# Joanna — An Outcast of the Islands character guide

> Joanna in An Outcast of the Islands by Joseph Conrad.

**Role:** supporting

**First appearance:** 0003-an-outcast-of-the-islands

## Snapshot

Willems' wife, kept in comfort and contempt for years, who finally speaks the words she has been saving for him.

## Who they are

Joanna has lived as Willems' wife under the protection of her mother and brother Leonard, tolerated rather than loved, guarded from every bodily hurt but never from his disdain. When his ruin arrives she does not weep as he expects; she stares at him with her upper lip drawn up and tells him he is less than dirt. Her sudden revolt strips away his last self-justification and forces the flight to Sambir that sets the novel's middle in motion.

## Relationships

### [Willems](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outcast_of_the_islands_se/characters/willems)

_family_

Joanna is Willems's neglected and abused wife, who eventually leaves him out of despair and resentment.

### [Almayer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outcast_of_the_islands_se/characters/almayer)

_social_

Almayer is a reluctant host to Joanna after she flees Willems, treating her with cold courtesy and barely concealed irritation.

### [Willems](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outcast_of_the_islands_se/characters/willems)

_family_

Joanna is Willems's neglected and abused wife, who eventually leaves him out of despair and resentment.

### [Willems](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outcast_of_the_islands_se/characters/willems)

_family_

Joanna is Willems's neglected and abused wife, who eventually leaves him out of despair and resentment.

### [Almayer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outcast_of_the_islands_se/characters/almayer)

_social_

Almayer is a reluctant host to Joanna after she flees Willems, treating her with cold courtesy and barely concealed irritation.

## In the story

### [Part I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outcast_of_the_islands_se/chapters/an-outcast-of-the-islands)

Willems' wife, who is left behind when he departs for Sambir.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outcast_of_the_islands_se/chapters/part-i-i)

Referred to as Willems' half-caste wife, whom he tyrannizes good-humouredly and treats with tender contempt.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outcast_of_the_islands_se/chapters/part-i-iii)

Reveals her long-suppressed hatred for Willems, refuses to leave with him, and claims the house as hers.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outcast_of_the_islands_se/chapters/part-i-iv)

Revealed to be Hudig's illegitimate daughter; Lingard writes to her about Willems' departure.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outcast_of_the_islands_se/chapters/part-iii-iii)

Willems' wife, who is brought to Sambir by Lingard along with her child.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outcast_of_the_islands_se/chapters/part-iii-iv)

Mentioned by Almayer as causing him trouble; she wanted to go to the settlement and attacked him when forbidden.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outcast_of_the_islands_se/chapters/part-v-i)

Joanna is the frail and desperate wife of Willems, whom Almayer manipulates to facilitate Willems' escape.

### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outcast_of_the_islands_se/chapters/part-v-ii)

Joanna is urged by Almayer to flee quickly through the broken fence, with the promise of secrecy.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outcast_of_the_islands_se/chapters/part-v-iv)

Joanna arrives with their child, pleading for forgiveness and protection, revealing her vulnerability and desperation to reclaim her husband.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outcast_of_the_islands_se/characters/joanna
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outcast_of_the_islands_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/an_outcast_of_the_islands_se/characters