Final answer:
Cervantes uses a combination of actions, dialogue, and some description to reveal his characters, which was innovative for his time, marking Don Quixote as a predecessor to modern novels. His characters, including both males and females, are complex and often use disguises, contributing to the themes of his works.
Step-by-step explanation:
Does Cervantes depend on much description to reveal his characters? The answer to this question is nuanced. While Cervantes certainly includes descriptive elements in his character development, much of the characterization in his works, particularly in Don Quixote, the novel for which he is most renowned, comes from the actions and dialogues of the characters rather than lengthy physical descriptions. This move towards characterization through action rather than overt description aligns with the tendencies of modern literature and is one of the reasons why Cervantes's book is described as "the first modern novel." The characters in Don Quixote evolve throughout the story, displaying dynamic traits that were revolutionary for the time.
Regarding Cervantes's female characters, the critique of whether they are fully formed and believable has been a topic of discussion among scholars. However, Cervantes does provide detailed personalities and interactions for both male and female characters, with some of them wearing "masks" or veiling their identities to drive the narrative and explore themes of perception versus reality.