Iris Fisher van den Meer

Iris is the main character in the story who struggles in her change from a young girl to an adult. She learns to see her mother objectively instead of assuming that Margarethe is always right, as children do. She is a spokesperson for Ruth and protects her despite the fact that Iris is younger. Iris has been made aware of her physical shortcomings by Margarethe. As a result, she believes that she has nothing to offer a man and cannot hope to expect more from life than to be a maid in a wealthy household.

Schoonmaker and Caspar do much for Iris's self-esteem. They both recognize her eye for art and appreciate her intelligence. They try to explain to her that although not conventionally beautiful, she possesses a unique quality that makes her appealing. She eventually grows into a young woman who is not...