Character Relationship Map: The Turning

Characters

• Kate (played by Mackenzie Davis) — protagonist

  The new governess hired in 1994 to care for Flora and Miles Fairchild. Haunted by the estate's dark history and her mother's mental illness, she experiences supernatural encounters that blur her perce...

• Miles (played by Finn Wolfhard) — protagonist

  Flora's older brother who returns from boarding school after being expelled for violent behavior. Initially hostile and prank-pulling, he warns Kate about the house's dangers and eventually recognizes...

• Flora (played by Brooklynn Prince) — supporting

  A seven-year-old orphan who witnessed her parents' fatal car accident. Described as a sensitive case, she initially fears abandonment but forms a bond with Kate while quietly navigating the house's su...

• Miss Jessel (played by Denna Thomsen) — supporting

  The previous governess who fled the estate under mysterious circumstances. Her ghost attacks Kate, and her journal reveals a history of obsession and violence tied to Quint, while her corpse is later...

• Mrs. Grose (played by Barbara Marten) — supporting

  The estate's caretaker who informs Kate about the children's past and the ghosts. She attempts to manage the supernatural threats but is ultimately killed by Quint's ghost after revealing she ensured...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Mrs. Grose → Kate (Professional Caretaker Colleague) — Mrs. Grose acts as Kate's practical guide and fellow caretaker at the estate.

  Mrs. Grose informs Kate about the children's history, the estate, and the former riding instructor's death.

• Kate → Miles (Professional Governess And Ward) — Kate's professional duties extend to Miles despite their hostile interactions.

  Kate is hired to care for the Fairchild children, and Miles returns to the estate while she is serving as their governess.

• Kate → Flora (Professional Governess) — Kate is professionally responsible for Flora's care and protection.

  Kate becomes a governess for seven-year-old Flora after Miss Jessel's disappearance.

• Miles → Flora (Family Brother) — Miles is Flora's older brother and part of the sibling pair under Kate's care.

  The plot identifies Miles as Flora's brother and describes him returning from boarding school to the Fairchild Estate.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Miss Jessel → Mrs. Grose (Unknown Hidden History) — Mrs. Grose is connected to concealed knowledge about Miss Jessel's fate.

  Mrs. Grose appears to already know about the violence connected to Miss Jessel when Kate tells her what she has seen.

• Miss Jessel → Kate (Conflict Ghostly Attacker) — Miss Jessel's ghost becomes a direct supernatural threat to Kate.

  While Kate searches for Miles during a game of tag, she is attacked by the ghost of Miss Jessel.

Story Analysis

A governess's attempt to protect two children becomes a psychological collapse in which supernatural horror and unreliable perception become inseparable.

Plot Progression

1. A Governess Enters — Miss Jessel disappears, and Kate accepts a governess position at the Fairchild Estate. She meets Flora, learns about the child's trauma, and promises not to abandon her.
2. Children And Shadows — Miles returns after a violent incident at boarding school, creating conflict with Kate. Strange nighttime events and the children's resistance make Kate increasingly uncomfortable.
3. The Estate's Buried Past — Kate is attacked by Miss Jessel's ghost and discovers the former governess's journal. The appearance of multiple ghosts, Jessel's body, and Mrs. Grose's troubling knowledge intensify Kate's fear.
4. Reality Unravels — Mrs. Grose is killed in a supernatural vision, followed by an apparent escape that is revealed to be imagined. Kate's certainty collapses as Miles and Flora reject her claims.