# Therese — The Arrow of Gold character guide

> Therese in The Arrow of Gold by Joseph Conrad.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mademoiselle Therese, Mademoiselle, the pious Therese

**First appearance:** 0003-the-arrow-of-gold

## Snapshot

Rita's pious and watchful companion, she moves through the household with the quiet authority of someone who has decided what she thinks of everyone.

## Who they are

Therese attends Rita with a devotion that shades into judgment, her piety a constant counterpoint to the worldly currents around her mistress. She is present at the edges of key scenes, observing, disapproving, and occasionally speaking a truth no one else will. She matters because she reminds the reader that Rita's world is not only made of suitors and intrigues but also of servants, prayers, and the small moral economies of a household.

## Relationships

### [Captain Blunt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_arrow_of_gold_se/characters/captain_blunt)

_psychological_

Captain Blunt and Therese are uneasy allies, each manipulating the other to gain control over Doña Rita.

### [José Ortega](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_arrow_of_gold_se/characters/jose_ortega)

_psychological_

José Ortega and Therese are co-conspirators, manipulating each other while scheming against Doña Rita.

### [George](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_arrow_of_gold_se/characters/george)

_psychological_

George is wary and distrustful of Therese, seeing her as a toxic influence on Doña Rita.

### [Captain Blunt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_arrow_of_gold_se/characters/captain_blunt)

_psychological_

Captain Blunt and Therese are uneasy allies, each manipulating the other to gain control over Doña Rita.

### [George](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_arrow_of_gold_se/characters/george)

_psychological_

George is wary and distrustful of Therese, seeing her as a toxic influence on Doña Rita.

### [José Ortega](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_arrow_of_gold_se/characters/jose_ortega)

_psychological_

José Ortega and Therese are co-conspirators, manipulating each other while scheming against Doña Rita.

### [José Ortega](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_arrow_of_gold_se/characters/jose_ortega)

_psychological_

José Ortega and Therese are co-conspirators, manipulating each other while scheming against Doña Rita.

### [George](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_arrow_of_gold_se/characters/george)

_psychological_

George is wary and distrustful of Therese, seeing her as a toxic influence on Doña Rita.

## In the story

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_arrow_of_gold_se/chapters/part-i-ii)

Rita's sister, described as a peasant woman with a rosary, who runs the house and is frightened of the city.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_arrow_of_gold_se/chapters/part-iii-ii)

Described as physically and temperamentally opposite to Rita, with a hard, earthenware-like quality and a smile that never reaches her eyes.

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

The narrator's landlady, who is startled by his arrival and informs him of Mr. Blunt's return.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_arrow_of_gold_se/chapters/part-iii-iv)

Appears briefly, showing disapproval and warning the narrator about Rita's influence.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_arrow_of_gold_se/chapters/part-iv-i)

Rita's pious and judgmental sister, who believes Rita is sinful and claims the house was given to her by Rita.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_arrow_of_gold_se/chapters/part-iv-ii)

Serves lunch and is present during the conversation.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_arrow_of_gold_se/chapters/part-v-i)

Rita's sister, who avoids discussing Rita and seems to have a new, sanctimonious preoccupation. She accuses Rita of being hard-hearted and possessed.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_arrow_of_gold_se/chapters/part-v-iii)

Cares for the narrator upon his destitute return to Marseilles, despite her fears.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_arrow_of_gold_se/chapters/part-v-v)

Shown as manipulative and controlling, having pressured Rita about her will and attempted to keep her from George.

### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_arrow_of_gold_se/chapters/part-v-vi)

Mentioned as having the key to the fencing-room and being in the house, though not present in the scene.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_arrow_of_gold_se/chapters/part-v-vii)

Her fanaticism and cunning are revealed; she gave the key to Ortega, believing it righteous.

### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_arrow_of_gold_se/chapters/part-v-viii)

Appears as an implacable, judgmental figure, waiting outside the door to confront her sister. Her self-righteousness and lack of compassion contrast sharply with the narrator's care for Rita.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_arrow_of_gold_se/characters/therese
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_arrow_of_gold_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_arrow_of_gold_se/characters