# Madame Fosco — The Woman in White character guide > Madame Fosco in The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Fosco, Countess Fosco **First appearance:** 0027-ii ## Snapshot Once a lively Englishwoman, she now sits in icy silence beside her husband, her will surrendered so completely that her old friends barely recognize her. ## Who they are Disinherited by her brother for marrying an Italian count, Madame Fosco has become the mute, watchful shadow of her charismatic husband. Where she was once warm and impulsive, she is now unnervingly still, her devotion to Fosco absolute and her resentment of her family cold. Her transformation unsettles Marian, who remembers a different woman, and it hints at how thoroughly the Count remakes whatever he possesses. ## Relationships ### [Count Fosco](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/characters/count_fosco) _family_ Fosco is married to Madame Fosco, whom he dominates and controls, using her as a compliant assistant in his schemes. ### [Sir Percival Glyde](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/characters/sir_percival_glyde) _social_ Madame Fosco is a compliant associate of Sir Percival, assisting her husband in his plots against him. ### [Count Fosco](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/characters/count_fosco) _family_ Fosco is married to Madame Fosco, whom he dominates and controls, using her as a compliant assistant in his schemes. ### [Count Fosco](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/characters/count_fosco) _family_ Fosco is married to Madame Fosco, whom he dominates and controls, using her as a compliant assistant in his schemes. ### [Sir Percival Glyde](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/characters/sir_percival_glyde) _social_ Madame Fosco is a compliant associate of Sir Percival, assisting her husband in his plots against him. ### [Sir Percival Glyde](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/characters/sir_percival_glyde) _social_ Madame Fosco is a compliant associate of Sir Percival, assisting her husband in his plots against him. ## In the story ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/ii) Radically transformed by marriage, now silent and submissive, with a suppressed tigerish jealousy. ### [Chapter IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/iv) Initially present as a potential witness but leaves the room after her husband's objection. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/v) Declines to join the walk, staying to make cigarettes for the Count. ### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/vi) Seen walking by the fishpond and informs Marian of the Count and Sir Percival's walk. ### [Chapter VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/vii) Boldly confronts Sir Percival, declaring she will no longer stay in a house where ladies are mistreated. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/viii) The Count's wife; initially jealous but tamed by her husband, she spies on Marian and Laura, rustling her silk gown outside Laura's door. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/i) Travels to London to bring back the nurse Mrs. Rubelle; assists in nursing Marian. ### [The Narrative of Hester Pinhorn, Cook in the Service of Count Fosco](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/i-the-narrative-of-hester-pinhorn-cook-in-the-service-of-count-fosco) Countess; English lady; hard and composed; manages funeral arrangements; appears less affected than the Count. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/vi) Lures Mrs. Clements away from the lodgings, enabling Anne's abduction. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/vii) Glides silently through the hall and later brings coffee at the Count's request. ### [The Story Continued by Isidor, Ottavio, Baldassare Fosco; Count of the Holy Roman Empire, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Brazen Crown, Perpetual Arch-Master of the Rosicrucian Masons of Mesopotamia; Attached (In Honorary Capacities) to Societies Musical, Societies Medical, Societies Philosophical, and Societies General Benevolent, Throughout Europe; etc. etc. etc.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/the-story-continued-by-isidor-ottavio-baldassare-fosco-count-of-the-holy-roman-empire-knight-grand-cross-of-the-order-of-the-brazen-crown-perpetual-arch-master-of-the-rosicrucian-masons-of-mesopotamia-attached-in-honorary-capacities-to-societies-musical-societies-medical-societies-philosophical-and-societies-general-benevolent-throughout-europe-etc-etc-etc) Fosco's wife; assists by copying and intercepting letters and traveling to London to arrange Anne's move. ### [The Count's Narrative](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/the-count-s-narrative) Fosco's wife, who carries out his instructions with devotion. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/ii) Identifies Fosco's body via an anonymous letter; buries him in Père la Chaise and publishes a biography of him. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/characters/madame_fosco - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/characters