3. Main Characters

The Governess

The protagonist of the novella, a twenty-year-old woman who has been put in charge of educating and supervising Flora and Miles at the country estate of Bly. The governess has had a very sheltered upbringing and little life experience, and her new job puts an immense responsibility on her, since she has no one to supervise or help her. She is intelligent as well as sensitive and emotionally volatile. Over the course of two short interviews with her employer, she fell in love with him, but she has no opportunity to see him or communicate with him. She is extremely protective of her charges and hopes to win her employer’s approval. She views herself as a zealous guardian, a heroine facing dark forces. However, we never know for certain whether the ghosts and visions the governess sees are real or only figments of her imagination. No one else ever admits to seeing what she sees, and her fears, at times, seem to border on insanity.

The Children's Uncle - Bly

the governess´s employer, a bachelor who lives in London. the Uncle's attractiveness is one of the main reasons the Governess agrees to take on her role at Bly. The uncle is friendly and pleasant, likely rich and succesful in charming men. He hires the governess on the condition that she handle his niece, nephew and all problems at Bly herself. He asks not to be bothered about them

Flora

An eigth-year-old girl, the jounger of the governess's two charges. Flora is beatiful and well manenered a pleasure to be round. Although the governess loves Flora, she is disturbed that Flora, like Miles, seems strategely impersonal and reticent about herself. Flora is affectionate and always ready with an embrace or a smile. She is so unusually wel behaved that her first instance of misconduct is disquieting. the governess eventually becomes convinced that flora sees the ghost of Miss Jessel but keeps these sightings secret

Miles

A ten-year-old boy, the older of the governess two charges. Miles is charming and very attrative. He seems unnaturaly well behaved and agreeable for a child, never fights with his sister and tries constantly to please his governess. He is expelled from school for an unspecified but seemingly sinister reason, and although he seems to bea good child, he often hints that he is capable of being bad. The governess is alarmed by the fact that Miles never refers to his own past and suspects that wicked secrets belie his perfect exterior.

Mrs. Grose

A servant who acts as the governess's companion and confidante. Mrs. Grose, who is iliterate, is very aware of her low standing in comparison with the governess and treats the governess with great respect. Mrs. Grose listens patienly to the governess's constantly changing theories and insights, most often claiming believe her but sometimes questioning whether the ghosts may not imaginary. The governess, however, tends to overwhelm Mrs. Grose, often finishing Mrs. Grose sentences or leaping to conclusions about what Mrs. Grose is saying. Thus, it can sometimes be difficult for us to judge whethwe Mrs. Grose is a strongly on the goveness'sside as the governess thinks. Mrs. Gorse cares deeply about Flora and Miles and consistently defends them againts the governess accusations.

Peter Quint

A former valet at Bly. Red haired, hansome and exceedingly clever, Quint was "infamous" throughout the area of Bly. According to Mrs. Grose, he has a hound and "too free" with everyone, Miles and Flora inclued. The governess describes his specter as an innaturaly white, silent "horror". She believes Quint's ghots is haunting Bly with the intention of corrupting Miles.

Miss Jessel

The governess's predecessor. Mrs. Grose describes Miss Jessel as a lady, young and beatiful but "infamous". Miss Jessel apparently had an inpropriate relationship with Quint, who has well below her class standing. The governess describes Miss Jessel's Black clad ghots as miserable, pale and dreadful. The governess believes Miss Jessel ghots is haunting Bly with the intention of corrupting Flora.