Charisse Gomolinski Character Analysis in The Time Traveler’s Wife

Charisse is a friend of Henry and Clare. She’s married to Gomez. Charisse is a self-labeled communist and anarchist, and she expresses her beliefs in her artwork. At the start of the novel, Charisse is Clare’s roommate and best friend, and she and Gomez have been dating for years. When Clare starts dating Henry, Charisse is quick to embrace him. She also chastises Gomez when he is rude to Henry. Charisse and Gomez get married shortly before Clare and Henry, and they have three children: Max, Joe, and Rosa. Like Gomez, Charisse is aware of Henry’s condition. Charisse and Gomez remain close friends with Clare and Henry throughout the novel; they are present for the most joyful and challenging moments of their life, offering support to Clare when Henry is away traveling. Charisse seems either unaware or intentionally ignorant of Gomez’s obvious devotion and attraction to Clare for most of the novel. She eventually admits to Henry, however, that she has been aware of Gomez’s love for Clare since the beginning but chooses to ignore it. However, when Henry’s time traveling begins to take a severe toll on him, Charisse worries that Gomez will abandon her for Clare if Henry dies. She confides in Henry, who assures Gomez will stay with her. Charisse is at the New Years’ Eve party on the night of Henry’s death. Even after Henry is gone, Gomez stays with Charisse. The novel implies that Charisse is unaware that Gomez and Clare have sex once after Henry dies.

Charisse Gomolinski Character Timeline in The Time Traveler’s Wife

The timeline below shows where the character Charisse Gomolinski appears in The Time Traveler’s Wife. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...small and unkempt but close by; Clare lives far away and has a roommate named Charisse who would undoubtedly interrogate him. Clare agrees to close her eyes while Henry cleans up,... (full context)

...Clare is 20). Henry is nervous about attending dinner at Clare’s apartment with her roommate Charisse and Charisse’s boyfriend, Gomez; he has yet to see Clare’s place or meet her friends.... (full context)

...getting increasingly tipsy, and making fun of Henry behind his back. He stops only when Charisse chastises him. By the time dinner is ready, everyone is drunk. Gomez toasts to the... (full context)

...Gomez is unmoved. He insists Henry is dangerous, though he admits that he likes him. Charisse comes home from church, interrupting their argument. Clare takes a bath and stews on both... (full context)

...him a ride home. Noticing that Henry is high, Gomez takes him to Clare and Charisse’s apartment so he can be supervised. (full context)

...the basement of the church. She admires herself in her white wedding dress. Lucille, Alicia, Charisse, Helen, and Ruth are all running around anxiously waiting for the ceremony to start. The... (full context)

...The reception is nearly over. Everyone has eaten cake, and Clare threw her bouquet, which Charisse caught. Henry dances with Helen until Gomez cuts in. Henry goes to the bar, where... (full context)

...to the courthouse to get married officially since present Henry missed the ceremony. Gomez and Charisse come along as witnesses. After, the four friends go out to dinner. Gomez asks if... (full context)

...February 3, 1995 (Clare is 23, Henry is 31, and 39). Clare and Henry have Charisse and Gomez over for a game night. They play a communist-themed remake of Monopoly that... (full context)

...internal pain. Soon, she has menstrual cramps and finds her underwear stained red with blood. Charisse and Gomez arrive to take her to the hospital, and she leaves a note on... (full context)

Sunday, March 13, 1999 (Henry is 35, Clare 27). Clare and Henry go to Charisse and Gomez’s house to meet their newborn third child, Rosa. Their other kids, Max and... (full context)

...up, she tells him it’s time to go to the hospital. They call Gomez and Charisse, who have agreed to drive them to the hospital. Henry tries to distract Clare from... (full context)

As doctors, nurses, Henry, and Charisse move around her, Clare is struck with the feeling that she and Alba are together... (full context)

...Clare wakes up in Gomez’s bed. She is immediately anxious about how both Henry and Charisse will react when they find out. She goes to the bathroom, and when she returns,... (full context)

Friday, February 18, 2005 (Henry is 41, Clare is 33). Henry and Charisse are attending an opera together because neither Clare nor Gomez enjoy Wagner. When Henry picks... (full context)

Charisse says Clare is a prime example of Gomez’s patience. Henry asks what she means, though... (full context)

...Clare and Alba wake up, and the family heads to the zoo to meet Gomez, Charisse, and their children. After, Henry and Clare leave Alba with a sitter and dress up... (full context)

Later. Charisse has joined Clare in the hospital cafeteria. Kimy is upstairs keeping watch over Henry, who... (full context)

(8:20 p.m.). Gomez and Charisse arrive next. Gomez makes a joke about Henry forgetting to shovel the walkway before heading... (full context)

Saturday, July 12, 2008 (Clare is 37). Alba has been with Charisse and the other kids skating all day, so Clare goes to Gomez and Charisse’s to... (full context)

...her. Just then, they hear a car door. Gomez and Clare quickly get dressed before Charisse and the children come inside. (full context)

Saturday, July 26, 2008 (Clare is 37). Clare and Charisse take Alba out to a 1960s-themed diner as a reward for the kids being patient... (full context)