The Voyage Out · Character

Mrs. Flushing

An eccentric, eager traveler who leans forward at the first mention of a dead explorer, hungry for the raw and the strange that the others politely avoid.

supporting

Also known as Mrs. Wilfrid Flushing, Wilfrid Flushing, Flushing

First appearance: x

As a supporting figure in The Voyage Out, Mrs. Flushing is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

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Mrs. Flushing joins the river expedition with an appetite for sensation, exclaiming over the hut where the explorer's body and notebook were found while her well-dressed husband supplies the facts. She befriends Rachel with the same unguarded enthusiasm she brings to everything, treating the sultry, alarming country as an adventure rather than a discomfort. Her vivid, slightly reckless curiosity throws the more restrained English travelers into relief and gives Rachel a glimpse of a woman who takes the world head-on.

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Character Web

17 connections

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

Relationship types

Friendship
Other

Character groups

Literary & Artistic References
Extended Cast & References
Ship's Crew & Visitors
Main Voyage Characters
Protagonist

+12 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

Hewet’s internal crisis reaches its emotional peak as he confronts the tormenting possibility that Rachel is i…

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Relationships

Helen Ambrose
friendship · positive
They share a friendly, somewhat adventurous bond as fellow travelers exploring the South… How this plays out →
Rachel Vinrace
friendship · positive
Helen Ambrose
friendship · positive
They share a friendly, somewhat adventurous bond as fellow travelers exploring the South… How this plays out →
Rachel Vinrace
friendship · positive
Helen Ambrose
friendship · positive
They share a friendly, somewhat adventurous bond as fellow travelers exploring the South… How this plays out →

Helen Ambrose
They share a friendly, somewhat adventurous bond as fellow travelers exploring the South American landscape.
Rachel Vinrace
Mrs. Flushing is an adventurous, bohemian older woman who encourages Rachel's independence and curiosity.
Helen Ambrose
They share a friendly, somewhat adventurous bond as fellow travelers exploring the South American landscape.
Rachel Vinrace
Mrs. Flushing is an adventurous, bohemian older woman who encourages Rachel's independence and curiosity.
Helen Ambrose
They share a friendly, somewhat adventurous bond as fellow travelers exploring the South American landscape.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

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In the story

Mrs. Flushing appears across 4 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter XVII
Mrs. Flushing sits with Hirst and Hewet during the service, peering at Hirst's Greek poem and asking about Sappho. She manages to participate in the Litany while indulging her curiosity.
Chapter XX
Paints by the river, expresses dislike for Shakespeare, and remains focused on her art.
Chapter XXVI
Grieves silently and angrily over Rachel's death, refusing to submit to death and pacing in fury.
XXVII
Exults in the storm, standing outside to watch; later speaks scornfully about fear of death.

Chapter companion notes

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