# Niafer — Figures of Earth character guide > Niafer in Figures of Earth by James Branch Cabell. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Dame Niafer, young Niafer **First appearance:** 0009-ii-niafer ## Snapshot Manuel's first wife, sharp-eyed and resourceful, who returns from death to find the face he gave her is not quite her own. ## Who they are Niafer is the woman who first spurs Manuel toward power, and after her death he models her likeness in clay with all the skill he can muster. But the resurrected Niafer gazes at her reflection in the Wolflake and sees a lame, mud-faced stranger, proof that even the dearest dead go out of mind. Her rueful recognition that time and death cannot be circumvented, and her quiet choice to love what remains of Manuel, give the early-middle arc its tenderest and most human note. ## Relationships ### [Dom Manuel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/characters/dom_manuel) _family_ Manuel's loyal and long-suffering wife, who endures his absences and infidelities while remaining the anchor of his domestic life. ### [Freydis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/characters/freydis) _rivalry_ A tense, jealous rivalry over Manuel's affections, with Freydis viewing Niafer as a mundane obstacle to her supernatural bond with him. ### [The Head of Misery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/characters/the_head_of_misery) _psychological_ Niafer is haunted and disturbed by the Head of Misery, which serves as a symbol of her husband's dark fate and her own suffering. ### [Dom Manuel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/characters/dom_manuel) _family_ Manuel's loyal and long-suffering wife, who endures his absences and infidelities while remaining the anchor of his domestic life. ### [Dom Manuel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/characters/dom_manuel) _family_ Manuel's loyal and long-suffering wife, who endures his absences and infidelities while remaining the anchor of his domestic life. ### [Freydis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/characters/freydis) _rivalry_ A tense, jealous rivalry over Manuel's affections, with Freydis viewing Niafer as a mundane obstacle to her supernatural bond with him. ### [Freydis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/characters/freydis) _rivalry_ A tense, jealous rivalry over Manuel's affections, with Freydis viewing Niafer as a mundane obstacle to her supernatural bond with him. ### [The Head of Misery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/characters/the_head_of_misery) _psychological_ Niafer is haunted and disturbed by the Head of Misery, which serves as a symbol of her husband's dark fate and her own suffering. ### [The Head of Misery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/characters/the_head_of_misery) _psychological_ Niafer is haunted and disturbed by the Head of Misery, which serves as a symbol of her husband's dark fate and her own suffering. ## In the story ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/ii) Interpreted as a variant of Nephthys or Nerthus, associated with death and fertility in the mythological analysis. ### [II: Niafer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/ii-niafer) Niafer, a small, flat-faced, dark-haired boy, uses wit and deception to outsmart the Serpent of the East and the Serpent of the North, earning Manuel's admiration. ### [Ascent of Vraidex](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/iii-ascent-of-vraidex) Displays resourcefulness by using a turtle to frighten the Serpent of the West and other tricks to overcome the Serpent of the South. Discusses pagan beliefs with Manuel. ### [IV: In the Doubtful Palace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/iv-in-the-doubtful-palace) Accompanies Manuel; her cleverness is revealed to be guided by Miramon's dream. ### [V: The Eternal Ambuscade](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/v-the-eternal-ambuscade) Niafer accepts Manuel's choice and departs with Death, displaying devotion and resignation. ### [VI: Economics of Math](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/vi-economics-of-math) Referenced as being settled in paradise; Manuel mourns her absence. ### [The Feather of Love](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/ix-the-feather-of-love) Niafer's ghost wanders in the paradise of the pagans, her love for Manuel persisting as a blind longing despite having forgotten him. ### [X: Alianora](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/x-alianora) Dead servant girl whom Manuel still idealizes; Alianora resents her memory. ### [XVI: Freydis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/xvi-freydis) Deceased; Manuel continues to idealize her, stating she was more beautiful and clever than Freydis, causing tension. ### [XIX: The Head of Misery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/xix-the-head-of-misery) Manuel dreams of Niafer during the night. ### [XXI: Touching Repayment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/xxi-touching-repayment) Manuel's beloved slave girl, now a ghost in her pagan paradise, whom Manuel seeks to bring back to life. ### [XXII: Return of Niafer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/xxii-return-of-niafer) Dead for over a year, she is in the pagan paradise, remembers Manuel, and is expelled with Misery. ### [Manuel Gets His Desire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/xxiii-manuel-gets-his-desire) Resurrected as a living girl but with a flawed body (lame, face not as she remembered) and no memories of paradise. She is initially dejected but accepts Manuel, though she wistfully recalls the young man he once was. ### [XXIV: Three Women](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/xxiv-three-women) The swarthy, limping peasant girl in brown drugget, she is mocked by Alianora but remains silent, privately vowing that Manuel will obey her alone. ### [Affairs in Poictesme](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/xxv-affairs-in-poictesme) Niafer manipulates Manuel through tears into abandoning his plans for adventure, insisting he must reclaim Poictesme for the sake of appearances; she later becomes a devout Christian countess, admiring Manuel's speeches. ### [Deals with the Stork](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/xxvi-deals-with-the-stork) Niafer desires children and negotiates with Manuel to increase the number from three to five. ### [XXVII: They Come to Sargyll](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/xxvii-they-come-to-sargyll) Travels with Manuel to Sargyll, becomes close friends with Freydis, and describes the ten images Manuel made. ### [XXVIII: How Melicent Was Welcomed](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/xxviii-how-melicent-was-welcomed) Gives birth to Melicent; expresses jealousy and distrust of Freydis, and insists on naming the child after her own mother. ### [XXIX: Sesphra of the Dreams](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/xxix-sesphra-of-the-dreams) Niafer is mentioned as Manuel's sleeping wife, whom he now sees as plain and dull under Sesphra's influence. ### [XXX: Farewell to Freydis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/xxx-farewell-to-freydis) Lies in a charmed sleep on the golden bed, unaware of the events unfolding around her. ### [XXXI: Statecraft](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/xxxi-statecraft) Wakened to meet Gisèle; the two women compare their babies, and the children are placed in one cradle, foreshadowing future sorrow. ### [The Redemption of Poictesme](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/xxxii-the-redemption-of-poictesme) Mentioned indirectly as the mother of Manuel's child, with concern for her welfare during the redemption. ### [Part V: The Book of Settlement](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/part-v-the-book-of-settlement) His noble wife, sharing in his reign. ### [Now Manuel Prospers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/xxxiii-now-manuel-prospers) Manuel's wife, who fabricates a noble lineage as daughter of the Sultan of Barbary. She manages household affairs and expresses jealousy over Alianora's summons. ### [XXXIV: Farewell to Alianora](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/xxxiv-farewell-to-alianora) Manuel's wife; listens to his account of the visit with skepticism and jealousy, but is eventually mollified by his dismissive comments about Alianora's looks. ### [The Troubling Window](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/xxxv-the-troubling-window) Manuel's wife, concerned about household practicalities and the pastrycook's reaction to Ruric's death, showing the mundane concerns of their settled life. ### [XXXVI: Excursions from Content](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/xxxvi-excursions-from-content) Manuel's wife, seen through the window; she urges Manuel to go to war, citing the Easterlings' paganism and the chance to clean his rooms; she notices the change in him but dismisses it as typical husbandly behavior. ### [XXXVII: Opinions of Hinzelmann](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/xxxvii-opinions-of-hinzelmann) Mentioned as Melicent's mother and the one for whom Manuel paid a price to resurrect. ### [The Passing of Manuel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/xxxix-the-passing-of-manuel) Manuel sends her a loving final message, insisting he has always loved her above all else. ### [XL: Colophon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/chapters/xl-colophon) Niafer's eyes appear among the memories submerged in Lethe, showing her mildly wondering disapproval for the last time. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/characters/niafer - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/figures_of_earth_se/characters