# Margaret Fernandez — A High Wind in Jamaica character guide > Margaret Fernandez in A High Wind in Jamaica by Richard Hughes. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Margaret Fernandez, Margaret **First appearance:** 0000-i ## Snapshot One of the wild Fernandez children from Exeter, whose fate aboard the pirate ship nearly slips through Jonsen's fingers. ## Who they are Margaret comes from the ramshackle estate the Thorntons visit, a household of barefoot children, hairbrush beatings, and questionable bloodlines. She is among the young passengers caught up in the Clorinda affair, and Jonsen later counts it a near thing with that little bitch Margaret, lucky the second boat picked her up. Her presence sharpens the stakes of his scheme to return the children and bury the episode. ## Relationships ### [Emily Thornton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/characters/emily_thornton) _friendship_ Emily and Margaret are fellow child passengers who share a superficial camaraderie, though Emily's detachment prevents deep friendship. ### [Edward Thornton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/characters/edward_thornton) _friendship_ Edward and Margaret share a mild childhood friendship, with Edward often acting protectively toward her. ### [Captain Jonsen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/characters/captain_jonsen) _psychological_ Captain Jonsen feels a strange, uneasy protectiveness toward Margaret, seeing her as a vulnerable child among his captives. ### [Edward Thornton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/characters/edward_thornton) _friendship_ Edward and Margaret share a mild childhood friendship, with Edward often acting protectively toward her. ### [Emily Thornton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/characters/emily_thornton) _friendship_ Emily and Margaret are fellow child passengers who share a superficial camaraderie, though Emily's detachment prevents deep friendship. ### [Captain Jonsen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/characters/captain_jonsen) _psychological_ Captain Jonsen feels a strange, uneasy protectiveness toward Margaret, seeing her as a vulnerable child among his captives. ### [Emily Thornton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/characters/emily_thornton) _friendship_ Emily and Margaret are fellow child passengers who share a superficial camaraderie, though Emily's detachment prevents deep friendship. ## In the story ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/chapters/iii) Claims she could smell the earthquake coming, argues with Jimmie about smells, and leads the cavalcade to Exeter Rocks. She is barefoot and unconventional. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/chapters/i) Margaret is a fellow passenger traveling to England with her brother Harry; she is older than the Thornton children and watches them with a mix of curiosity and detachment. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/chapters/i) Taller, thirteen, with a square white face and tangled hair; present on deck. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/chapters/ii) A child who takes the events to heart; her brown nurse is found hidden in the fo'c'sle. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/chapters/iv) Cries and sobs, saying she is older than the others and frightened, but refuses to explain why. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/chapters/i) Admires the 'beautiful young men' and asks the mate about them. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/chapters/ii) Lingers near the stairs; offers no information about John's death. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/chapters/v) Participates in the tobogganing and asks questions about the mate's stories, trying to maintain a cheerful atmosphere. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/chapters/ii) Behaves strangely after the captain's drunken incident: first terrified of the men, then follows Otto, then isolates in the cabin, and finally spends all her time with the sailors, who hide her from the other children. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/chapters/ii) Banished from the cabin by Jonsen, later witnesses the aftermath of Emily's attack on the Dutch captain. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/chapters/i) Margaret is thrown overboard by the pirates for killing the Dutch captain, but is rescued and later reintegrated with the children. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/chapters/ii) Haunts Emily's thoughts; she cannot banish Margaret from her mind. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/chapters/iv) Margaret refuses to swim, is placed on an imaginary raft, and is ignored by the others for being dull company. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/chapters/i) Chatters in her sleep in the hold, though no clear words are distinguishable. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/chapters/iii) Listens attentively to Otto's instructions but is rebuffed by Emily when she asks for clarification. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/chapters/ii) Margaret is rebuffed by the Thornton children when she tries to greet Mrs. Thornton, but Mr. Thornton takes her under his wing. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/chapters/iv) Margaret is withdrawn and unresponsive, needing prompting to confirm she was present, indicating possible deeper trauma. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/chapters/v) Considered as a witness but deemed unsatisfactory due to memory loss. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/characters/margaret_fernandez - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/a_high_wind_in_jamaica_se/characters