Porgy's Woman is the main female character in the opera Porgy and BESS, composed by George Gershwin. Her name is BESS, a four-letter word which is the solution to the crossword. BESS is a woman living in Catfish Row, a fictional neighborhood in Charleston, South Carolina. She is a beautiful woman who is loved by two men, Porgy and Crown. The story follows her struggles with poverty, addiction, and love.