# Rosa Wood — The Dewy Morn character guide

> Rosa Wood in The Dewy Morn by Richard Jefferies.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Rosa, Miss Rosa Wood

**First appearance:** 0000-volume-i-i

## Snapshot

A wine merchant's clever, laughing daughter and heiress, Rosa becomes the unwitting recipient of a young poet-farmer's most extravagant romantic idealisation.

## Who they are

Bright, talkative, and eligible in every way, Rosa is courted by Martial Barnard with a fervour that has more to do with his own imagination than with her. She genuinely loves him, but she is commonplace where he is exalted — she has neither his fire nor his ambition, and cannot even understand the attributes he confers on her. Their two-year courtship, built on a poet's illusion rather than a woman's reality, sets up the emotional fault line that will shape Martial's choices.

## In the story

### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dewy_morn_se/chapters/volume-i-xii)

The daughter and heiress of Mr. Wood; Barnard's former idealized love, now seen as commonplace; she accepts the broken engagement calmly.

### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dewy_morn_se/chapters/volume-i-xiii)

The jilted fiancée; she quietly releases Barnard from his promise after months of neglect, remaining devoted to him despite his coldness.

### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dewy_morn_se/chapters/volume-i-xiv)

Mentioned as the object of Martial's previous courtship; he feels guilt over his cruelty to her.

### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dewy_morn_se/chapters/volume-i-xix)

Her father is cited as a wealthy tradesman who, like all others, hates Godwin but publicly praises him.

### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dewy_morn_se/chapters/volume-i-xxv)

Watches from her window, identifies Felise as the woman Martial left her for, and sends a servant to confirm the carriage's owner.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dewy_morn_se/chapters/volume-ii-i)

Rosa is the focal point of the chapter, experiencing intense jealousy and despair as she compares herself to Felise and laments losing Martial.

### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dewy_morn_se/chapters/volume-ii-xvii)

Receives a legacy of four thousand pounds, which mocks her because it comes too late to win Martial back.

### [XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dewy_morn_se/chapters/volume-ii-xx)

Referenced as the woman Martial loved before Felise, causing Felise jealousy and sorrow.

### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dewy_morn_se/chapters/volume-ii-xxii)

Present in the gallery; watches Felise intently with a sinister gaze.

### [XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dewy_morn_se/chapters/volume-ii-xxvii)

Arrives to clear Martial's name regarding the broken engagement, offers him four thousand pounds to save his farm, and despite her jealousy of Felise, resolves to ensure his happiness.

### [XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dewy_morn_se/chapters/volume-ii-xxix)

Writes a letter repeating her noble offer of financial aid to Martial, which he refuses.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dewy_morn_se/characters/rosa_wood
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dewy_morn_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dewy_morn_se/characters