# Affery Flintwinch — Little Dorrit character guide

> Affery Flintwinch in Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Affery, Mistress Affery

**First appearance:** 0006-iv-mrs-flintwinch-has-a-dream

## Snapshot

The terrified, dream-haunted wife of Jeremiah Flintwinch, who sees the Clennam house's secrets in her sleep and dreads what she might say awake.

## Who they are

Affery is the battered, bewildered wife of the sinister Flintwinch, living in dread of her husband and of the strange sights that visit her in dreams. She has glimpsed things in the Clennam house she cannot explain, and her muddled testimony hovers between superstition and suppressed truth. Her fear and confusion make her both pitiable and crucial, for she is one of the few who has seen the machinery of the family's secret, and her broken memory keeps the mystery alive.

## Relationships

### [Mr. Flintwinch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_dorrit_se/characters/mr_flintwinch)

_family_

Affery is Flintwinch's terrified, submissive wife, constantly bullied and manipulated by her domineering husband.

### [Arthur Clennam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_dorrit_se/characters/arthur_clennam)

_friendship_

Affery secretly confides in Arthur, warning him of the strange happenings in the Clennam house, trusting his kindness.

### [Mr. Flintwinch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_dorrit_se/characters/mr_flintwinch)

_family_

Affery is Flintwinch's terrified, submissive wife, constantly bullied and manipulated by her domineering husband.

### [Arthur Clennam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_dorrit_se/characters/arthur_clennam)

_friendship_

Affery secretly confides in Arthur, warning him of the strange happenings in the Clennam house, trusting his kindness.

### [Mr. Flintwinch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_dorrit_se/characters/mr_flintwinch)

_family_

Affery is Flintwinch's terrified, submissive wife, constantly bullied and manipulated by her domineering husband.

### [Arthur Clennam](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_dorrit_se/characters/arthur_clennam)

_friendship_

Affery secretly confides in Arthur, warning him of the strange happenings in the Clennam house, trusting his kindness.

## In the story

### [Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_dorrit_se/chapters/iii-home)

Speaks with Arthur about Little Dorrit and hints at Flora's widowhood, then quickly exits upon hearing Jeremiah on the stairs.

### [Mrs. Flintwinch Has a Dream](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_dorrit_se/chapters/iv-mrs-flintwinch-has-a-dream)

Dreams of discovering her husband with a double; is shaken awake by Jeremiah and told she was sleepwalking.

### [Family Affairs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_dorrit_se/chapters/v-family-affairs)

Affery provides Arthur with information about Little Dorrit and is described as having no will of her own, following the lead of 'them two clever ones'.

### [XV: Mrs. Flintwinch Has Another Dream](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_dorrit_se/chapters/xv-mrs-flintwinch-has-another-dream)

Affery dreams of eavesdropping on a conversation between her husband and Mrs. Clennam, cowering in fear and curiosity.

### [Mrs. Flintwinch Goes on Dreaming](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_dorrit_se/chapters/xxix-mrs-flintwinch-goes-on-dreaming)

Remains in a dreamlike, sleep-waking state, is startled by the foreign-looking man, and is held in low account by the 'two clever ones.'

### [The Word of a Gentleman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_dorrit_se/chapters/xxx-the-word-of-a-gentleman)

Stares at Mr. Blandois in confusion, claims 'it's him,' and is shaken by her husband before fleeing.

### [X: The Dreams of Mrs. Flintwinch Thicken](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_dorrit_se/chapters/x-the-dreams-of-mrs-flintwinch-thicken)

Appears ghastly with her apron over her head, speaking in a deadened voice; urges Arthur to leave, claiming she has been in a dream.

### [Mistress Affery Makes a Conditional Promise, Respecting Her Dreams](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_dorrit_se/chapters/xxiii-mistress-affery-makes-a-conditional-promise-respecting-her-dreams)

Reluctantly leads the house tour under her husband's coercion, avoiding Arthur's attempts to speak with her.

### [XXX: Closing In](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_dorrit_se/chapters/xxx-closing-in)

Terrified, she blurts out that her dreams are true, revealing that Jeremiah's twin brother took the paper on the night Arthur returned.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_dorrit_se/characters/affery_flintwinch
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_dorrit_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_dorrit_se/characters