# Professor Pesca — The Woman in White character guide

> Professor Pesca in The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Pesca, Mr. Pesca

**First appearance:** 0004-the-story-begun-by-walter-hartright-of-clement-s-inn-teacher-of-drawing

## Snapshot

Walter's buoyant Italian teacher, all exclamation and warmth, whose unexplained past turns him pale at the mere sight of Count Fosco.

## Who they are

Pesca is the small, effusive language master who taught Walter Italian and treats him with extravagant affection. His cheerful volubility conceals a political history he never discusses, and when Fosco flees the opera rather than meet his eye, that buried past suddenly becomes the story's sharpest weapon. His loyalty to Walter is genuine, but what he knows may cost him more than he can say.

## In the story

### [The Story Begun by Walter Hartright of Clement’s Inn, Teacher of Drawing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/the-story-begun-by-walter-hartright-of-clement-s-inn-teacher-of-drawing)

Walter's friend who recommends him for the teaching position at Limmeridge House.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/ii)

Walter's eccentric Italian friend; greets him joyously at the cottage; saved from drowning by Walter.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/iii)

Walter's eccentric Italian friend; arranges the drawing master position at Limmeridge House and enthusiastically persuades Walter to accept.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/iv)

Walter's Italian friend, considered as a potential source of information about Fosco.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/v)

Pesca reveals his membership in the Brotherhood, a secret political society, and shows Walter the brand on his arm.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/vi)

Walter's friend and a member of the Brotherhood; receives a sealed letter from Walter with instructions to act against Fosco if Walter does not return.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/vii)

Referenced as having been seen by Fosco at the Opera, which triggered Fosco's alarm.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/ii)

Accompanies Walter to Paris; is deeply disturbed by a meeting with a scarred foreigner and insists on returning to London.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/iii)

Godfather to Walter's son at the christening.

### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/chapters/endnotes)

His statement to the narrator is noted as having been carefully suppressed and altered.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/characters/professor_pesca
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_woman_in_white_se/characters