Fan Casting Florence in Mexican Gothic

Florence is Howard’s niece, and Francis’s mother. She is the only female villain in the novel—the only woman without a redeeming moment. When Noemí arrives at High Place, Florence strictly enforces the conventions of the home: no smoking, silence during dinner, etc. But she has not always been the cruel arbiter of domestic power. When she was young, Florence was as much a victim as any of the women in High Place; Howard raped her in order to conceive a child. His attempt at conception failed, so he sent Florence away to find a husband.