Characters

The main characters in the short story “The Dress” by Julia Darling are Rachel, Flora, and their mother. Rachel and Flora are sisters and their relationship is characterized by rivalry. When Flora takes Rachel’s dress without permission, the two sisters engage in a conflict that escalates and ends with Rachel leaving home to stay with her father.

Flora and Rachel’s mother is a 40-year-old woman who feels frustrated with her life and with her daughters’ behavior. Though they are at a restaurant celebrating her birthday, Flora and Rachel continue to be focused on their own conflict.

The story briefly mentions other characters as well, such as Alberto – Flora’s friend – and the girls’ father.

You can read a full characterization of Rachel, Flora, and their mother on the following pages.

Excerpt

Below, you can read an excerpt from our study guide:

In her relationship with her daughters, the mother is aware that there is some tension between them but initially chooses to ignore it: “The mother sat between them, nibbling olives, talking incessantly, aware of the hollow silence between them”. However, she is soon forced to deal with the conflict between Rachel and Flora, which makes her feel frustrated: “The mother’s head ached. She wanted the meal to be over”. Furthermore, she wishes she would not be forced to mediate the conflict and dreams about being in another context: “She suddenly wished they had gone to the cinema and sat together in silent darkness. Communication between her daughters was often like this: barbed and dangerous”. ...