# Viola Raritan — The Truth About Tristrem Varick character guide > Viola Raritan in The Truth About Tristrem Varick by Edgar Saltus. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Viola **First appearance:** 0004-ii ## Snapshot A young woman of the Raritan circle whose beauty and connection to Tristrem Varick make her the still center of a gathering scandal. ## Who they are Viola belongs to the social world that watches and judges Tristrem Varick, and her name is bound up with the intrigue that the newspapers will later misread. She carries the peculiar burden of being both desired and discussed, a figure whose choices ripple outward through families and fortunes. In the early arc she is the promise and the pressure that draw Tristrem toward a future he cannot quite secure. ## Relationships ### [Tristrem Varick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/characters/tristrem_varick) _romantic_ Tristrem Varick and Viola Raritan share a romantic attraction, though it is complicated by external forces. ### [The Girl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/characters/the_girl) _rivalry_ The Girl and Viola Raritan are romantic rivals, both vying for Tristrem Varick's affection. ### [Miss Raritan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/characters/miss_raritan) _family_ Miss Raritan is Viola Raritan's aunt or guardian, exerting a domineering influence over her. ### [Mr. Dirck Van Norden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/characters/mr_dirck_van_norden) _friendship_ Mr. Dirck Van Norden is a protective friend to Viola Raritan, looking out for her well-being. ### [Royal Weldon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/characters/royal_weldon) _romantic_ Royal Weldon pursues Viola Raritan romantically, though his feelings are possessive and unrequited. ### [The Girl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/characters/the_girl) _rivalry_ The Girl and Viola Raritan are romantic rivals, both vying for Tristrem Varick's affection. ### [Miss Raritan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/characters/miss_raritan) _family_ Miss Raritan is Viola Raritan's aunt or guardian, exerting a domineering influence over her. ### [Mr. Dirck Van Norden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/characters/mr_dirck_van_norden) _friendship_ Mr. Dirck Van Norden is a protective friend to Viola Raritan, looking out for her well-being. ## In the story ### [The Truth About Tristrem Varick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/chapters/the-truth-about-tristrem-varick) Tristrem's fiancée who breaks off the engagement after learning of the family scandal. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/chapters/ii) A young woman with striking features and a powerful, mesmerizing singing voice; she is the center of attention at the dinner. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/chapters/iii) Miss Raritan is the object of Tristrem's affection. She is witty, demure, and evasive, teasing him about his interest and claiming to be married to Euterpe. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/chapters/iv) Maintains a cool, familiar attitude toward Tristrem, using him as a convenience and ultimately rejecting his romantic advances, citing her commitment to her art. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/chapters/v) Found in a heated, angry confrontation with Royal Weldon; her cheeks blanch and flush with emotion; she accepts Tristrem's proposal and agrees to marry in November. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/chapters/vi) The object of Tristrem's love; he is engaged to her and dreams of her throughout the chapter. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/chapters/vii) Returns from a ride injured after being thrown from her horse. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/chapters/viii) Mentioned as having had a sleepless night; Tristrem is not permitted to see her before departing. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/chapters/ix) Decides the engagement is untenable, citing a vocation; her decision is conveyed by her mother. ### [X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/chapters/x) The girl Tristrem loves; her withdrawal from the engagement is now understood as stemming from the family secret. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/chapters/xi) Has left Narragansett with her mother to complete her musical education abroad; Tristrem resolves to follow her. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/chapters/xiii) The object of Tristrem's search; she and her mother have left Paris on the Orient Express. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/chapters/xiv) The model for the Sphinx painting; her secret is revealed through the portrait and Tristrem's memories. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/chapters/xvi) Appears mature and beautiful; reacts with shock and hatred upon learning of Weldon's death, revealing she loved him. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/chapters/xvii) Visited by Tristrem after the murder; later approached by the attorney who begs her to testify, but she coldly agrees only to see Tristrem sentenced. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/characters/viola_raritan - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_truth_about_tristrem_varick_se/characters