# The Charwoman — The Charwoman’s Shadow character guide > The Charwoman in The Charwoman’s Shadow by Lord Dunsany. **Role:** major **Also known as:** III The Charwoman **First appearance:** 0002-iii-the-charwoman-tells-of-her-loss ## Who they are Once the beauty of Aragona, now a withered drudge scrubbing stone floors, she has lost her shadow to the Master and waits for someone bold enough to steal it back. ## Relationships ### [Ramon Alonzo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/characters/ramon_alonzo) _psychological_ Ramon is manipulated and exploited by the Charwoman, who uses his shadow to gain power over him. ### [Anemone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/characters/anemone) _rivalry_ Anemone distrusts and opposes the Charwoman, who threatens her beloved Ramon. ### [The Master](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/characters/the_master) _psychological_ The Charwoman manipulates and deceives the Master, using her shadow magic against him. ### [Ramon Alonzo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/characters/ramon_alonzo) _psychological_ Ramon is manipulated and exploited by the Charwoman, who uses his shadow to gain power over him. ### [Ramon Alonzo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/characters/ramon_alonzo) _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) _psychological_ The Charwoman manipulates and deceives the Master, using her shadow magic against him. ### [The Master](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/characters/the_master) _psychological_ The Charwoman manipulates and deceives the Master, using her shadow magic against him. ### [Anemone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/characters/anemone) _rivalry_ Anemone distrusts and opposes the Charwoman, who threatens her beloved Ramon. ## In the story ### [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) The charwoman reveals that she traded her shadow to the Master for immortality, and now suffers social exclusion and loneliness. ### [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) Reveals her curse and warns Ramon about the magician's prices before departing shadowless. ### [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) Reveals her name as Dockweed, explains that her shadow is in a box in the magician's room, and warns Ramon about the price of learning. ### [VII: Ramon Alonzo Follows the Art](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/vii-ramon-alonzo-follows-the-art) Ramon tells her he has seen the shadow-box and hopes to rescue her shadow; she sighs and shakes her head. ### [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 seeks her to share news of Aragona but cannot find her; her face appears in his dreams. ### [IX: The Technique of Alchemy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/ix-the-technique-of-alchemy) Mourns the loss of her own shadow and refuses a false one; weeps upon learning Ramon's shadow is artificial. ### [XI: The Chill of Space](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/xi-the-chill-of-space) Explains the magician's power over shadows and shares the experience of their shadows being sent into space. ### [XII: Mirandola Demands a Love-Potion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/xii-mirandola-demands-a-love-potion) Mentioned as the one whose shadow Ramon hopes to reclaim from the shadow-box. ### [XIII: Ramon Alonzo Compounds the Potion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/xiii-ramon-alonzo-compounds-the-potion) Advises Ramon about the potion's effects, warns him about the false shadow, and begins to hope as they plot together. ### [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) Mentioned as the aged charwoman whose fascination delayed Ramon; he remains committed to rescuing her shadow. ### [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) Referenced in Ramon Alonzo's thoughts as having been right about the triviality of shadows. ### [XVI: The Work of Father Joseph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/xvi-the-work-of-father-joseph) Mentioned indirectly through Mirandola's recollection of tales about men who sold their shadows. ### [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) Found among her brooms and pails; listens to Ramon's plan but expresses doubt about the Master's suspicions and the false shadow. ### [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) Referenced as the ancient crone whose shadow Ramon is pledged to recover, bound by chivalry. ### [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) She sees Ramon's despair and offers comfort, revealing the first syllable of the spell ('Ting') and suggesting a possible path to salvation. ### [XXIII: The Plan of Ramon Alonzo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/xxiii-the-plan-of-ramon-alonzo) Attempts to comfort Ramon but fails; her remark about 'Tong or Tang' inspires his plan. ### [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) Ramon intends to return her shadow, but after searching the box, he cannot find it among the shadows. ### [XXV: The Release of the Shadow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/xxv-the-release-of-the-shadow) Reveals her past as a beautiful young woman in Aragona, recounts how the magician took her shadow, and flees with Ramon after reclaiming her shadow. ### [XXVI: The Wonderful Casting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/chapters/xxvi-the-wonderful-casting) Reclaims her shadow, which reverses the magical aging and restores her true youthful form as Anemone; her memories of magic begin to fade. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/characters/the_charwoman - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_charwoman_s_shadow_se/characters