Who is Pelagia from Corelli's Mandolin and what is their importance?

Pelagia is Dr. Iannis' daughter. Her father has raised her to be in independent thinker and taught her to speak Italian. In addition, she has learned to be a doctor by watching her father.

As a young woman, Pelagia is engaged to a fisherman name Mandras, who goes to war. She is a devoted to Mandras and writes him regularly but never receives a response. Gradually her love for him cools, and she finds herself attracted to Corelli despite his position as an officer of an enemy force. In time, her attraction turns to love.... and she promises to marry Corelli after the war. .

Corelli never returns, and Pelagia never marries. After her father death, she takes over his role until she is forced to stop. As the island becomes more and more a tourist destination, she operates a successful restaurant. When a baby girl is abandoned on her doorstep, she takes it in and raises the girl along with the help of another woman, Drousula.

Pelagia believes she is haunted by Corelli's ghost, not knowing that she is catching actual glimpses of him as he observes her from time to time. When Corelli finally returns, she is angry, but it isn;t long before her love shines through.