Ruth Fisher is the older, mentally challenged (possibly autistic) daughter of Margarethe Fisher.She is tough on all of the children and expect them to take care of her because she has more important things to do with her new life. It is hinted that the Master is interested in Margarethe, but his feelings are not returned. Whether she loves Clara’s father is unstated and unlikely, especially given her motto of 'Give me room to cast my eel spear, and let follow what may', but she is reasonably kind to him. Her motives for marrying Clara’s father are purely to keep herself and her daughters fed. Margarethe ten Broek Fisher van den Meer is the mother of Iris and Ruth Fisher, and later becomes the stepmother of Clara after marrying her father.Over the course of the story Iris develops an interest in art and painting, and develops feelings for Caspar, but firmly denies them. She is described as 'painfully plain-faced' by her own mother, and several times refers to herself as a hound. When her mother marries Cornelius van den Meer, Iris becomes Clara van den Meer's stepsister.

She is the daughter of Margarethe Fisher and Jack Fisher, and younger sister to Ruth Fisher. Iris Fisher is the one whom the tale follows as she views the events that would become the fairy tale.That night the fairy tale of Cinderella and her pumpkin carriage is spun, and the next morning her prince comes to collect her. While at the ball, Ruth does the unthinkable out of jealousy and love of Clara and Master. Iris secretly helps Clara get to the ball and the prince immediately falls in love with her. Margrethe makes Clara and Ruth go to the ball in the hopes of making the prince fall in love with Iris. While caring for her sisters and keeping the peace between Clara and Margarethe, Iris develops a painter's eye and spends time studying under a local painter known as The Master, and his apprentice, Caspar. Having fled from the Fens of Cambridgeshire, England to Haarlem, the Netherlands, Iris is slightly at odds with the world and often contemplates the value of beauty and ugliness. The story follows Iris, the plain younger daughter of Margarethe Fisher, as she takes care of her mentally challenged older sister Ruth and her stepsister Clara.

Confessions of an ugly step sister