# Father Joseph — The Charwoman’s Shadow character guide > Father Joseph in The Charwoman’s Shadow by Lord Dunsany. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mirandola, Donna Mirandola, Father Joseph Mirandola, Father **First appearance:** 0001-ii-ramon-alonzo-comes-to-the-house-in-the-wood ## Who they are A priest and alchemist whose patient teaching steadies Ramon Alonzo's hand, though his own purposes in the House in the Wood stay carefully unspoken. ## Relationships ### [Ramon Alonzo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/characters/ramon_alonzo) _friendship_ Father Joseph is a loyal friend and mentor to Ramon, offering guidance and support. ### [The Duke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/characters/the_duke) _rivalry_ Father Joseph opposes the Duke's tyranny and schemes against his rule. ### [Gulvarez](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/characters/gulvarez) _rivalry_ Father Joseph and Gulvarez are direct adversaries, clashing over the fate of the kingdom. ### [Gonsalvo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/characters/gonsalvo) _friendship_ Father Joseph and Gonsalvo share a bond of mutual respect and occasional cooperation. ### [The Master](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/characters/the_master) _friendship_ Father Joseph and the Master are old friends and occasional collaborators in magical matters. ### [Peter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/characters/peter) _friendship_ Father Joseph mentors Peter, treating him as a trusted young protégé. ### [Anemone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/characters/anemone) _friendship_ Anemone respects Father Joseph and seeks his counsel regarding Ramon. ### [Ramon Alonzo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/characters/ramon_alonzo) _friendship_ Father Joseph is a loyal friend and mentor to Ramon, offering guidance and support. ### [Gulvarez](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/characters/gulvarez) _rivalry_ Father Joseph and Gulvarez are direct adversaries, clashing over the fate of the kingdom. ### [The Duke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/characters/the_duke) _rivalry_ Father Joseph opposes the Duke's tyranny and schemes against his rule. ### [Ramon Alonzo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/characters/ramon_alonzo) _friendship_ Father Joseph is a loyal friend and mentor to Ramon, offering guidance and support. ### [Gonsalvo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/characters/gonsalvo) _friendship_ Father Joseph and Gonsalvo share a bond of mutual respect and occasional cooperation. ## In the story ### [I: The Lord of the Tower Finds a Career for His Son](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/i-the-lord-of-the-tower-finds-a-career-for-his-son) Mentioned as Mirandola's name; Ramon's sister, who bids him farewell in the garden and is the reason for the needed dowry. ### [VII: Ramon Alonzo Follows the Art](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/vii-ramon-alonzo-follows-the-art) Mentioned as having guessed the letter's purpose; the magician reads Ramon's face as he reads. ### [VIII: Ramon Alonzo Shares the Idleness of the Maidens of Aragona](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/viii-ramon-alonzo-shares-the-idleness-of-the-maidens-of-aragona) Ramon confesses his geographical error to Father Joseph, who dismisses it lightly. ### [XII: Mirandola Demands a Love-Potion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/xii-mirandola-demands-a-love-potion) Referred to as Donna Mirandola; sends a letter to Ramon asking for a love-potion instead of gold. ### [XIII: Ramon Alonzo Compounds the Potion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/xiii-ramon-alonzo-compounds-the-potion) Referred to as Mirandola, the sister who requested the love potion. ### [XV: Ramon Alonzo Talks of Technique and Muddles His Father](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/xv-ramon-alonzo-talks-of-technique-and-muddles-his-father) Mirandola receives the love potion from Ramon Alonzo, helps him deflect difficult questions, and is the subject of marriage negotiations with Gulvarez. ### [XVI: The Work of Father Joseph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/xvi-the-work-of-father-joseph) Uses his keen observation and knowledge of human nature to probe into Ramon's mysterious behavior; also helps organize the Duke's reception. ### [XVII: The Three Fair Fields](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/xvii-the-three-fair-fields) Observes Mirandola's strange look of wonder and awe, suspects love but senses something else; blesses the gathering and directs the improvised guard. ### [XVII: The Three Fair Fields](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/xvii-the-three-fair-fields) Carries a magical vial from her brother, participates in strewing flowers, serves wine to Gulvarez first, and displays a proud, contest-ready expression. ### [XVIII: The Love-Potion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/xviii-the-love-potion) Observes the Duke's illness, deduces the cause is not poison, later learns from Mirandola about the love-potion. ### [XVIII: The Love-Potion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/xviii-the-love-potion) Confesses to Father Joseph that she gave the Duke a love-potion mixed by her brother; she alone is allowed to bring him food. ### [Father Joseph Explains How the Laity Have No Need of the Pen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/xix-father-joseph-explains-how-the-laity-have-no-need-of-the-pen) Teaches Ramon penmanship but becomes suspicious of the magical symbols; later consults Brother Aloysius about the parchment. ### [Father Joseph Explains How the Laity Have No Need of the Pen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/xix-father-joseph-explains-how-the-laity-have-no-need-of-the-pen) Mentioned as having begged for the cloak for Ramon and sending Peter with news. ### [XXI: White Magic Comes to the Wood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/xxi-white-magic-comes-to-the-wood) Rides into the wood on a mule, banishes Ramon's false shadow with holy water, warns Ramon about the fate of shadowless souls, and urges him to recover his true shadow. ### [XXVII: They Dread That a Witch Has Ridden from the Country Towards Moon's Rising](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/xxvii-they-dread-that-a-witch-has-ridden-from-the-country-towards-moon-s-rising) Mentioned as part of the Tower household that Ramon describes to Anemone. ### [XXVIII: Gonsalvo Sings What Had Been the Latest Air from Provence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/xxviii-gonsalvo-sings-what-had-been-the-latest-air-from-provence) Sent by the Lord of the Tower to write a letter; later rides away on his mule to visit Ramon Alonzo in the magician's wood; returns on the sixth day. ### [XXVIII: Gonsalvo Sings What Had Been the Latest Air from Provence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/xxviii-gonsalvo-sings-what-had-been-the-latest-air-from-provence) Tends the Duke alone; soothes his wrath; speaks with Gulvarez in a way that stirs anxiety; her influence becomes key to the household's fears. ### [XXIX: The Casket of Silver and Oak Is Given to Señor Gulvarez](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/xxix-the-casket-of-silver-and-oak-is-given-to-se-or-gulvarez) Father Joseph assists Gonsalvo in dictating a letter and later sits in contemplation. ### [XXIX: The Casket of Silver and Oak Is Given to Señor Gulvarez](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/xxix-the-casket-of-silver-and-oak-is-given-to-se-or-gulvarez) Mirandola attends the Duke, reveals her engagement to Gulvarez, and accepts the Duke's marriage proposal after securing Gulvarez's safety. ### [XXX: The End of the Golden Age](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/xxx-the-end-of-the-golden-age) Mirandola is seen walking with the Duke in the garden, displaying a new gaiety, and later kisses Anemone. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/characters/father_joseph - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/characters