# Ramon Alonzo — The Charwoman’s Shadow character guide > Ramon Alonzo in The Charwoman’s Shadow by Lord Dunsany. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Ramon Alonzo Matthew, Mark, Luke, Ramon, Alonzo, IV Ramon Alonzo, Don Ramon Alonzo, XIII Ramon Alonzo **First appearance:** 0000-i-the-lord-of-the-tower-finds-a-career-for-his-son ## Who they are A young swordsman who trades his father's tower for the House in the Wood, where he learns alchemy and swears to win back a charwoman's stolen shadow. ## Relationships ### [The Charwoman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/characters/the_charwoman) _psychological_ Ramon is manipulated and exploited by the Charwoman, who uses his shadow to gain power over him. ### [The Master](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/characters/the_master) _professional_ Ramon serves as an apprentice to the Master, learning magic under his tutelage. ### [Father Joseph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/characters/father_joseph) _friendship_ Father Joseph is a loyal friend and mentor to Ramon, offering guidance and support. ### [Anemone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/characters/anemone) _romantic_ Anemone is Ramon's love interest, and their relationship is marked by deep affection and longing. ### [Hope](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/characters/hope) _friendship_ Hope is a kind and supportive friend to Ramon, offering him comfort and aid. ### [Aragona](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/characters/aragona) _friendship_ Aragona is a close companion to Ramon, often helping him in his quest. ### [Peter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/characters/peter) _friendship_ Peter is a loyal friend and ally to Ramon, standing by him through dangers. ### [The Duke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/characters/the_duke) _rivalry_ Ramon opposes the Duke's oppressive regime and seeks to overthrow him. ### [The Charwoman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/characters/the_charwoman) _psychological_ Ramon is manipulated and exploited by the Charwoman, who uses his shadow to gain power over him. ### [The Master](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/characters/the_master) _professional_ Ramon serves as an apprentice to the Master, learning magic under his tutelage. ### [The Charwoman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/characters/the_charwoman) _psychological_ Ramon is manipulated and exploited by the Charwoman, who uses his shadow to gain power over him. ### [Father Joseph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/characters/father_joseph) _friendship_ Father Joseph is a loyal friend and mentor to Ramon, offering guidance and support. ## 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) The young protagonist, called by his father to discuss his future; agrees to seek out the magician and leaves the next evening. ### [II: Ramon Alonzo Comes to the House in the Wood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/ii-ramon-alonzo-comes-to-the-house-in-the-wood) Arrives at the magician's house after a long journey, using a scroll as a spell to reveal the hidden dwelling. ### [III: The Charwoman Tells of Her Loss](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/iii-the-charwoman-tells-of-her-loss) Ramon is the young visitor who listens to the charwoman's tale and is moved to pity and indignation on her behalf. ### [IV: Ramon Alonzo Learns a Mystery Known to the Reader](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/iv-ramon-alonzo-learns-a-mystery-known-to-the-reader) Resolves to keep his shadow after the charwoman's warning, then negotiates with the magician to learn reading instead of giving up his shadow. ### [V: Ramon Alonzo Learns of the Box](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/v-ramon-alonzo-learns-of-the-box) Learns the alphabet, explores the house, resolves to retrieve the charwoman's shadow from the box, and progresses in reading. ### [VII: Ramon Alonzo Follows the Art](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/vii-ramon-alonzo-follows-the-art) Trades his shadow for the art of gold-making, receives a false shadow, and plans to rescue the charwoman's shadow. ### [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) Visits Aragona, shares idleness with maidens, returns late to the magician. ### [IX: The Technique of Alchemy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/ix-the-technique-of-alchemy) Tries to comfort the charwoman and promises her a shadow; listens to the Master's alchemy lecture but is preoccupied with his own shadow. ### [X: The Exposure of the False Shadows](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/x-the-exposure-of-the-false-shadows) Distracted by idleness, disobeys the magician's warning, and is exposed when his shadow appears abnormally short. ### [XI: The Chill of Space](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/xi-the-chill-of-space) Discovers his false shadow is a static imitation, feels like an outcast, and vows to rescue the charwoman's shadow. ### [XII: Mirandola Demands a Love-Potion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/xii-mirandola-demands-a-love-potion) Continues his magical studies while plotting to reclaim his shadow and help the charwoman; receives a letter from Mirandola and shifts his goal from gold to a love-potion. ### [XIII: Ramon Alonzo Compounds the Potion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/xiii-ramon-alonzo-compounds-the-potion) Compounds the love potion, devises a plan to steal the spell syllables, and promises to rescue the charwoman's shadow. ### [XIV: The Folk of Aragona Strike for the Faith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/xiv-the-folk-of-aragona-strike-for-the-faith) Emerges from the wood, waits for shadows to lengthen, feels scorn and shame about his shadow, is driven from Aragona, fights four swordsmen, and flees the crowd. ### [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) Returns home secretly, gives Mirandola the love potion, and muddles his father with technical talk about magic to avoid revealing his lost shadow or the potion. ### [XVI: The Work of Father Joseph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/xvi-the-work-of-father-joseph) Visits the Tower briefly, eats a large meal, and departs hastily through the forest, arousing suspicion about his shadow. ### [XVIII: The Love-Potion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/xviii-the-love-potion) Mentioned as the one who mixed the love-potion, which Mirandola fears was done poorly. ### [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) Visits Father Joseph to learn the pen under false pretenses, secretly copying the magical syllables for the shadow-box. ### [XX: The Magician Imitates a Way of the Gods](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/xx-the-magician-imitates-a-way-of-the-gods) Returns angry over the failed potion; devises a plan to trick the Master into revealing the spell syllables, successfully obtaining 'Ting'. ### [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) Walks disconsolate in the wood, writes the second syllable of the spell, encounters fleeing magical creatures and Father Joseph, loses his false shadow, and is warned about the peril of his soul. ### [XXII: Ramon Alonzo Crosses a Sword with Magic](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/xxii-ramon-alonzo-crosses-a-sword-with-magic) Shadowless and desperate, he confronts the magician, fights with a sword, and is defeated; later he despairs but is given a glimmer of hope by the charwoman. ### [XXIII: The Plan of Ramon Alonzo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/xxiii-the-plan-of-ramon-alonzo) Desperate and shadowless, he devises a plan to open the shadow-box by testing spell syllables, feigning study of Persian magic. ### [XXIV: Ramon Alonzo Dances with His Shadow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/xxiv-ramon-alonzo-dances-with-his-shadow) Successfully opens the shadow box using the spell 'Ting Yung Han,' reclaims his shadow, and dances joyfully. He also finds a girl's shadow that enchants him. ### [XXV: The Release of the Shadow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/xxv-the-release-of-the-shadow) Ramon retrieves the charwoman's shadow from the shadow-box, struggles with his love for the shadow, and helps the charwoman escape the magician. ### [XXVI: The Wonderful Casting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/xxvi-the-wonderful-casting) Struggles with giving up the shadow and his love, but witnesses the miraculous transformation of the charwoman into Anemone. ### [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) Wanders with Anemone, comforts her, and plans to return to Aragona despite the hostility against his shadow. He receives a troubling letter from his father. ### [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) Receives a letter from Father Joseph; is visited by Father Joseph in the magician's wood. ### [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) Distraught by his father's letter demanding a noble marriage, he seeks his sister's counsel but is forced to reveal his secret to the Duke. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/characters/ramon_alonzo - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/characters