. Vizzini becomes even more frantic when Fezzik says that the man in... (full context)

Vizzini angrily tells Inigo that the man in black isn't following them and then tells him to stay behind... (full context)

The narrator steps back in time to offer Inigo's backstory. Inigo is born in Arabella, Spain, which is a small and impoverished village in... (full context)

One day, as Inigo is making lunch for his father, a nobleman knocks on the door and asks for... (full context)

...the next, he regrets taking the job. He refuses to sleep and only eats when Inigo forces him. One night, Inigo wakes up and sees that Domingo has finished the sword.... (full context)

...swords for the next ten years and grows very fat and rich. At that point, Inigo returns. He explains that he's spent the last ten years learning to fence and now,... (full context)

The next morning, Inigo begins to hunt for the six-fingered man. He doesn't think it's going to be hard,... (full context)

Back in the present, Inigo paces on the edge of the cliff and asks the man in black if he... (full context)

The man in black declares that he's ready to fence and they begin. Inigo and the man in black start with their swords in their left hands as Inigo... (full context)

Fezzik looks behind him and sees that Inigo's been beaten. He's very sad, as Inigo's the only one who doesn't laugh about Fezzik's... (full context)

...the end of 30 days, Morgenstern offers three flashbacks to explain what happened to Westley, Inigo, and Fezzik. (full context)

Inigo comes to and realizes he's tied up. He uses his feet to pull his sword... (full context)

Fezzik comes to and can remember that Inigo made up a rhyme for him so that he could remember what he was supposed... (full context)

...get “the fencer with the brandy.” As the brutes come around the corner, they hear Inigo yelling that he's not going to wait for Vizzini forever. The smaller brute tries to... (full context)

Fezzik puts Inigo in Falkbridge's bed, takes the wagon to the entrance of the Thieves' Quarter for a... (full context)

Fezzik tells Inigo that he came to Florin City because he wanted to see Buttercup get married and... (full context)

...because Prince Humperdinck banished pirates for fear of another attack or kidnapping attempt by Guilder. Inigo reminds Fezzik that Guilder isn't guilty; they kidnapped Buttercup, and he believes that Prince Humperdinck... (full context)

...the way and Westley's death scream begins immediately. Everyone in Florin hears it, though only Inigo knows that it's the sound of “Ultimate Suffering” and is likely coming from Westley. Fezzik... (full context)

...wheelbarrow. After he digs the wheelbarrow out, the albino stops suddenly at the sight of Inigo. Inigo asks for the man in black and learns that he's on the fifth level.... (full context)

Puzzlingly, Fezzik finds that the door is unlocked. Inigo thinks that this doesn't make sense, as Prince Humperdinck should of course lock up his... (full context)

Fezzik and Inigo walk through the first level and go through the doorway labeled “To Level Two.” As... (full context)

As Inigo and Fezzik start down the stairs, the door locks behind them and the candles go... (full context)

As the snake tightens its coils, Inigo tells Fezzik that he had good rhymes planned. He can't say them because the snake... (full context)

...fourth level, Fezzik is suddenly paralyzed with fear at the sound of rabid bats' cries. Inigo slams Fezzik down onto the stairs and kneels above him. He remembers training with a... (full context)

The fourth level is disturbing, so Inigo and Fezzik hurry through it and open the door that leads to the fifth level.... (full context)

Fezzik and Inigo find Westley, the man in black, dead in the cage. Inigo starts to cry at... (full context)

...his door to go away, but Fezzik explains that he's on the brute squad and Inigo says that he needs a miracle. Max notes that King Lotharon fired him, so he's... (full context)

...“good at dead” and hasn't worked since he was fired. Max insists that Fezzik and Inigo will probably try to get out of paying. She insists that he make them pay... (full context)

...money and suggests he find out why they need a miracle. He goes back upstairs. Inigo lies that they need a miracle because Westley has a big family, as he thinks... (full context)

While they wait for Westley's answer, Max asks Inigo if Westley was ticklish, as tickling can bring people back from the dead. Westley groans... (full context)

When Max and Valerie learn that Inigo needs a “fighting corpse,” they say their miracle won't work with so little time. They... (full context)

Inigo is appalled at what the pill looks like: “a lump of clay the size of... (full context)

...he hopes the pill will work. Fezzik leans Westley against the wall while he boosts Inigo to the top of the wall to check on what's going on inside. Inigo can... (full context)

Westley introduces himself to Fezzik and Inigo, and Inigo tells Westley quickly that they have about a half hour to sneak in,... (full context)

...of Florin at 5:23 p.m. Two minutes later, Buttercup hears screaming outside. This is because Inigo is pushing Fezzik in the wheelbarrow as Fezzik stands in it, on fire, yelling that... (full context)

...the castle and puts it on his pocket. Westley expected this, so he, Fezzik, and Inigo threaten Yellin until Yellin hands over the key. At this point, Fezzik throws off the... (full context)

Inigo is so startled when Count Rugen runs that Rugen is able to make it through... (full context)

In a different part of the castle, Inigo apologizes to Domingo and Count Rugen remembers who Inigo is. Inigo hears both his father... (full context)

...his sword. Westley commands Buttercup to tie up Humperdinck as Humperdinck vows to hunt Westley. Inigo appears in the doorway and he and Westley wonder where Fezzik is. Then, Inigo tells... (full context)

Westley, Inigo, and Buttercup jump down one by one, and Fezzik catches them and settles them on... (full context)

...Morgenstern didn't end the book this way. Morgenstern writes that Humperdinck begins to chase them, Inigo's wound reopens, Westley goes downhill, and Buttercup's horse throws a shoe. Goldman says that his... (full context)

Inigo is in Despair, a place that's almost impossible to find on a map because when... (full context)

Morgenstern goes back in time to when Inigo is 20. Inigo is still wandering the world training to fence so he's prepared to... (full context)

Inigo asks Piccoli to help him train his mind, but Piccoli explains that this is useless.... (full context)

One evening, Piccoli goes to the village and leaves Inigo alone. A young woman dressed like a servant appears in the doorway and Inigo inexplicably... (full context)

Giulietta stays away until the night of a grand ball. She beckons to Inigo and sneaks him into the castle to watch. They take in the splendor for a... (full context)

Giulietta and Inigo dance the night away until Inigo accuses Giulietta of lying about being a Countess. She... (full context)

Goldman explains that this chapter stops here. He calls it the Unexplained Inigo Fragment and his editor didn't want to include it because nothing happens. He believes, however,... (full context)

...doomed to be together while they ride away on the white horses with Fezzik and Inigo. Humperdinck is in pursuit and things start to go wrong. Goldman inserts himself to draw... (full context)

...road to take. He knows that there's only one right path. Fezzik tries to ask Inigo his opinion, but Inigo is bleeding badly and can't speak. Fezzik pulls Inigo onto his... (full context)

Pierre, a pirate on the Revenge, calls a Blood Clogger to work on Inigo. Buttercup takes Fezzik's thumb as they anxiously watch. Pierre turns to Westley and notes that... (full context)

...hour before sunset, her contractions are five minutes apart. The contractions become more frequent as Inigo fences with shadows. Fezzik stays away; he's squeamish and doesn't want to see the “blood... (full context)

...will be healthy. By that evening, however, Westley knows something is seriously wrong. He and Inigo quietly discuss a “cutting” that could save Buttercup's life, but neither of them knows how... (full context)

...baby. In Buttercup's fiftieth hour of labor, Westley cries as she slips away. He and Inigo hear Fezzik coming toward them, saying that he needs to disinfect his hands. He tells... (full context)

...he loves seeing people wearing Princess Bride tee shirts. Goldman says he knows that Fezzik, Inigo, Buttercup, and Westley have some hard times coming to them, but he hopes that Morgenstern... (full context)

The Princess Bride

Inigo Montoya Character Analysis

Inigo Montoya Quotes in The Princess Bride

Chapter 5 Quotes

Chapter 6 Quotes

Chapter 7 Quotes

Chapter 8 Quotes

Buttercup's Baby: 4. Fezzik Falling Quotes

Inigo Montoya Character Timeline in The Princess Bride