# Jacqueline Japha — The Sword of Damocles character guide > Jacqueline Japha in The Sword of Damocles by Anna Katharine Green. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Jacqueline, Japha, Miss Jacqueline **First appearance:** 0029-xxiv-the-japha-mansion ## Snapshot A daughter whose burned letters and vanished trousseau turn a mother's ordinary evening into the discovery of a planned elopement. ## Who they are Jacqueline Japha is the pride of the Japha household, betrothed to one man while writing passionate, reckless letters to another—letters her mother finds half-burned in the stove and reads with mounting horror. The words are unmistakable: a married lover, a midnight gate, a plan to flee. What makes Jacqueline dangerous to the story is not simply what she does but what she is: a woman whose nature her own mother already knows cannot be appealed to, only feared. Her father will never speak her name again, and the silence that follows her will shape the mystery of the Japha mansion for years. ## Relationships ### [Paula](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sword_of_damocles_se/characters/paula) _friendship_ Jacqueline and Paula are friends and peers, sharing social circles and personal confidences. ### [Mr. Roger Holt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sword_of_damocles_se/characters/mr_roger_holt) _romantic_ Jacqueline is romantically involved with Mr. Roger Holt, though their relationship is strained by his ambitions. ### [Colonel Japha](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sword_of_damocles_se/characters/colonel_japha) _family_ Colonel Japha is Jacqueline's father, protective of her but also using her for social and political gain. ### [Paula](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sword_of_damocles_se/characters/paula) _friendship_ Jacqueline and Paula are friends and peers, sharing social circles and personal confidences. ### [Mr. Roger Holt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sword_of_damocles_se/characters/mr_roger_holt) _romantic_ Jacqueline is romantically involved with Mr. Roger Holt, though their relationship is strained by his ambitions. ### [Mr. Roger Holt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sword_of_damocles_se/characters/mr_roger_holt) _romantic_ Jacqueline is romantically involved with Mr. Roger Holt, though their relationship is strained by his ambitions. ### [Colonel Japha](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sword_of_damocles_se/characters/colonel_japha) _family_ Colonel Japha is Jacqueline's father, protective of her but also using her for social and political gain. ### [Colonel Japha](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sword_of_damocles_se/characters/colonel_japha) _family_ Colonel Japha is Jacqueline's father, protective of her but also using her for social and political gain. ### [Paula](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sword_of_damocles_se/characters/paula) _friendship_ Jacqueline and Paula are friends and peers, sharing social circles and personal confidences. ## In the story ### [X: The Barred Door](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sword_of_damocles_se/chapters/x-the-barred-door) Her story is recounted as a cautionary tale of a daughter who ran away with a man her father detested, leaving a legacy of silence and a barred house. ### [XXI: Departure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sword_of_damocles_se/chapters/xxi-departure) Not directly present, but referenced as a friend Paula hopes to introduce to Bertram. ### [Book III: The Japha Mystery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sword_of_damocles_se/chapters/book-iii-the-japha-mystery) Introduced as a mysterious and troubled young woman, whose past is shrouded in secrecy. ### [The Japha Mansion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sword_of_damocles_se/chapters/xxiv-the-japha-mansion) Though absent, her memory is central to the chapter as Mrs. Hamlin's vigil is for her return. ### [XXV: Jacqueline](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sword_of_damocles_se/chapters/xxv-jacqueline) Revealed as deeply passionate yet reserved, her engagement to Robert Holt brings a feverish expectancy and a change in demeanor. ### [XXVI: A Man’s Justice and a Woman’s Mercy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sword_of_damocles_se/chapters/xxvi-a-man-s-justice-and-a-woman-s-mercy) Defies her father, chooses her lover, and leaves the house despite warnings. ### [XXVII: The Lone Watcher](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sword_of_damocles_se/chapters/xxvii-the-lone-watcher) The absent daughter whose return is awaited; her story is central to the chapter. ### [Book IV: From A. To Z.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sword_of_damocles_se/chapters/book-iv-from-a-to-z) Her story is revealed, adding complexity to the narrative. ### [Woman's Love](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sword_of_damocles_se/chapters/book-v-woman-s-love) Another character whose story may parallel or contrast with Paula's experiences of love. ### [XLI: The Work of an Hour](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sword_of_damocles_se/chapters/xli-the-work-of-an-hour) Mentioned as the woman Roger Holt wronged; her whereabouts are sought by Mr. Sylvester. ### [XLII: Paula Relates a Story She Has Heard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sword_of_damocles_se/chapters/xlii-paula-relates-a-story-she-has-heard) Grieving mother, revealed to have been deceived by Holt, now broken by loss. ### [The Hour of Six Is Sacred](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sword_of_damocles_se/chapters/xlv-the-hour-of-six-is-sacred) Returns to her father's house to die, experiences repentance, and is reunited with her mother before passing. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sword_of_damocles_se/characters/jacqueline_japha - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sword_of_damocles_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_sword_of_damocles_se/characters