# Emilia Gould — Nostromo character guide > Emilia Gould in Nostromo by Joseph Conrad. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mrs. Gould, Dona Emilia, Emilia **First appearance:** 0003-nostromo ## Snapshot Charles Gould's perceptive wife, the 'Never-tired Señora,' who sees everyone clearly and quietly bears the cost of her husband's devotion to the mine. ## Who they are Dona Emilia presides over the Casa Gould as its gracious and observant mistress, the confidante of priests, doctors, and revolutionaries alike, and the one person in Sulaco who seems to understand what the mine is doing to the people around it. Her compassion for the town's suffering and her growing loneliness within her marriage give the novel its moral center. As the political storm gathers, her clear eyes and unspoken grief register what the men of action cannot or will not see. ## Relationships ### [Dr. Monygham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/characters/dr_monygham) _psychological_ Dr. Monygham harbors a deep, unrequited devotion to Emilia Gould, bordering on obsession and self-sacrifice. ### [Martin Decoud](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/characters/martin_decoud) _friendship_ Emilia Gould and Martin Decoud share a close, intellectual friendship, with Emilia acting as a confidante to Decoud's political schemes. ### [Charles Gould](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/characters/charles_gould) _family_ Charles and Emilia Gould are a married couple, but their relationship is strained by Charles's obsessive devotion to the silver mine. ### [Nostromo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/characters/nostromo) _friendship_ Emilia Gould shows kindness and trust toward Nostromo, seeing him as a loyal and capable servant of the mine. ### [Dr. Monygham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/characters/dr_monygham) _psychological_ Dr. Monygham harbors a deep, unrequited devotion to Emilia Gould, bordering on obsession and self-sacrifice. ### [Nostromo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/characters/nostromo) _friendship_ Emilia Gould shows kindness and trust toward Nostromo, seeing him as a loyal and capable servant of the mine. ### [Martin Decoud](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/characters/martin_decoud) _friendship_ Emilia Gould and Martin Decoud share a close, intellectual friendship, with Emilia acting as a confidante to Decoud's political schemes. ### [Charles Gould](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/characters/charles_gould) _family_ Charles and Emilia Gould are a married couple, but their relationship is strained by Charles's obsessive devotion to the silver mine. ### [Dr. Monygham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/characters/dr_monygham) _psychological_ Dr. Monygham harbors a deep, unrequited devotion to Emilia Gould, bordering on obsession and self-sacrifice. ### [Martin Decoud](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/characters/martin_decoud) _friendship_ Emilia Gould and Martin Decoud share a close, intellectual friendship, with Emilia acting as a confidante to Decoud's political schemes. ### [Charles Gould](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/characters/charles_gould) _family_ Charles and Emilia Gould are a married couple, but their relationship is strained by Charles's obsessive devotion to the silver mine. ### [Nostromo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/characters/nostromo) _friendship_ Emilia Gould shows kindness and trust toward Nostromo, seeing him as a loyal and capable servant of the mine. ## In the story ### [Author's Note](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/chapters/author-s-note) Mentioned as 'the first lady of Sulaco,' left to the secret devotion of Dr. Monygham. ### [Nostromo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/chapters/nostromo) Referenced as Charles Gould's wife, involved in the social fabric of Sulaco. ### [Part I: The Silver of the Mine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/chapters/part-i-the-silver-of-the-mine) Charles Gould's wife, involved in the social and domestic aspects of Sulaco. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/chapters/v) The only lady at the ceremony, wife of Charles Gould, hosts the railway chairman. ### [The Gould Concession](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/chapters/vi) Emilia Gould is Charles's wife, who meets him in Italy. She is the first to understand his secret passion for the mine and supports his plans. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/chapters/vii) Rides through the province with her husband, observing the land and people with deep sympathy; becomes known as the 'Never-tired Señora'. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/chapters/viii) Intercedes with Sir John to save Giorgio Viola's house from demolition; speaks with Viola in Italian and reassures him about the security of his home. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/chapters/i) Charles Gould's wife, who is disenchanted but intelligent, and supports her husband's enterprise despite its ethical ambiguities. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/chapters/ii) Mrs. Gould is present at the embarkation of troops, bringing the Avellanos family to the harbor. She is described as feeding her love of excitement on events purified by her imaginative purpose. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/chapters/iii) Hosts Decoud at the Casa Gould; listens to his announcement about becoming the journalist of Sulaco with sympathetic attention. ### [Chapter IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/chapters/iv) Observes Barrios's departure with concealed dismay; stops at the Viola household for water; maintains silent understanding with Charles Gould. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/chapters/vi) Mrs. Gould feels the San Tome mine has become a fetish crushing her heart, separating her from her husband, and worries about the fate of the silver and the people. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/chapters/vii) Described as an ally who supports the silver removal to protect her husband from his obsession with the mine. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/chapters/viii) Decoud recalls her face blanched with anxiety during his last visit to the Casa Gould. ### [Part III: The Lighthouse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/chapters/part-iii-the-lighthouse) Visits the lighthouse and is troubled by Nostromo's transformation and the fate of the silver. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/chapters/i) Mentioned as having taken the two Viola girls away from the inn for their safety, and as someone who indulges Dr. Monygham's peculiarities. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/chapters/ii) Mentioned as part of the Gould family for whom Mitchell has warm feelings. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/chapters/iii) Her white mules are recognized by ladies in a passing carreta who scream out asking if it is her. ### [Chapter IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/chapters/iv) Watches her husband's abstraction with dread, fears for Antonia Avellanos, and is called by Dr. Monygham to hear his report. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/chapters/vi) Mentioned with concern by Father Roman; her interest in the villagers is noted. ### [Chapter VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/chapters/vii) Mentioned as being reassured by Dr. Monygham about Charles Gould's safety. ### [The Solitude of Martin Decoud and the Regenerated Sulaco](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/chapters/x) Mrs. Gould is seen in her carriage with white mules, described as the kindest and most gracious woman, the first lady in Sulaco. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/chapters/xiii) Appears in the later part of the chapter, comforting Giselle after Nostromo's death and experiencing a moment of bitterness. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/characters/emilia_gould - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/characters