# Abbess — The Comedy of Errors character guide

> Abbess in The Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Abbess Ay, Abbess Haply, Abbess Whoever, Aemilia

**First appearance:** 0016-act-v-scene-i

## Snapshot

The priory's commanding head, who takes a raving stranger into sanctuary and refuses, on principle, to hand any man back to a jealous wife.

## Who they are

When Antipholus of Syracuse flees into her priory for refuge, the Abbess bars the doors against Adriana and the crowd demanding him back, insisting she will cure his madness with syrups, drugs, and holy prayers. Her sparring with Adriana is the play's sharpest argument: she blames a wife's jealous clamour for driving men mad, and she speaks with the authority of someone who has weathered grief of her own. Her stubborn charity keeps the fugitive out of reach long enough for the final reckoning — and quietly sets up the recognition that resolves it.

## Relationships

### [Aegeon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_comedy_of_errors_se/characters/aegeon)

_family_

The Abbess is revealed to be Aemilia, the long-lost wife of Aegeon, and they are reunited at the play's end.

### [Adriana](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_comedy_of_errors_se/characters/adriana)

_family_

The Abbess is the mother-in-law of Adriana, though this is only revealed at the end; earlier she shelters Antipholus of Syracuse.

## In the story

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_comedy_of_errors_se/chapters/act-v-scene-i)

Refuses to surrender Antipholus of Syracuse, claiming sanctuary, and later reveals herself as Aemilia, Aegeon's long-lost wife.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_comedy_of_errors_se/characters/abbess
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_comedy_of_errors_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_comedy_of_errors_se/characters