Throughout the story of his explorations and adventures, Balboa becomes known for his courageousness, faithfulness and generosity. He is driven not by pursuit of personal gain, but by seeking the truth and serving his king and his nation. His rise to power comes about because he is skilled in both combat and diplomacy, among many other skills. According to Ronald Syme’s depiction of events, Balboa is worthy of immense trust and respect, and he must be one of the only leaders I have come across who goes out of his way to befriend those he beats in battle.

Balboa is the kind of person who deserves respect, even from his enemies. Even in the toughest battle, he goes out of his way to minimize loss of life, treating every enemy as a human being first, and a foe second.

Balboa is characterized as the polar opposite of his savage countrymen who end up executing him. He is an emblem of goodness within a society of evil. Ronald Syme seems to put Balboa on a pedestal of sorts, omitting to mention any character flaws that the explorer may have had. Even in light of constant struggle against disease, insects, and hunger, Balboa remains a man of integrity and good humor.