Where Angels Fear to Tread · Character

Irma

Lilia's young daughter from her first marriage, left in England.

minor

Also known as little Irma

First appearance: Chapter I

Irma's tie to Mrs. Herriton is one of the pressures that moves Where Angels Fear to Tread—worth meeting in the text, not only on a cast list.

Irma is Lilia's young daughter, who bids her mother goodbye and is left in Mrs.

In the storyChapter IOpen this moment free

See Irma in Chapter I Book page

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With Mrs. Herriton (family): Irma is Mrs. Herriton's granddaughter, and Mrs. Herriton treats her as a possession to be molded in the family's image. With Philip Herriton (family): Irma is Philip's niece, and their relationship is distant and formal, with Philip showing little genuine affection for her. With Lilia Theobald (family): Irma is Lilia's daughter, but their bond is weak due to Lilia's abandonment and Irma's upbringing by the Herritons.

Continue beside the text

The fuller portrait of Irma sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Irma in Chapter I

Character Web

9 connections

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

Relationship types

Family
Other

Character groups

English family and associates
Italian local and minor figures

+4 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

This is the story's dramatic climax because it marks the emotional and psychological peak where Philip, having…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

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Relationships

Mrs. Herriton
family · ambivalent
Philip Herriton
family · negative
Lilia Theobald
family · negative
Harriet Herriton
family · negative
Philip Herriton
family · negative
Harriet Herriton
family · negative
Mrs. Herriton
family · ambivalent
Lilia Theobald
family · negative
Harriet Herriton
family · negative
Philip Herriton
family · negative

Mrs. Herriton
Irma is Mrs. Herriton's granddaughter, and Mrs. Herriton treats her as a possession to be molded in the family's image.
Philip Herriton
Irma is Philip's niece, and their relationship is distant and formal, with Philip showing little genuine affection for her.
Lilia Theobald
Irma is Lilia's daughter, but their bond is weak due to Lilia's abandonment and Irma's upbringing by the Herritons.
Harriet Herriton
Harriet is Irma's aunt, and she treats Irma with cold, authoritarian discipline, seeing her as a project rather than a child.
Philip Herriton
Irma is Philip's niece, and their relationship is distant and formal, with Philip showing little genuine affection for her.
Harriet Herriton
Harriet is Irma's aunt, and she treats Irma with cold, authoritarian discipline, seeing her as a project rather than a child.
Mrs. Herriton
Irma is Mrs. Herriton's granddaughter, and Mrs. Herriton treats her as a possession to be molded in the family's image.
Lilia Theobald
Irma is Lilia's daughter, but their bond is weak due to Lilia's abandonment and Irma's upbringing by the Herritons.
Harriet Herriton
Harriet is Irma's aunt, and she treats Irma with cold, authoritarian discipline, seeing her as a project rather than a child.
Philip Herriton
Irma is Philip's niece, and their relationship is distant and formal, with Philip showing little genuine affection for her.

Relationship notes

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

See Irma in Chapter I

In the story

Irma appears across 1 companion beat. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter I

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Irma unlock in the free preview.

See Irma in Chapter I