Claire Defoe

Claire Defoe is Lawndale High's resident Art teacher.

Characterization
Claire Defoe is characteristically very relaxed and patient, more in tune to art than anything else. She was rarely seen actually creating any art of her own (the only example on-screen was her making something out of yarn during a teacher's convention in The F Word), but she did delight in nurturing the talents of others, particularly Jane Lane. Jane appears fond of Defoe as well, helping her with protest signs in "Lucky Strike" even though she'd just stated she'd tell any teacher asking her help "where to stick it".

The book "The Daria Database" shows some of her art: a macrame plant holder. She plans to start her own mail-order business selling them.

Defoe appears or is referenced in both Daria books The Daria Diaries and The Daria Database. From the books it is revealed that she resented to have to choose between "Arts" and "Crafts" and that she makes wind chimes and macramés plant holders (the later she plans to sell). It is also revealed that she owns a studio apartment that's been occupied by freeloading ex-college suitemates, who she doesn't have the heart to throw out (a theme that has been explored in some fanfiction stories); as a result, she keeps a sleeping bag in the school staff room so she can stay there and washes with "homemade soap at truck-stop showers".

It has been theorized by fans that Defoe could have an hippie past.

In Fanfiction
Defoe doesn't appear in a lot of fanfiction, but there are some that give her highlighted roles. In Richard Lobinske's Falling Into College series, she mentors Jane when she returns to Lawndale High as her assistant before leaving for college. Later in the series, she is appointed Principal when Ms. Li is arrested for grade-fixing.

In some fics, she has been romantically paired with Anthony DeMartino. Stories including this ship are:
 * Ring Toss, by Nemo Blank
 * Legion of Lawndale Heroes, by Roentgen and Brother Grimace
 * The Last Supper, by EmpressEKV

Trivia

 * The spelling of Defoe's name is given in The Daria Diaries. "DeFoe" is a common mistake in fanfiction and posts.

External link

 * Ms. Defoe's character profile