# Seraphina Riego — Romance character guide > Seraphina Riego in Romance by Joseph Conrad. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Dona Seraphina, Señorita, Señorita Dona Seraphina Riego **First appearance:** 0004-part-i-the-quarry-and-the-beach ## Snapshot The Intendente's daughter, trapped in a house where servants cower and her father sleeps through everything, meets the narrator's gaze with desolate courage. ## Who they are Seraphina moves through the Casa Riego under the shadow of O'Brien's casual, terrifying power, watching her maids flee and her father's authority dissolve into a doting sleep. When she murmurs to the narrator that 'they are all like this — all, all,' she names the isolation and fear that define her world. Her steadiness under O'Brien's courteous menace — the shawl slipping, the candle trembling, her voice never breaking — makes her the emotional center the narrator will risk everything to reach. ## Relationships ### [Tomas Castro](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/characters/tomas_castro) _romantic_ Intense connection with frequent interactions, likely romantic interest or lovers. ### [Mr. Sebright](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/characters/mr_sebright) _romantic_ High interaction count suggests a romantic pursuit or deep emotional involvement. ### [Manuel del Popolo Isturiz](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/characters/manuel_del_popolo_isturiz) _social_ Frequent interactions suggest a close acquaintance or mutual friend circle. ### [Carlos Riego](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/characters/carlos_riego) _family_ Shared surname indicates siblings or close relatives with protective bond. ### [Williams](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/characters/williams) _social_ Likely acquaintance through Mr. Sebright's circle or household. ### [Juan Kemp](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/characters/juan_kemp) _friendship_ Frequent interactions suggest a platonic but close bond within the social circle. ### [Juan Kemp](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/characters/juan_kemp) _friendship_ Frequent interactions suggest a platonic but close bond within the social circle. ### [Mr. Sebright](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/characters/mr_sebright) _romantic_ High interaction count suggests a romantic pursuit or deep emotional involvement. ### [Tomas Castro](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/characters/tomas_castro) _romantic_ Intense connection with frequent interactions, likely romantic interest or lovers. ### [Carlos Riego](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/characters/carlos_riego) _family_ Shared surname indicates siblings or close relatives with protective bond. ### [Tomas Castro](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/characters/tomas_castro) _romantic_ Intense connection with frequent interactions, likely romantic interest or lovers. ### [Manuel del Popolo Isturiz](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/characters/manuel_del_popolo_isturiz) _social_ Frequent interactions suggest a close acquaintance or mutual friend circle. ## In the story ### [Romance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/chapters/romance) Object of affection, her choices drive the romantic narrative. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/chapters/iv) Carlos's cousin; mentioned as the intended bride to inherit the uncle's wealth. ### [Part II: The Girl with the Lizard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/chapters/part-ii-the-girl-with-the-lizard) The girl with the lizard, central figure of this chapter, her identity and role are explored. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/chapters/ii) Carlos's cousin; glimpsed briefly; described as willful and romantic, having refused Carlos. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/chapters/iii) Seraphina interrupts the conversation to warn about waking her father, expresses her dislike of O'Brien, and tends to her father with a medicinal draught. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/chapters/iv) Frees Kemp by cutting his bonds; helps him escape through the stern window; expresses hatred for O'Brien. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/chapters/vii) Mentioned as the young cousin Carlos wants to protect from O'Brien; she was glad of Juan's arrival. ### [Part III: Casa Riego](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/chapters/part-iii-casa-riego) Don Carlos's daughter, whose fate is intertwined with the household's struggles and secrets. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/chapters/i) The girl of the lizard and dagger, radiant and captivating, causing Kemp intense emotion. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/chapters/ii) Object of O'Brien's ambition; her fortune and hand are the prize in the intrigue. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/chapters/iii) Mentioned as being with Don Carlos; Carlos's plan involves her escape to England. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/chapters/iv) Juan's beloved; she accepts his life as a gift and signals her allegiance to him over O'Brien, despite her fear. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/chapters/v) Sends Kemp a seal with her monogram and the message 'Two lives—one death'; remains in her apartments. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/chapters/vi) Grieving but resolute; agrees to escape with Kemp by sea. ### [Part IV: Blade and Guitar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/chapters/part-iv-blade-and-guitar) Kemp's love interest; reunites with Kemp in Cuba, embodying themes of love and sacrifice. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/chapters/i) Silent and cloaked; her hand comforts Juan; she urges him to think of himself, having lost everything. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/chapters/ii) Commands Castro to follow the pirates, declaring the English as 'her people'; shows courage and loyalty. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/chapters/iii) Present in the dinghy; she offers money and her name to the English ship, and hands pistols to Kemp during the attack. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/chapters/iv) Accompanies Kemp aboard the Lion; silent and grieving, she enters the cabin under Mrs. Williams' care. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/chapters/v) Asleep in her cabin; Kemp longs to see her; Mrs. Williams reports she is praying on her knees. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/chapters/vi) Kemp's beloved, sharing intimate moments aboard the Lion, her smile now tinged with sorrow. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/chapters/vii) Sits by fire in torn dress; pleads with Juan to avoid O'Brien and not sacrifice his life; declares her life bound to his. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/chapters/viii) Present in the cave; comforts Castro when he confesses, and shares Kemp's anxiety over his absence. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/chapters/ix) Lying still and weak, she clings to Juan and insists they face death together, showing passive endurance and a serene resolve. ### [The Siege of the Cave](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/chapters/x) Lying weak and feverish in the cave, her hand presses Kemp's in consent, showing bravery despite her condition. ### [The Escape Plan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/chapters/xi) Boards the Lion disguised under a cloak and sombrero, remaining silent and hidden. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/chapters/i) Referenced extensively as the woman whose fate O'Brien desperately seeks to know; her absence drives the conflict. ### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/chapters/ii) Kemp's beloved; her whereabouts are unknown, driving Kemp's anguish. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/chapters/iv) The essence of the protagonist's life; he tells his story for her. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/chapters/v) The beloved of Juan Kemp; her absence causes him anguish, but they reunite in London. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/characters/seraphina_riego - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/romance_se/characters