# Emma — María character guide > Emma in María by Jorge Isaacs. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Forgetting Emma **First appearance:** 0005-iv ## Snapshot Efraín's sister, a warm presence in the household who sings, plays guitar, and quietly helps stage the small moments that bring Efraín and María together. ## Who they are Emma moves through the family's evenings with easy affection, singing duets with María, teaching the children prayers, and discovering Efraín's verses in his desk and setting them to music. She is neither rival nor confidante exactly, but a sister who understands the household's emotional weather and gently steers it. Her presence gives the novel its texture of domestic tenderness, the ordinary evenings against which the lovers' secrecy and sorrow stand out. ## Relationships ### [Efraín](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mar_a_se/characters/efrain) _family_ Emma is Efraín's sister, and they share a close, affectionate sibling bond. ### [María](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mar_a_se/characters/maria) _family_ Emma is María's cousin and close friend, treating her like a sister and supporting her relationship with Efraín. ### [María](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mar_a_se/characters/maria) _family_ Emma is María's cousin and close friend, treating her like a sister and supporting her relationship with Efraín. ### [Efraín](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mar_a_se/characters/efrain) _family_ Emma is Efraín's sister, and they share a close, affectionate sibling bond. ### [Efraín](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mar_a_se/characters/efrain) _family_ Emma is Efraín's sister, and they share a close, affectionate sibling bond. ### [María](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mar_a_se/characters/maria) _family_ Emma is María's cousin and close friend, treating her like a sister and supporting her relationship with Efraín. ## In the story ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mar_a_se/chapters/iii) One of Efraín's sisters, present at supper and later gives him her hand as he retires. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mar_a_se/chapters/iv) Efraín's sister; present in the garden and later asks about Bogotá society. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mar_a_se/chapters/viii) Informs Efraín of María's headache and later checks on her, showing concern. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mar_a_se/chapters/xii) Efraín's sister, who guesses their secret and deliberately leaves them alone together. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mar_a_se/chapters/xiii) Informs Efraín of María's attack and tries to calm his anxiety. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mar_a_se/chapters/xvii) Teases Efraín about his mood and combs his hair, and later arranges flowers in the garden. ### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mar_a_se/chapters/xxii) Efraín's sister, participates in the singing and brings the guitar to Carlos. ### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mar_a_se/chapters/xxv) Joins María in begging for the deer's life. ### [XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mar_a_se/chapters/xxviii) Present in the parlor, falling asleep during the evening. ### [XXX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mar_a_se/chapters/xxx) Welcomes Tránsito and asks about Lucía. She is present during the family's interactions. ### [XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mar_a_se/chapters/xxxi) Assists in preparing provisions for the journey. ### [XXXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mar_a_se/chapters/xxxiii) Accompanies María, tries to coax her down, and later walks ahead to give them privacy. ### [XXXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mar_a_se/chapters/xxxvi) Plays the guitar to amuse her father during his convalescence and participates in the family conversations. ### [XXXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mar_a_se/chapters/xxxvii) Present at dinner, conveys messages from friends, and shows dejection at Efraín's departure. ### [XL](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mar_a_se/chapters/xl) Mentioned as arriving with their mother, interrupting the private conversation. ### [XLI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mar_a_se/chapters/xli) Helps with packing, present during the scene. ### [XLIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mar_a_se/chapters/xliv) Emma is waiting with Efraín's mother when he returns, but she does not play a significant role in this chapter. ### [XLVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mar_a_se/chapters/xlvi) Present in the sewing-room with Efraín's mother, informs him about María's whereabouts. ### [XLVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mar_a_se/chapters/xlvii) Points Efraín to the oratory where María waits. ### [XLVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mar_a_se/chapters/xlviii) Comes with mamma to find María, concerned about her spending time in Efraín's room. ### [XLIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mar_a_se/chapters/xlix) Mentioned by María as the one who will keep her keepsakes for Efraín if she dies. ### [LIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mar_a_se/chapters/liv) Dressed in black, she embraces Efraín and reveals that María has died. ### [LV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mar_a_se/chapters/lv) Takes turns watching over Efraín and holds the knowledge of María's final words. ### [LVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mar_a_se/chapters/lvi) Relays María's last messages to Efraín and was with María during her final moments. ### [LVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mar_a_se/chapters/lvii) Gives Efraín the key to María's closet and the last part of the story. ### [LVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mar_a_se/chapters/lviii) Mentioned as having heard María's last messages on the same sofa where Efraín lies. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mar_a_se/characters/emma - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mar_a_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/mar_a_se/characters