# Lena McMillan — National Avenue character guide > Lena McMillan in National Avenue by Booth Tarkington. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Evidently Lena, the McMillan **First appearance:** 0001-national-avenue ## Who they are A young woman whose beauty and self-possession unsettle the Oliphant men, drawing desire, rivalry, and the painful question of what she actually wants. ## Relationships ### [Dan Oliphant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/dan_oliphant) _romantic_ Dan and Lena share a deep, passionate romantic connection, often at the center of the story's emotional conflicts. ### [Martha Shelby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/martha_shelby) _rivalry_ Lena and Martha are fierce romantic rivals, each vying for Dan's attention and loyalty. ### [Harlan Oliphant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/harlan_oliphant) _psychological_ Harlan is obsessively fixated on Lena, viewing her as a prize to be won from his brother Dan. ### [George McMillan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/george_mcmillan) _family_ George is Lena's brother, protective of her but often at odds with her choices. ### [Mrs. Savage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/mrs_savage) _professional_ Lena works for Mrs. Savage, enduring her harsh treatment as a domestic servant. ### [Dan Oliphant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/dan_oliphant) _romantic_ Dan and Lena share a deep, passionate romantic connection, often at the center of the story's emotional conflicts. ### [Dan Oliphant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/dan_oliphant) _romantic_ Dan and Lena share a deep, passionate romantic connection, often at the center of the story's emotional conflicts. ### [Harlan Oliphant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/harlan_oliphant) _psychological_ Harlan is obsessively fixated on Lena, viewing her as a prize to be won from his brother Dan. ### [Martha Shelby](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/martha_shelby) _rivalry_ Lena and Martha are fierce romantic rivals, each vying for Dan's attention and loyalty. ### [George McMillan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/george_mcmillan) _family_ George is Lena's brother, protective of her but often at odds with her choices. ### [Mrs. Savage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/mrs_savage) _professional_ Lena works for Mrs. Savage, enduring her harsh treatment as a domestic servant. ### [George McMillan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/george_mcmillan) _family_ George is Lena's brother, protective of her but often at odds with her choices. ## In the story ### [National Avenue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/national-avenue) Newly married to Dan, feels out of place in the provincial setting and struggles with Dan's family. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/ii) Daughter of the McMillan family; Dan finds her pretty and later dances with her at a charity ball. ### [Chapter IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/iv) Dan's fiancée, discussed at length; her photograph is shown to Mrs. Savage, who remains unimpressed. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/v) Subject of Dan's engagement announcement; her photograph is shown to the family. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/vi) Referenced as Dan's fiancée, whose photograph Harlan describes as accurate, and whom Mrs. Savage calls a 'spoiled ninny of a photograph girl.' ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/vii) Lena's letter reveals her expectation of a year abroad and her lack of interest in Ornaby Addition, causing strain in her correspondence with Dan. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/viii) Indecisive and irritated, Lena writes a letter to Dan expressing her heartbreak and frustration over his inability to offer her a year abroad. She later consults her brother George, revealing her fear of the Western accent and her sense of being forced into marriage. ### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/ix) Overwhelmed and distressed by the heat, the reception, and the people; feels trapped and alienated in her new environment. ### [The Heat of the Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/x) Suffers from the heat and emotional turmoil, refusing food and lashing out at Dan's family. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xi) Terrified of the thunderstorm, cold and miserable; later writes a bitter letter to her brother George criticizing the West and her marriage. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xii) Discussed harshly by Mrs. Savage as mercenary, painted, bad, and a poor mother; Harlan offers weak defense. ### [Chapter XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xiii) Recovering after childbirth; her potential reaction to Dan's visit to Martha is a concern. ### [Chapter XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xv) Lena learns of Dan's secret visit to Martha and confronts him, revealing her deep unhappiness and threatening to leave. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xvi) Selects Aunt Olive as godmother for Henry Daniel, causing tension with Dan over his choice of Martha. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xvii) Furious, believing the will is a deliberate insult aimed at her, and storms out of the room. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xviii) Becomes more tolerant of Dan after the will reading, but represses her feelings and devotes herself to her baby, refusing to accompany Dan on Sunday walks. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xix) Expresses resentment over not being taken to Europe, contrasts her situation with Martha's travels, and argues with Dan. ### [XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xx) Jealous and hostile, she watches Dan and realizes she no longer loves him, only feels jealousy. ### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xxi) Maintains inscrutable silence with Dan, shows faintly amused contempt, and makes a remark about Martha's accent. ### [Chapter XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xxii) Present at the social event, she smiles mysteriously at Dan across the table, contributing to the tension between Dan and Martha. ### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xxiii) Lena is mentioned as disinterested in owning a home, viewing Ornaby as 'the end of Nowhere,' and still feeling temporarily marooned in the West. ### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xxv) Returns from Europe looking rejuvenated, avoids visiting the new house, and privately considers leaving Dan. ### [Chapter XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xxvii) Sits in a box at the concert, appears excited by the music, and plans to greet the singer Venable afterward. ### [XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xxviii) Confronts Dan hysterically, blaming the town for Henry's behavior and demanding to leave with Henry. ### [XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xxix) Lena leaves Dan, taking Henry to New York, and tells the chauffeur she will not return. ### [The End of Dan Oliphant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xxx) Refuses to return to Dan, demands a settlement, and is accused by George of using a quarrel as pretext. ### [XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/chapters/xxxi) Mentioned as living in Paris with Henry, she keeps him from visiting. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters/lena_mcmillan - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/national_avenue_se/characters