# Polly Toodle — Dombey and Son character guide

> Polly Toodle in Dombey and Son by Charles Dickens.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Polly, Toodle, Polly Toodle, Richards, Mrs. Richards

**First appearance:** 0005-ii-in-which-timely-provision-is-made-for-an-emergency-that-will-sometimes-arise-in-the-best-regulated-families

## Snapshot

A warm, abundant mother hired as wet nurse to little Paul, she is renamed 'Richards' and made to leave her own children behind.

## Who they are

Polly Toodle, wife of a stoker and mother of a brood, is engaged by Mr. Dombey on condition she answer only to 'Richards' and sever contact with her family. Her natural warmth floods the cold house, and her love for Paul becomes the first real affection he knows, even as her own children wait at home. She matters because she exposes the cruelty of Dombey's world and gives the novel its clearest image of ordinary, unpretending love.

## In the story

### [In Which Timely Provision Is Made for an Emergency That Will Sometimes Arise in the Best-Regulated Families](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dombey_and_son_se/chapters/ii-in-which-timely-provision-is-made-for-an-emergency-that-will-sometimes-arise-in-the-best-regulated-families)

Hired as wet nurse for the Dombey baby, reluctantly leaves her own family with great distress.

### [In Which Mr. Dombey, as a Man and a Father, Is Seen at the Head of the Home-Department](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dombey_and_son_se/chapters/iii-in-which-mr-dombey-as-a-man-and-a-father-is-seen-at-the-head-of-the-home-department)

Serves as Paul's wet nurse, tries to comfort Florence with a story about her mother's death, and attempts to bring Florence closer to her father.

### [Paul's Second Deprivation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dombey_and_son_se/chapters/vi-paul-s-second-deprivation)

Takes the children to Staggs's Gardens despite misgivings; is blamed by Mrs. Chick for Florence's wandering.

### [What the Waves Were Always Saying](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dombey_and_son_se/chapters/xvi-what-the-waves-were-always-saying)

Paul's old nurse is brought to him; she weeps over him and he recognizes her kind face, calling her his old nurse.

### [A Trifle of Management by Mr. Carker the Manager](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dombey_and_son_se/chapters/xxii-a-trifle-of-management-by-mr-carker-the-manager)

Grateful to Carker for helping Rob; she tearfully embraces her son.

### [Miss Tox Improves an Old Acquaintance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dombey_and_son_se/chapters/xxxviii-miss-tox-improves-an-old-acquaintance)

Gratified by Miss Tox's visit and offer to teach her children, she welcomes the renewed friendship.

### [LIX: Retribution](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dombey_and_son_se/chapters/lix-retribution)

Arrives with Mr. Toodle at the empty house, brought in to help after Mrs. Pipchin's departure.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dombey_and_son_se/characters/polly_toodle
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dombey_and_son_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/dombey_and_son_se/characters