# Willie Price — Anna of the Five Towns character guide > Willie Price in Anna of the Five Towns by Arnold Bennett. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Willie, old Price, Price, Will **First appearance:** 0003-i-the-kindling-of-love ## Who they are The gentle, hapless son of a defaulting debtor, Willie becomes the object of Anna's compassion and the town's contempt in equal measure. ## Relationships ### [Anna Tellwright](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_of_the_five_towns_se/characters/anna_tellwright) _psychological_ Anna feels a deep, pitying attraction to Willie, a vulnerable and tragic figure, which borders on obsessive compassion and unspoken emotional entanglement. ### [Henry Mynors](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_of_the_five_towns_se/characters/henry_mynors) _professional_ Henry is Willie's business rival and creditor, creating a tense dynamic of economic power and suppressed hostility. ### [Ephraim Tellwright](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_of_the_five_towns_se/characters/ephraim_tellwright) _professional_ Ephraim is a creditor to Willie's failing pottery business, treating him with cold financial ruthlessness. ### [Mr. Sutton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_of_the_five_towns_se/characters/mr_sutton) _professional_ Mr. Sutton is a fellow businessman and creditor to Willie, maintaining a formal and distant relationship. ### [Agnes Tellwright](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_of_the_five_towns_se/characters/agnes_tellwright) _social_ Agnes knows Willie as a family acquaintance, showing little personal interest beyond polite interaction. ### [Miss Sarah Vodrey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_of_the_five_towns_se/characters/miss_sarah_vodrey) _family_ Miss Sarah Vodrey is Willie's aunt and housekeeper, caring for him with anxious devotion as his life unravels. ### [Anna Tellwright](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_of_the_five_towns_se/characters/anna_tellwright) _psychological_ Anna feels a deep, pitying attraction to Willie, a vulnerable and tragic figure, which borders on obsessive compassion and unspoken emotional entanglement. ### [Anna Tellwright](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_of_the_five_towns_se/characters/anna_tellwright) _psychological_ Anna feels a deep, pitying attraction to Willie, a vulnerable and tragic figure, which borders on obsessive compassion and unspoken emotional entanglement. ### [Ephraim Tellwright](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_of_the_five_towns_se/characters/ephraim_tellwright) _professional_ Ephraim is a creditor to Willie's failing pottery business, treating him with cold financial ruthlessness. ### [Henry Mynors](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_of_the_five_towns_se/characters/henry_mynors) _professional_ Henry is Willie's business rival and creditor, creating a tense dynamic of economic power and suppressed hostility. ### [Ephraim Tellwright](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_of_the_five_towns_se/characters/ephraim_tellwright) _professional_ Ephraim is a creditor to Willie's failing pottery business, treating him with cold financial ruthlessness. ### [Mr. Sutton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_of_the_five_towns_se/characters/mr_sutton) _professional_ Mr. Sutton is a fellow businessman and creditor to Willie, maintaining a formal and distant relationship. ## In the story ### [Anna of the Five Towns](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_of_the_five_towns_se/chapters/anna-of-the-five-towns) A figure in Anna's social circle, whose interactions hint at the complexities of class and morality. ### [I: The Kindling of Love](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_of_the_five_towns_se/chapters/i-the-kindling-of-love) Willie Price is the secretary of the Bible-class, standing somewhat apart and pulling his moustache. Agnes likes him for his wistful, doll-like quality. ### [IV: A Visit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_of_the_five_towns_se/chapters/iv-a-visit) Greets Anna at the meeting; had previously informed her about the meeting. ### [VI: Willie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_of_the_five_towns_se/chapters/vi-willie) Willie visits Anna's home to discuss the rent, showing nervousness and a desire to be polite. His mention of 'the dad' humanizes Titus Price for Anna. ### [IX: The Treat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_of_the_five_towns_se/chapters/ix-the-treat) Visits Anna in response to the rent demand, displaying craven and fawning humility; shows the letter with Ephraim's final postscript; pleads for time to pay. ### [XI: The Downfall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_of_the_five_towns_se/chapters/xi-the-downfall) Willie is mentioned as the one who discovered his father's body and bore himself splendidly during the crisis. ### [At the Priory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_of_the_five_towns_se/chapters/xii-at-the-priory) Willie is found at the Priory, exhausted and caring for the dying Miss Vodrey. He is later discussed as a failed businessman, evoking Anna's pity. ### [XIII: The Bazaar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_of_the_five_towns_se/chapters/xiii-the-bazaar) Anna worries about him learning of his father's embezzlement; she hopes no further disaster befalls him. ### [XIV: End of a Simple Soul](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_of_the_five_towns_se/chapters/xiv-end-of-a-simple-soul) Departs for Australia after his father's suicide; receives Anna's note and hundred pounds, but is last seen heading to the station and is never heard from again. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_of_the_five_towns_se/characters/willie_price - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_of_the_five_towns_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/anna_of_the_five_towns_se/characters