# Polly Barker — Black Beauty character guide

> Polly Barker in Black Beauty by Anna Sewell.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Polly, Mary

**First appearance:** 0034-part-iii-xxxv-jerry-barker

## Snapshot

Jerry's quick-witted wife, who runs the lantern out to meet him and talks him into mercy with a sermon about pits and donkeys.

## Who they are

Polly Barker keeps the household running while Jerry drives his cab, greeting him at the yard with news and a lantern on dark evenings. When Dinah Brown needs a ride to her dying mother, Polly makes the case for going — not with guilt, but with plain reasoning about what she would want in Dinah's place. Her steady moral nudging and cheerful practicality shape the Barker household into the kind of home where a tired horse is made 'snug and happy' before supper.

## Relationships

### [Jeremiah Barker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/jeremiah_barker)

_family_

Jeremiah and Polly are a devoted married couple, with Polly supporting her husband through his work and health struggles.

### [Jeremiah Barker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/jeremiah_barker)

_family_

Jeremiah and Polly are a devoted married couple, with Polly supporting her husband through his work and health struggles.

### [Jeremiah Barker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/jeremiah_barker)

_family_

Jeremiah and Polly are a devoted married couple, with Polly supporting her husband through his work and health struggles.

## In the story

### [My Breaking In](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-i-iii-my-breaking-in)

Not directly present in this chapter.

### [A Horse Fair](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-iii-xxxii-a-horse-fair)

Jeremiah's wife; greets them at home and prepares a bran mash for Black Beauty.

### [A London Cab Horse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-iii-xxxiii-a-london-cab-horse)

Jerry's wife, a plump, tidy woman who brings Black Beauty an apple and shows affection.

### [Jerry Barker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-iii-xxxv-jerry-barker)

Jerry's wife, who helps clean the cab in the morning with Dolly.

### [The Sunday Cab](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-iii-xxxvi-the-sunday-cab)

Polly passionately supports Jerry's decision, recalling the hardship of their seven-day work past.

### [The Golden Rule](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-iii-xxxvii-the-golden-rule)

Convinces Jerry to help Dinah Brown by invoking the Golden Rule; arranges the borrowed trap and prepares an early tea.

### [Dolly and a Real Gentleman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-iii-xxxviii-dolly-and-a-real-gentleman)

Jerry's wife who prepares hot soup and pudding for him.

### [The Butcher](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-iii-xli-the-butcher)

Polly takes coal from the old man and is friendly with him.

### [The Election](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-iii-xlii-the-election)

Polly relays Mr. B's request about Jerry's vote and cab hire.

### [A Friend in Need](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-iii-xliii-a-friend-in-need)

Mentioned as Jerry's wife; her former mistress inquires about her and sends messages and money for the children.

### [Jerry's New Year](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/chapters/part-iii-xlv-jerry-s-new-year)

Nurses Jerry; writes to Mrs. Fowler and arranges the move to the country.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/characters/polly_barker
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/black_beauty_se/characters