The Castle · Character

Amalia

A proud village girl who tore up a Castle official's obscene summons and threw the pieces in the messenger's face, and has been paying for it ever since.

supporting

First appearance: Amalia's Secret

As a supporting figure in The Castle, Amalia is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Amalia is present at the Barnabas home, watching K.

In the storyIIOpen this moment free

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Amalia is the sister whose one act of refusal — rejecting Sortini's letter — turned her family into pariahs and made her the still center of their ruin. She is cold, upright, and unreachable, with a gaze that always seems to look a little past whoever is speaking to her. Her silence and her refusal to be ashamed are the moral counterweight to K.'s endless striving, and the reason the family's story matters to his.

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The fuller portrait of Amalia sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Amalia in Amalia's Secret

Character Web

11 connections

A slice of how Amalia sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Family
Social
Other

Character groups

Amalia's family and officials
Protagonist

+6 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Rising action.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point

The emotional and psychological peak occurs when K. receives the first sign of goodwill from a Castle secretar…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

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Relationships

Barnabas
family · ambivalent
Amalia is Barnabas's sister, and their relationship is strained by her silent, proud… How this plays out →
Olga
family · positive
K.
social · ambivalent
Father
family · ambivalent
Sortini
psychological · negative
Olga
family · positive
Barnabas
family · ambivalent
Amalia is Barnabas's sister, and their relationship is strained by her silent, proud… How this plays out →
Barnabas
family · ambivalent
Amalia is Barnabas's sister, and their relationship is strained by her silent, proud… How this plays out →
K.
social · ambivalent
Olga
family · positive
K.
social · ambivalent

Barnabas
Amalia is Barnabas's sister, and their relationship is strained by her silent, proud defiance and his desperate attempts to redeem their family's honor.
Olga
Amalia and Olga are sisters, with Olga acting as a caretaker and protector for the withdrawn and shamed Amalia.
K.
Amalia and K. have minimal direct interaction, but K. is fascinated by her story and her role in the family's ostracism.
Father
Amalia is the daughter of the aging, broken Father, and her silent shame contributes to the family's isolation.
Sortini
Sortini, a Castle official, made an obscene advance toward Amalia, which she rejected, leading to the family's ruin and her own trauma.
Olga
Amalia and Olga are sisters, with Olga acting as a caretaker and protector for the withdrawn and shamed Amalia.
Barnabas
Amalia is Barnabas's sister, and their relationship is strained by her silent, proud defiance and his desperate attempts to redeem their family's honor.
Barnabas
Amalia is Barnabas's sister, and their relationship is strained by her silent, proud defiance and his desperate attempts to redeem their family's honor.
K.
Amalia and K. have minimal direct interaction, but K. is fascinated by her story and her role in the family's ostracism.
Olga
Amalia and Olga are sisters, with Olga acting as a caretaker and protector for the withdrawn and shamed Amalia.
K.
Amalia and K. have minimal direct interaction, but K. is fascinated by her story and her role in the family's ostracism.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Amalia in Amalia's Secret

In the story

Amalia appears across 9 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

II
Amalia is present at the Barnabas home, watching K. with a direct and serious gaze.
Chapter X
Mentioned as having brought the letter from the Castle; she is not allowed into the Chancellory.
XIV
Lies down exhausted, speaks with K. about Olga's feelings and Barnabas's service, displaying a cold, isolated demeanor.
XV
Amalia is described as the decisive voice in the family, though she does not involve herself in Barnabas's affairs; she is ill and cares for their parents.
Amalia's Secret
Silently cares for her parents; the subject of the family's disgrace.
Amalia's Punishment
The youngest sister whose rejection of Sortini's letter triggered the family's downfall; she remains silent and aloof, yet becomes the family's de facto leader.
Petitions
Silently endures the family's betrayal of her stance; later nurses her father without complaint.
Olga's Plans
Olga's sister; she becomes more withdrawn and silent as Olga pursues her plans.
Additional Note
Sister of Barnabas and Olga; central to the Sortini episode, which highlights the conflict between earthly and religious aims.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Amalia unlock in the free preview.

See Amalia in Amalia's Secret

See Amalia in II