# Rosalind Jemmett — The Cords of Vanity character guide > Rosalind Jemmett in The Cords of Vanity by James Branch Cabell. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Rosalind **First appearance:** 0010-i-he-sits-out-a-dance ## Snapshot A charming, intelligent young woman the narrator briefly pursues, only to decide she is too obviously an urban product for his idyllic book. ## Who they are Rosalind is the narrator's first love, revisited — and promptly found unsuitable, because she knows too much of the world to serve as raw material for the rustic dawn he means to write. Her dismissal is one of the novel's cleanest illustrations of how the narrator treats people as drafts. She matters less for what she does than for what she exposes: the cold-bloodedness that hides beneath his charming literary ambitions. ## In the story ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cords_of_vanity_se/chapters/i) Mentioned as a famous fair one, compared to Stella and Helen of Troy. ### [He Decides to Amuse Himself](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cords_of_vanity_se/chapters/xv-he-decides-to-amuse-himself) The narrator's intended 'sensible match'; he says farewell to her as she leaves for Canada. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cords_of_vanity_se/chapters/v) The narrator's intended; she is going to Canada for the summer and agrees to write to him. ### [He Provides Copy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cords_of_vanity_se/chapters/xvii-he-provides-copy) Marian accuses the narrator of leaving her because of Rosalind and her money. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cords_of_vanity_se/chapters/ii) Mentioned as the recipient of a fervid letter, suggesting a romantic connection with the narrator. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cords_of_vanity_se/chapters/iv) Referenced by Marian as the real reason for the narrator's departure. ### [He Spends an Afternoon in Arden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cords_of_vanity_se/chapters/xviii-he-spends-an-afternoon-in-arden) Rosalind listens to the narrator's story and offers her own insights, correcting his self-serving narrative and revealing her own understanding of the girl's perspective. She is engaged to Alfred Chaytor. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cords_of_vanity_se/chapters/i) The young lady the narrator intended to marry, now engaged to Alfred Chaytor. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cords_of_vanity_se/chapters/iii) Rosalind engages in a literary game with the narrator, but also reveals her own understanding of the girl's perspective in the allegorical love story, showing her emotional insight. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cords_of_vanity_se/chapters/iv) Rosalind breaks her engagement with Alfred after he criticizes the narrator, and she affectionately calls the narrator a child. ### [He Plays the Improvident Fool](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cords_of_vanity_se/chapters/xix-he-plays-the-improvident-fool) Rosalind is deeply in love with the narrator, calls him Jaques, and gives him expensive gifts. She is heartbroken when he ends the engagement. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cords_of_vanity_se/chapters/i) Rosalind is deeply in love with the narrator, calls him 'Jaques,' and insists on giving him expensive gifts despite his objections. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cords_of_vanity_se/chapters/ii) Rosalind visits Lichfield to prepare for the wedding and leads the first German dance with Colonel Musgrave. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cords_of_vanity_se/chapters/iv) The young woman the narrator plans to marry; Lizzie claims she is in love with him. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cords_of_vanity_se/chapters/v) Described as 'proper' and the object of the narrator's genuine fondness. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cords_of_vanity_se/chapters/vi) Rosalind is deeply hurt by Jaques's rejection and his request for freedom; she returns the ring and expresses her love and confusion. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cords_of_vanity_se/chapters/vii) Now Rosalind Gelwix; her engagement is broken off. ### [XX: He Dines Out, Impeded by Superstitions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cords_of_vanity_se/chapters/xx-he-dines-out-impeded-by-superstitions) Mentioned in the narrator's thoughts as the woman he broke off his engagement with. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cords_of_vanity_se/chapters/i) The narrator's former fiancée, from whom he broke off the engagement. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cords_of_vanity_se/chapters/iii) Mentioned as having returned the narrator's ring, causing him humiliation. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cords_of_vanity_se/chapters/v) Mentioned as someone the narrator accepted more calmly than Elena. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cords_of_vanity_se/chapters/ii) Mentioned as a woman about to marry Tom Gelwix instead of the narrator. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cords_of_vanity_se/characters/rosalind_jemmett - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cords_of_vanity_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_cords_of_vanity_se/characters