# Rita Sohlberg — The Titan character guide

> Rita Sohlberg in The Titan by Theodore Dreiser.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Sohlberg, Rita

**First appearance:** 0014-xv-a-new-affection

## Snapshot

An exquisite, socially polished woman and Aileen's friend, she becomes Cowperwood's lover and the target of Aileen's most violent fury.

## Who they are

Rita Sohlberg moves through Chicago's receptions in pale blue and lavender, married to Harold and friendly with Aileen—while keeping trysts with Cowperwood under an assumed name on the North Side. When Aileen corners her, the confrontation turns physical, and Rita is left bruised and terrified while Cowperwood coolly coaches her to deny everything. Her plight exposes both the brutality beneath the social surface and the way Cowperwood's affairs leave the women around him to absorb the damage.

## Relationships

### [Aileen Cowperwood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/characters/aileen_cowperwood)

_rivalry_

Aileen views Rita as a romantic rival and social threat, resenting her affair with Frank.

### [Aileen Cowperwood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/characters/aileen_cowperwood)

_rivalry_

Aileen views Rita as a romantic rival and social threat, resenting her affair with Frank.

### [Aileen Cowperwood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/characters/aileen_cowperwood)

_rivalry_

Aileen views Rita as a romantic rival and social threat, resenting her affair with Frank.

## In the story

### [Undercurrents](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/xiv-undercurrents)

Introduced as a charming, semi-phlegmatic woman married to Harold Sohlberg; her marriage is already strained.

### [XV: A New Affection](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/xv-a-new-affection)

Struggles with her conscience but is increasingly drawn to Cowperwood; agrees to meet him secretly beyond the Rush Street bridge.

### [A Fateful Interlude](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/xvi-a-fateful-interlude)

Cowperwood's mistress who refines his tastes in art and music; she follows him to Europe while Aileen remains ignorant.

### [An Overture to Conflict](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/xvii-an-overture-to-conflict)

Mentioned as a factor in Cowperwood's emotional drift and Aileen's jealousy, though Aileen is also flirtatiously interested in her husband Harold.

### [XVIII: The Clash](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/xviii-the-clash)

Cowperwood's lover; Aileen lures her to the house for a confrontation.

### [XIX: “Hell Hath No Fury—”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/xix-hell-hath-no-fury)

Attacked by Aileen, bruised and choked; Frank reassures her and instructs her to deny everything.

### [Man and Superman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/xx-man-and-superman)

Recovering in the Lake Shore Sanitarium after Aileen's attack; she feels humiliated and wishes to avoid both Sohlberg and Cowperwood.

### [A Matter of Tunnels](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/xxi-a-matter-of-tunnels)

Sickened by the tangle with Aileen, she sees Cowperwood in a different light and leaves for Europe, ending the affair.

### [XLVI: Depths and Heights](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/xlvi-depths-and-heights)

Mentioned as a past affair that Cowperwood cannot assume with Berenice.

### [LVII: Aileen’s Last Card](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/chapters/lvii-aileen-s-last-card)

Mentioned as a past rival whom Aileen hated, fearing she might have succeeded in ensnaring Cowperwood.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/characters/rita_sohlberg
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_titan_se/characters