# Dame Lisa — Jurgen character guide

> Dame Lisa in Jurgen by James Branch Cabell.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Lisa

**First appearance:** 0005-i-why-jurgen-did-the-manly-thing

## Snapshot

Jurgen's sharp-tongued, unglamorous wife, whose buttons, socks, and tempests of complaint anchor him to the commonplace years he keeps half-fleeing.

## Who they are

Dame Lisa is a decent Christian woman with strong opinions about long words, low company, and her husband's shirts, and she disposes of cosmic beings with the same brisk contempt she applies to Jurgen's reading in bed. She has vanished into a cave when the story opens, and Jurgen's pursuit of her is tangled up with memories of the fine, merry girl she was before she married him. Her scolding voice haunts the whole book as the counterweight to every goddess and nymph he meets.

## Relationships

### [Jurgen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se/characters/jurgen)

_family_

Dame Lisa is Jurgen's wife, a practical and nagging presence who represents his mundane domestic life.

### [Jurgen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se/characters/jurgen)

_family_

Dame Lisa is Jurgen's wife, a practical and nagging presence who represents his mundane domestic life.

### [Jurgen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se/characters/jurgen)

_family_

Dame Lisa is Jurgen's wife, a practical and nagging presence who represents his mundane domestic life.

## In the story

### [Jurgen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se/chapters/jurgen)

Jurgen's sharp-tongued wife, who nags him and represents his domestic discontent.

### [Why Jurgen Did the Manly Thing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se/chapters/i-why-jurgen-did-the-manly-thing)

Jurgen's high-spirited wife who vanishes and is later seen walking on Morven, leading Jurgen into a cave.

### [II: Assumption of a Noted Garment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se/chapters/ii-assumption-of-a-noted-garment)

Jurgen's wife, whom he suspects was carried off by a devil.

### [VIII: Old Toys and a New Shadow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se/chapters/viii-old-toys-and-a-new-shadow)

Jurgen's wife, whose disappearance into the cave prompts his search.

### [X: Pitiful Disguises of Thragnar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se/chapters/x-pitiful-disguises-of-thragnar)

Appears as a woman claiming to be Lisa, but Jurgen believes it is Thragnar in disguise; she admits fault and offers Jurgen his freedom.

### [XX: Efficacy of Prayer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se/chapters/xx-efficacy-of-prayer)

Jurgen prays for her, hoping to be reunited and forgiven.

### [XXIII: Shortcomings of Prince Jurgen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se/chapters/xxiii-shortcomings-of-prince-jurgen)

Mentioned in relation to Jurgen's earlier relations, which have no legal standing in Cocaigne.

### [XXIV: Of Compromises in Cocaigne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se/chapters/xxiv-of-compromises-in-cocaigne)

Mentioned as a comparison to Anaïtis; Jurgen reflects on his life with her.

### [XXXIX: Of Compromises in Hell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se/chapters/xxxix-of-compromises-in-hell)

Jurgen's wife, an acidulous shrew whose self-righteousness bars her from Hell; Jurgen deduces she must be in Heaven.

### [In the Manager's Office](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se/chapters/xliv-in-the-manager-s-office)

Jurgen expresses missing her and requests her return.

### [XLVI: The Desire of Anaïtis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se/chapters/xlvi-the-desire-of-ana-tis)

Mentioned by Jurgen as a concern, fearing she might walk in unexpectedly.

### [Candid Opinions of Dame Lisa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se/chapters/xlviii-candid-opinions-of-dame-lisa)

Appears and scolds Jurgen for his behavior, his shirt, and his association with Koshchei; leaves to confront Madame Dorothy.

### [XLIX: Of the Compromise with Koshchei](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se/chapters/xlix-of-the-compromise-with-koshchei)

Mentioned as Jurgen's wife, whose love and harsh words he defends; she is ransomed with the shirt of Nessus.

### [L: The Moment That Did Not Count](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se/chapters/l-the-moment-that-did-not-count)

Seen at home sewing, awaiting Jurgen's return; her earlier encounter with Jurgen in the cave is now unreal.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se/characters/dame_lisa
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/jurgen_se/characters