# Amalia — The Castle character guide

> Amalia in The Castle by Franz Kafka.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Amalia

**First appearance:** 0017-amalia-s-secret

## Snapshot

The sister who tore up a Castle official's summons and threw the pieces in his messenger's face, and whose proud silence has frozen her family ever since.

## Who they are

Amalia is the family's wound and its conscience: her refusal of Sortini's vile letter saved her honor and condemned her father, her brother, and her sisters to years of village contempt. She moves through the house with a cold, steady gaze that seems always to look a little past whoever addresses her, a reserve that is not shame but a kind of permanent isolation. Her story, told by Olga, is the book's clearest case of what the Castle does to those who will not bend.

## Relationships

### [Barnabas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_castle_se/characters/barnabas)

_family_

Amalia is Barnabas's sister, and their relationship is strained by the family's disgrace following Amalia's rejection of Sortini.

### [Olga](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_castle_se/characters/olga)

_family_

Amalia and Olga are sisters, with Olga desperately trying to restore the family's honor while Amalia remains stoically indifferent.

### [K.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_castle_se/characters/k)

_social_

Amalia and K. are distant acquaintances; K. is intrigued by her defiance, but she remains aloof and unapproachable.

### [Sortini](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_castle_se/characters/sortini)

_psychological_

Sortini, a Castle official, made a crude sexual advance toward Amalia, which she defiantly rejected, leading to her family's ostracism.

### [Olga](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_castle_se/characters/olga)

_family_

Amalia and Olga are sisters, with Olga desperately trying to restore the family's honor while Amalia remains stoically indifferent.

### [Barnabas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_castle_se/characters/barnabas)

_family_

Amalia is Barnabas's sister, and their relationship is strained by the family's disgrace following Amalia's rejection of Sortini.

### [Barnabas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_castle_se/characters/barnabas)

_family_

Amalia is Barnabas's sister, and their relationship is strained by the family's disgrace following Amalia's rejection of Sortini.

### [K.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_castle_se/characters/k)

_social_

Amalia and K. are distant acquaintances; K. is intrigued by her defiance, but she remains aloof and unapproachable.

### [Olga](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_castle_se/characters/olga)

_family_

Amalia and Olga are sisters, with Olga desperately trying to restore the family's honor while Amalia remains stoically indifferent.

### [K.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_castle_se/characters/k)

_social_

Amalia and K. are distant acquaintances; K. is intrigued by her defiance, but she remains aloof and unapproachable.

## In the story

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_castle_se/chapters/ii)

Barnabas's sister; is introduced as part of the family; present in the room.

### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_castle_se/chapters/x)

Barnabas mentions that Amalia brought the letter from the Castle and sends greetings to K.

### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_castle_se/chapters/xiv)

Reveals her belief that Olga loves K.; dismisses K.'s engagement; speaks with dignity and reserve.

### [Amalia's Secret](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_castle_se/chapters/amalia-s-secret)

Amalia is shown caring for her parents, and is the subject of the story: she tore up Sortini's crude summons and refused to go to the Herrenhof.

### [Amalia's Punishment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_castle_se/chapters/amalia-s-punishment)

Remains silent and aloof, the cause of the family's downfall; later interrupts the conversation.

### [Petitions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_castle_se/chapters/petitions)

Remains silent and aloof while her family desperately seeks forgiveness; later nurses her father.

### [Olga's Plans](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_castle_se/chapters/olga-s-plans)

Olga's sister, who despises Barnabas's messenger work and remains aloof; she speaks to Olga only in front of others.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_castle_se/characters/amalia
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_castle_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_castle_se/characters