Flowers in the Attic

An imposing, controlling matriarch who locks the children in an attic and forbids contact between sexes. She views the children as 'the Devil’s spawn' and enforces a strict regime of silence and isolation. Her obsession with secrecy and punishment drives much of the family’s misery inside Foxworth Hall.

A self-serving mother who uses her children as pawns to reclaim her place in the family fortune. She repeatedly moves between neglect and care, breaking promises while pursuing the grandfather's will. Her manipulation and ambiguous morality propels the plot and keeps the children trapped in a web of deceit.

The older brother whose resourcefulness and protectiveness drive many of the attic’s dramatic turns. He steals to fund their life outside and, in a moment of jealousy, acts violently toward Cathy, later grappling with remorse. His determination to keep the family together clashes with the consequences of their actions.

The introspective sister who matures quickly under extreme circumstances. She pursues subtle independence while navigating feelings for Chris, and she fights to protect her younger siblings. Her sense of guilt and loyalty complicates her decisions as they try to survive.

One of the twins whose health deteriorates due to malnutrition and lack of sunlight. His illness and eventual death become a catalyst for the siblings’ realization of their vulnerability and the consequences of the adults' schemes.

The youngest child whose youth makes her especially vulnerable to the family’s trials. She is kept in the attic with her siblings, suffering from neglect and limited care, embodying the innocence lost within Foxworth Hall.

Corrine’s new husband whom she marries after a European honeymoon; his presence marks Corrine’s lifestyle shift and underscores the instability of the family’s loyalties. He is part of the backdrop that shapes Corrine’s choices.

The children's father who dies early in the story, triggering Corrine’s drastic plan to reclaim the will. His absence catalyzes the family’s downward spiral and the attic confinement that follows.

The elderly grandfather whose disinheritance drives Corrine’s motive. His looming death creates the pressure Corrine feels to secure her place in the will, intensifying the family’s web of secrets.