# The Gadfly — The Gadfly character guide > The Gadfly in The Gadfly by Ethel Voynich. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Gadfly, Felice Rivarez, Signor Rivarez, Rivarez, Signor Felice Rivarez **First appearance:** 0002-the-gadfly ## Snapshot A mordant, scarred revolutionary who mocks his captors even while feverish and stammering, hiding a past that makes a Cardinal's touch unbearable. ## Who they are Rivarez arrives in Italy as a celebrated satirist, all lazy elegance and barbed wit, and quickly becomes the campaign's most feared pen against the Jesuits. Yet in the prison infirmary his composure cracks: he seizes Montanelli's wrist like a vice, then deflects with stammered jokes about opium, courts-martial, and an ounce of lead. That raw, involuntary terror beneath the mockery is the crack through which the whole story's buried history begins to show. ## Relationships ### [Canon Montanelli](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/characters/canon_montanelli) _family_ Montanelli is the biological father of the Gadfly (Arthur), creating a deeply conflicted bond of love and betrayal. ### [Gemma Warren](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/characters/gemma_warren) _romantic_ Gemma and the Gadfly share a tragic, unresolved romantic history marked by misunderstanding and enduring love. ### [Martini](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/characters/martini) _friendship_ Martini is a loyal friend and fellow revolutionary who supports the Gadfly despite their ideological differences. ### [Zita Reni](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/characters/zita_reni) _romantic_ Zita is the Gadfly's passionate but ultimately abandoned mistress, representing his inability to commit to love. ### [Dr. Riccardo](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/characters/dr_riccardo) _friendship_ Dr. Riccardo is a fellow revolutionary and physician who admires and cares for the Gadfly. ### [Domenichino](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/characters/domenichino) _rivalry_ Domenichino is a spy and informant who betrays the Gadfly, acting as a direct antagonist. ### [Colonel Ferrari](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/characters/colonel_ferrari) _rivalry_ Colonel Ferrari is the chief military antagonist who hunts and ultimately executes the Gadfly. ### [Canon Montanelli](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/characters/canon_montanelli) _family_ Montanelli is the biological father of the Gadfly (Arthur), creating a deeply conflicted bond of love and betrayal. ### [Gemma Warren](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/characters/gemma_warren) _romantic_ Gemma and the Gadfly share a tragic, unresolved romantic history marked by misunderstanding and enduring love. ### [Martini](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/characters/martini) _friendship_ Martini is a loyal friend and fellow revolutionary who supports the Gadfly despite their ideological differences. ### [Canon Montanelli](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/characters/canon_montanelli) _family_ Montanelli is the biological father of the Gadfly (Arthur), creating a deeply conflicted bond of love and betrayal. ### [Martini](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/characters/martini) _friendship_ Martini is a loyal friend and fellow revolutionary who supports the Gadfly despite their ideological differences. ## In the story ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/chapters/part-ii-i) Discussed as a potential recruit; described as a witty satirist with a mysterious past. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/chapters/part-ii-ii) Introduced at the salon; described as an incarnate demon of unrest, slippery, and a professional satirist. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/chapters/part-ii-iii) Shows luxurious tastes; avoids and is rude to Gemma; defends his pamphlet's criticism of the Pope; reveals intelligence about Montanelli's mission. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/chapters/part-ii-iv) Appears with a languid, mocking tone; his resemblance to Arthur frightens Gemma. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/chapters/part-ii-v) Continues his bitter attacks on Montanelli, publishes a controversial leaflet, and is suspected of involvement with violent sects. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/chapters/part-ii-vi) Shows deep emotional turmoil and sensitivity, especially regarding physical deformity and suffering. Displays compassion for a beaten child. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/chapters/part-ii-vii) Suffering from a painful old injury, refuses help and shows morbid horror of Zita. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/chapters/part-ii-viii) Recovering from illness, reveals his traumatic past in South America to Gemma. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/chapters/part-ii-ix) Debates revolutionary tactics with Gemma, reveals his anti-clerical mission, and requests her help smuggling arms. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/chapters/part-ii-x) Arranges arms smuggling with Bailey and Williams; returns to find Zita waiting; confronts her emotional outburst and reaffirms his commitment to his work. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/chapters/part-ii-xi) Disguised as a pilgrim, he confronts Montanelli in the marketplace and later nearly reveals himself in the cathedral, then attends a secret revolutionary meeting. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/chapters/part-iii-i) Argues with Gemma about returning to help Domenichino; expresses a premonition of death; prepares to cross the frontier. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/chapters/part-iii-ii) Disguised as a lame Corsican laborer, leads the conspirators in a skirmish, hesitates at the sight of Montanelli, and is captured. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/chapters/part-iii-iii) Imprisoned for three weeks, he disables guards and spies, suborns guards, and taunts Montanelli during their interview, revealing his role in a past controversy. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/chapters/part-iii-iv) The Gadfly is in a state of nervous excitement and physical decline, attempting to escape by filing through his cell bars but collapsing from illness. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/chapters/part-iii-v) Lies in a fearful state, chained and strapped, enduring brutal treatment; later recovers but remains defiant and savage. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/chapters/part-iii-vi) Confronts Montanelli with his past suffering and demands a choice between God and him. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/chapters/part-iii-vii) Court-martialed and executed; faces death with defiance, refuses priest, asks not to be tied or blindfolded. ### [Epilogue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/chapters/part-iii-epilogue) His final letter to Gemma is read, expressing love, forgiveness, and acceptance of his fate. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/characters/the_gadfly - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_gadfly_se/characters