The Dark Tower’s Rhea of the Cöos – Biography, History, & Character Information

Rhea of the Coös is a deeply sinister figure in The Dark Tower series, serving as a key antagonist in Wizard and Glass. Her malevolence and manipulation leave lasting scars on Roland Deschain and his ka-tet, shaping the tragedies that define his early life. Gifted — or cursed — with magical abilities after a shard of the Laughing Mirror pierced her eye, Rhea became a conduit for dark forces, including the Crimson King. Her obsession with Maerlyn’s Grapefruit and her spiteful nature make her one of Roland’s most formative adversaries.

Appearances

• The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass – Rhea of the Cöos is a malicious witch who plays a pivotal role in Hambry by manipulating Susan Delgado, obsessing over Maerlyn’s Grapefruit, and becoming a key adversary to Roland Deschain. She is one of the earliest servants of the Crimson King that Roland meets.
• The Dark Tower Graphic Novel – Rhea is visually depicted as the cruel witch from Hambry, mirroring her role in the novel, with her obsession with Maerlyn’s Grapefruit and her schemes against Susan and Roland.

Backstory

Born in the Barony of Delain long before the events of the series, Rhea Dubativo grew up as a cunning and spiteful outcast. She lacked the cleverness or beauty to gain favor in her village but compensated with a sharp memory and a relentless capacity for cruelty. Her life changed forever when a shard of the Laughing Mirror embedded itself in her eye, granting her the ability to perceive and manipulate magic. This newfound power allowed her to see the spirits and phantoms of the world, setting her on a path of destruction.

Rhea wandered from village to village, posing as a wise woman but using her abilities to curse and harm those who sought her help. Her misdeeds eventually led to a mob attempting to execute her, but she pleaded with the Crimson King for salvation. In exchange for her servitude, the King extended her life and directed her to relocate to Hambry, where she would play a role in furthering his dark plans. It was in Hambry that she was entrusted with Maerlyn’s Grapefruit, a magical sphere gifted to her by Eldred Jonas on behalf of John Farson. The Grapefruit captivated Rhea, consuming her thoughts and draining her vitality, yet she clung to it as both a source of power and an object of obsession.

Physical Description

Rhea of the Coös was a grotesque and unsettling figure, her physical appearance reflecting the corruption of her soul. Her gaunt face and pallid skin betrayed the years of decay wrought by her obsession with Maerlyn’s Grapefruit. Her infected eye glowed faintly, a sinister reminder of the Laughing Mirror shard embedded within it. With unkempt hair, a hunched posture, and skeletal limbs, Rhea exuded an aura of decay and malice. Her voice, described as shrill and cutting, matched the venomous nature of her personality, further amplifying the unease she inspired in those who encountered her.

Personality & Traits

Rhea’s personality was defined by her malice, manipulation, and unrelenting thirst for power. She thrived on the misery she inflicted, whether through curses, deceptions, or outright cruelty. Her cunning and resourcefulness made her a dangerous adversary, but her obsessive tendencies often clouded her judgment. This was most evident in her fixation on Maerlyn’s Grapefruit, which consumed her thoughts and hastened her physical and mental deterioration.

Despite her intelligence, Rhea was deeply vengeful and petty, holding grudges against anyone who crossed her. Her disdain for others extended to humans and supernatural beings alike, as she viewed the world through a lens of bitterness and suspicion. Her lack of empathy and insatiable desire for dominance made her one of the most malevolent characters in The Dark Tower series.

Strengths, Weaknesses, and Abilities

Rhea’s abilities were rooted in the shard of the Laughing Mirror lodged in her eye, which granted her a unique connection to magic. She excelled at curses and manipulation, using her powers to bend others to her will. Her knowledge of Maerlyn’s Grapefruit further enhanced her abilities, allowing her to spy on distant events and influence outcomes from afar.

However, her reliance on the Grapefruit was also her greatest weakness. The sphere drained her life force and clouded her judgment, making her increasingly erratic and paranoid. Her spiteful and vengeful tendencies often led her to overreach, alienating allies and underestimating her enemies. These flaws ultimately left her vulnerable, despite her considerable powers.

Key Relationships

Rhea’s relationships were marked by manipulation, cruelty, and mutual disdain. Her interactions with Susan Delgado and Roland Deschain were central to her story, as she exploited her role as a “wise woman” to humiliate Susan and set her on a tragic path. Rhea’s hatred for Susan consumed her, driving many of her actions in Hambry and culminating in Susan’s horrific death.

Rhea’s alliance with Eldred Jonas and the Big Coffin Hunters was one of convenience. Though they shared common goals, their relationship was fraught with distrust. Rhea’s obsession with Maerlyn’s Grapefruit created tension, as Jonas recognized her as a liability. Ultimately, their uneasy partnership unraveled, exposing the fragility of their alliance.

Her servitude to the Crimson King defined her ultimate loyalty. In exchange for extended life and power, Rhea carried out the King’s will with ruthless efficiency. However, even this relationship was tinged with self-interest, as Rhea pursued her own vendettas alongside the King’s orders.

Role in the Dark Tower Series

Rhea of the Coös played a pivotal role in Wizard and Glass as a key antagonist during the events in Hambry. Entrusted with Maerlyn’s Grapefruit, she became obsessed with the sphere, using it to spy on Roland and his ka-tet while furthering her own schemes. Her manipulation of Susan Delgado and her role in Susan’s eventual death had a profound impact on Roland, cementing the tragedies that would shape his quest for the Tower.

Rhea’s actions extended beyond Hambry, indirectly influencing events later in Roland’s life. Her image in the Grapefruit caused Roland to mistake his mother for Rhea, leading to her accidental death. This moment haunted Roland, symbolizing the enduring consequences of Rhea’s malevolence.

Thematically, Rhea embodied the corrupting influence of power and obsession, serving as a cautionary tale of unchecked ambition. Her story underscored the pervasive chaos in Mid-World and the manipulative forces aligned against Roland’s quest for the Tower. Though her ultimate fate remains ambiguous, it is heavily implied that Roland killed her, bringing a grim end to one of his earliest and most formative enemies.