Clarisse Kominsky

Clarisse Kominsky is the fraternal twin sister of Charlotte Kominsky and plays a pivotal but morally grey role throughout the narrative, despite being an ally.

Background

Clarisse and Charlotte are born into the affluent, complicated Kominsky family, heirs to a legacy of real estate and metallurgy wealth in the South of France. When their parents divorced after a family scandal involving their father’s affair and a hidden daughter, the sisters were separated: Charlotte remained with their struggling mother in Paris, while Clarisse chose to live with their father in Montpellier. This choice shaped both girls’ lives. Clarisse retained her comfort, access, and stability, while Charlotte endured emotional and financial hardship.

The split created not just geographical distance but emotional divergence, colouring their dynamic with unspoken tension and unresolved resentment. Despite this, when the pair got reunited, they fixed the broken pieces and resumed their sister's relationship, but something remained broken despite their mutual forgiveness.

Appearance

Clarisse shares nearly identical physical features with Charlotte: both are 177 cm tall, slim, and elegant. The key differences lie in presentation. While Charlotte is blonde, Clarisse dyed her hair brunette to distinguish them. Clarisse also wears slightly more makeup and has a healthier complexion, requiring less foundation than her twin sister. Their clothing often (ironically) matches, despite efforts to assert individuality.

Her style is polished, professional, and coordinated (blazers, scarves, tailored trousers), and her appearance mirrors the privilege and order she is accustomed to.

Personality

Clarisse is intelligent, sociable, and deeply image-conscious, unlike her twin sister, who is quite the opposite. While she can be affectionate and playful with Charlotte, she is also passive, self-involved, and reluctant to confront discomfort. She frequently downplays Charlotte’s traumas, dismisses concerns, or avoids involvement when things get difficult. Her sense of justice is reactive: she prefers not to intervene unless necessary, often leaving Charlotte to fight battles alone.

There is a subtle cruelty in her entitlement: she complains about coffee served in paper cups or minor inconveniences, completely oblivious to Charlotte’s emotional collapse. Clarisse is often criticised by Charlotte for the fact that she's rich and entitled, a comparison that Clarisse hates.

Despite her flaws, Clarisse is not villainous. She simply represents comfort turned complacency, someone who has chosen not to see the cost of her privileges. She knows that her mother prefers her to her twin sister, but despite this, the pair remains united, as Clarisse is often very critical towards her mother and her choices, particularly on her homophobic comments.

Clarisse actively supports Claire and Charlotte's relationship and is a pro-LGBT advocate.

Relationship with Charlotte Kominsky

Charlotte and Clarisse share a powerful yet fractured bond. Charlotte loves her sister deeply, often calling her “my love” or teasing her affectionately. However, Charlotte is also deeply wounded by Clarisse’s consistent failure to defend her, particularly after she broke up with Claire when Clarisse offered to be a diplomat in Amelia/Charlotte's relationship. Clarisse’s decision to live with their father is perceived as abandonment, and her continued aloofness only deepens that emotional chasm.

They have a telepathic connection at times, an eerie twin synchronicity. Yet while Charlotte faces violence, betrayal, and heartbreak, Clarisse remains distant. The emotional labour always falls on Charlotte. Their love is real, but it is unbalanced. Clarisse simply doesn’t carry the same scars.

Role in the Story

Clarisse functions as a passive "antagonist", not through malice, but through inaction. In a world where silence equals complicity, her refusal to speak up or fight back becomes a quiet betrayal. She does not participate in the story’s violence, but her distance allows it to continue. Her presence haunts Charlotte. Not as an enemy, but as the sister who watched and walked away.

She embodies the question: What do we owe those we love when it’s easier to look away?