# Dr. Riccardo — The Gadfly character guide

> Dr. Riccardo in The Gadfly by Ethel Voynich.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Riccardo

**First appearance:** 0010-part-ii-i

## Snapshot

The group's physician, wry and practical, who prescribes physic, mocks his convalescent patient, and knows everyone's business.

## Who they are

Riccardo tends the Gadfly through a rapid recovery, teasing him about calling on the Grassinis and refusing to trade his bottled tapeworm for an Indian dagger. He is the one who announces that Signora Bolla will nurse the patient, and who laughs off the Gadfly's sudden alarm about propriety. Brisk, unsentimental, and thoroughly inside the revolutionary circle, he keeps its bodies and its gossip in working order.

## Relationships

### [The Gadfly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/characters/the_gadfly)

_friendship_

Dr. Riccardo is a fellow revolutionary and physician who admires and cares for the Gadfly.

### [Martini](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/characters/martini)

_friendship_

Riccardo and Martini are close comrades in the revolutionary movement, sharing mutual respect and camaraderie.

### [Martini](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/characters/martini)

_friendship_

Riccardo and Martini are close comrades in the revolutionary movement, sharing mutual respect and camaraderie.

### [The Gadfly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/characters/the_gadfly)

_friendship_

Dr. Riccardo is a fellow revolutionary and physician who admires and cares for the Gadfly.

### [The Gadfly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/characters/the_gadfly)

_friendship_

Dr. Riccardo is a fellow revolutionary and physician who admires and cares for the Gadfly.

### [Martini](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/characters/martini)

_friendship_

Riccardo and Martini are close comrades in the revolutionary movement, sharing mutual respect and camaraderie.

## In the story

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

Suggests recruiting the Gadfly (Felice Rivarez) for satirical work; defends Rivarez's character.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/chapters/part-ii-iii)

Also surprised by the Gadfly's luxurious habits.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/chapters/part-ii-iv)

Present during the Gadfly's appearance; notices Gemma's distress.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/chapters/part-ii-v)

Hosts the committee meeting, supports the Gadfly's capabilities, and vouches for his presence of mind.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/chapters/part-ii-vii)

Attends to the Gadfly, describes his condition and contradictions.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/chapters/part-ii-viii)

Attends to the Gadfly, jokes about the Grassinis, and leaves before Gemma arrives.

### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/chapters/part-ii-ix)

Observes the Gadfly's interest in Montanelli's sermons and questions his motives.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/characters/dr_riccardo
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/characters