Flight · Character

Mrs. Daquin

A woman who times her entrances like stage cues, Mrs. Daquin navigates colored society's rituals of propriety while steering her stepdaughter Mimi toward an acceptable future.

supporting

First appearance: flight

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Mrs. Daquin moves through the drawing rooms of Atlanta's Black elite with calculated grace, arriving twenty minutes late because she knows a dramatic entrance is worth more than punctuality. At Mrs. Hunter's reception, she watches Mimi endure the condescending coos of women whose complexions range from light brown to near-white, women who seconds earlier were shredding Mrs. Adams for passing at the opera house. Her determination to secure her children's standing in this world of fine gradations is both her armor and her blind spot.

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Character Web

27 connections

A slice of how Mrs. Daquin sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Family
Other

Character groups

Daquin Family Circle
Background and Peripheral
Protagonist

+22 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

Mimi’s emotional peak occurs as her guilt over accepting sympathy under false pretenses intensifies to the poi…

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Relationships

Mimi Daquin
family · ambivalent
Jean Daquin
family · ambivalent
Carl Hunter
social · ambivalent
Hilda Adams
friendship · positive
Jimmie Forrester
social · positive
Mimi Daquin
family · ambivalent
Mimi Daquin
family · ambivalent
Jean Daquin
family · ambivalent
Carl Hunter
social · ambivalent
Jean Daquin
family · ambivalent
Hilda Adams
friendship · positive
Jimmie Forrester
social · positive

Mimi Daquin
Mimi's mother, who is often worried about Mimi's rebellious behavior and social standing.
Jean Daquin
Jean and Mrs. Daquin are married, with a traditional but strained partnership over Mimi's upbringing.
Carl Hunter
Carl is polite to Mrs. Daquin but she is wary of his influence on Mimi.
Hilda Adams
Hilda is friendly with Mrs. Daquin, often relaying information about Mimi's activities.
Jimmie Forrester
Jimmie is a family acquaintance, and Mrs. Daquin sees him as a more suitable match for Mimi than Carl.
Mimi Daquin
Mimi's mother, who is often worried about Mimi's rebellious behavior and social standing.
Mimi Daquin
Mimi's mother, who is often worried about Mimi's rebellious behavior and social standing.
Jean Daquin
Jean and Mrs. Daquin are married, with a traditional but strained partnership over Mimi's upbringing.
Carl Hunter
Carl is polite to Mrs. Daquin but she is wary of his influence on Mimi.
Jean Daquin
Jean and Mrs. Daquin are married, with a traditional but strained partnership over Mimi's upbringing.
Hilda Adams
Hilda is friendly with Mrs. Daquin, often relaying information about Mimi's activities.
Jimmie Forrester
Jimmie is a family acquaintance, and Mrs. Daquin sees him as a more suitable match for Mimi than Carl.

Relationship notes

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In the story

Mrs. Daquin appears across 10 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

I
Welcomes her stepmother and takes charge of the household, showing a brusque and commanding demeanor.
II
Described as better armed for modern life, but an outsider to Creole society.
III
Insists on being called 'Mrs. Daquin' to avoid seeming like outsiders; eager to gain favor with Mrs. Hunter; suggests hiding their Catholic faith to fit into Atlanta society.
V
Dismisses Jean's worries about racial tension, citing Mrs. Hunter's reassurances. Later, she defiantly refuses to move to the back of a streetcar, leading to a confrontation.
VI
Socializes at the graduation, taking credit for bringing Jean and Mimi into a civilized community.
VII
Shown as concerned about Mimi's activities, questioning her destination when she goes out with Carl.
VIII
Confronts Mimi about the scandal, fearing for the family's social position, but is silenced by Jean.
Chapter X
Provides comfort to Mimi during Jean's illness, showing a more vulnerable side.
Chapter XI
Shows superficial grief, which irritates Mimi, and suggests a Protestant service.
Chapter XII
Chastened by Jean's death, she becomes kinder to Mimi and enjoys her new status as a widow; redecorates the house.

Chapter companion notes

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