# Giselle Viola — Nostromo character guide

> Giselle Viola in Nostromo by Joseph Conrad.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Giselle, old Viola, Giselle Viola

**First appearance:** 0003-nostromo

## Snapshot

The younger Viola daughter, light where her sister is dark, restless under her father's loaded gun and her sister's jealous, watchful love.

## Who they are

Giselle lives on the island under the lighthouse with her parents and her sister Linda, caught between Ramirez's boastful pursuit and Nostromo's secret visits to her window. She is frightened less by her father's watchfulness than by the suffocating weight of her sister's passion, and she longs for Giovanni to carry her away before the tension breaks. Her restlessness turns the Viola household into a quiet pressure cooker whose steam will reach the novel's central figures.

## Relationships

### [Linda Viola](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/characters/linda_viola)

_family_

Giselle and Linda are sisters, with a rivalry over Nostromo's affections creating tension between them.

### [Nostromo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/characters/nostromo)

_romantic_

Nostromo is secretly attracted to Giselle Viola, leading to a romantic entanglement that betrays Linda's trust.

### [Nostromo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/characters/nostromo)

_romantic_

Nostromo is secretly attracted to Giselle Viola, leading to a romantic entanglement that betrays Linda's trust.

### [Linda Viola](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/characters/linda_viola)

_family_

Giselle and Linda are sisters, with a rivalry over Nostromo's affections creating tension between them.

### [Nostromo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/characters/nostromo)

_romantic_

Nostromo is secretly attracted to Giselle Viola, leading to a romantic entanglement that betrays Linda's trust.

### [Linda Viola](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/characters/linda_viola)

_family_

Giselle and Linda are sisters, with a rivalry over Nostromo's affections creating tension between them.

## In the story

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

Younger daughter, two years younger than Linda, bewildered and resigned.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/chapters/iv)

Present with her mother and sister during the scene at the Casa Viola.

### [Part III: The Lighthouse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/chapters/part-iii-the-lighthouse)

The younger Viola daughter, courted by Nostromo, who prefers her over Linda.

### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/chapters/xii)

Nostromo's preferred sister, described as pliable, silent, and fond of excitement; she does not appear in this chapter.

### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/chapters/xiii)

Sits embroidering under the window, exchanges secret words with Nostromo, and expresses her fear and desire to be taken away.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/characters/giselle_viola
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nostromo_se/characters