Violet Ayers

Violet Ayers is one of the characters of focus in the novel. Violet is the daughter of Rupert and Elizabeth. She is Graham’s sister and Kate’s great-aunt.

Violet is punished by her father for being female and for being too much like her mother. Since Graham was stung by bees when he tried to play with them like his sister did, Rupert had been more and more critical of Violet’s boyish behavior. When he arranges a visit by Frederick, Violet’s cousin, Rupert threatens to send Violet to a finishing school if she does not behave during the visit.

Frederick rapes Violet during his visit. Violet is further abused by her father because he does not ask for her side of the story. He believes Frederick when Frederick claims that Violet forced herself upon him. Violet is disinherited when she fixes a potion to...