# Flora — The Turn of the Screw character guide > Flora in The Turn of the Screw by Henry James. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** little Flora, Miss Flora, dear little Flora, Flora **First appearance:** 0001-i ## Snapshot The master's small niece, a lovely, self-possessed child whose sudden stillness and wandering attention unsettle the governess more than any tantrum could. ## Who they are Flora is Miles's younger sister, left at Bly with him under the governess's care and rarely mentioned by their uncle. She is sweet, obedient, and unnervingly composed — until she begins to slip away to the pond and to look at the governess with a stranger's eyes. Her distance is the first crack in the governess's confidence, and it turns a nursery into a place of watchfulness. ## Relationships ### [Mrs. Grose](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/characters/mrs_grose) _friendship_ Flora shares a warm, trusting bond with Mrs. Grose, who acts as a maternal figure and protector against the governess's accusations. ### [Miss Jessel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/characters/miss_jessel) _psychological_ The governess believes Flora is secretly in league with Miss Jessel's ghost, though Flora vehemently denies seeing her. ### [Miles](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/characters/miles) _family_ Flora and Miles are siblings who share a close, conspiratorial bond, often presenting a united front against the governess. ### [Douglas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/characters/douglas) _social_ Douglas mentions Flora only as part of the story's background, having no direct relationship with her. ### [Luke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/characters/luke) _social_ Flora interacts with Luke as a servant of the household, but their relationship is not developed in the story. ### [Mrs. Grose](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/characters/mrs_grose) _friendship_ Flora shares a warm, trusting bond with Mrs. Grose, who acts as a maternal figure and protector against the governess's accusations. ### [Mrs. Grose](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/characters/mrs_grose) _friendship_ Flora shares a warm, trusting bond with Mrs. Grose, who acts as a maternal figure and protector against the governess's accusations. ### [Miss Jessel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/characters/miss_jessel) _psychological_ The governess believes Flora is secretly in league with Miss Jessel's ghost, though Flora vehemently denies seeing her. ## In the story ### [Prologue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/prologue) The small niece of the master, living at Bly under Mrs. Grose's care. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/i) The governess's young pupil, described as angelically beautiful and confident; she shows the governess around Bly. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/ii) Appears at the schoolroom door, showing affection for the governess, who embraces her. ### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/iii) Mentioned as having been seen by the governess with the same freshness and purity as Miles; earlier she had led the governess to the tower. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/iv) Mentioned as one of the governess's charming charges, along with Miles. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/vi) Accompanies the governess by the lake; plays 'very hard' while the governess senses a third presence. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/vii) Mentioned as having seen Miss Jessel by the lake but keeping it secret, leading the governess to fear the child's complicity. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/viii) Described as engaging in suspicious behavior by the lake, including singing and gabbling nonsense, which the governess interprets as an attempt to hide her awareness of Miss Jessel. ### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/ix) Asleep during the governess's nighttime encounter; described as a 'perfection of childish rest.' ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/x) Flora is caught by the governess after sneaking to the window to observe the ghostly figure. She appears innocent but the governess believes she is lying and in contact with Miss Jessel. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/xi) Mentioned as having been involved in Miles's plan to alert the governess by looking out the window. ### [Chapter XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/xii) Walks with Miles and appears sweet, but the governess interprets her behavior as part of a fraudulent performance. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/xiii) Participates in the same silent understanding and the ritual of asking about their uncle; the governess believes she sees more than is revealed. ### [Chapter XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/xiv) Walks ahead with Mrs. Grose, mentioned as a point of comparison by Miles. ### [Chapter XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/xvi) Reported by Mrs. Grose as sweetly agreeing to keep silent about the governess's absence. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/xvii) Mentioned as being at peace beside the governess earlier in the evening. ### [Chapter XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/xviii) Disappears after dinner; the governess believes she has gone to meet Miss Jessel. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/xix) Found by the lake after taking the boat; smiles but remains silent and evasive. ### [Chapter XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/xx) Denies seeing Miss Jessel, accuses the governess of cruelty, and clings to Mrs. Grose, demanding to be taken away. ### [Chapter XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/xxi) Feverish, terrified of the governess, and speaking horribly about her. ### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/chapters/xxii) Has been taken away by Mrs. Grose due to illness, presumably caused by the events at Bly. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/characters/flora - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turn_of_the_screw_se/characters