# Harriett — Not Without Laughter character guide > Harriett in Not Without Laughter by Langston Hughes. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Ma Harriett, That Chile Harriett, Aunt Harriett, Harriett Williams **First appearance:** 0000-i-storm ## Snapshot Sandy's restless aunt, who quits scrubbing floors at the country club to sing the blues in orange silk under a spotlight. ## Who they are Harriett comes home smelling of perfume and pomade, drops a plum in Sandy's hand, and trades barbs with her mother about Maudel, the Waiters' Ball, and the sin of hotel work. She is tired of tips and insults and back doors, and she wants a good time even if it costs her respectability. Her refusal to be respectable pulls against Hager's church-bound world, and her rise as a performer gives Sandy a glimpse of a life beyond Stanton. ## Relationships ### [Sandy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/characters/sandy) _family_ Harriett is Sandy's aunt, a rebellious and free-spirited woman who both challenges and inspires him. ### [Annjee](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/characters/annjee) _family_ Annjee and Harriett are sisters, often clashing due to Harriett's wild behavior and Annjee's conventional values. ### [Aunt Hager Williams](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/characters/aunt_hager_williams) _family_ Aunt Hager worries about Harriett's rebellious path, but loves her unconditionally as her youngest daughter. ### [Ma Bailey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/characters/ma_bailey) _family_ Harriett and Ma Bailey share a generational bond, with Ma Bailey often trying to guide Harriett toward stability. ### [Aunt Hager Williams](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/characters/aunt_hager_williams) _family_ Aunt Hager worries about Harriett's rebellious path, but loves her unconditionally as her youngest daughter. ### [Ma Bailey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/characters/ma_bailey) _family_ Harriett and Ma Bailey share a generational bond, with Ma Bailey often trying to guide Harriett toward stability. ### [Sandy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/characters/sandy) _family_ Harriett is Sandy's aunt, a rebellious and free-spirited woman who both challenges and inspires him. ### [Annjee](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/characters/annjee) _family_ Annjee and Harriett are sisters, often clashing due to Harriett's wild behavior and Annjee's conventional values. ### [Sandy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/characters/sandy) _family_ Harriett is Sandy's aunt, a rebellious and free-spirited woman who both challenges and inspires him. ### [Annjee](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/characters/annjee) _family_ Annjee and Harriett are sisters, often clashing due to Harriett's wild behavior and Annjee's conventional values. ### [Aunt Hager Williams](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/characters/aunt_hager_williams) _family_ Aunt Hager worries about Harriett's rebellious path, but loves her unconditionally as her youngest daughter. ### [Ma Bailey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/characters/ma_bailey) _family_ Harriett and Ma Bailey share a generational bond, with Ma Bailey often trying to guide Harriett toward stability. ## In the story ### [Storm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/chapters/i-storm) Harriett is mentioned as working in the country; Aunt Hager prays she has not been harmed by the storm. ### [Conversation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/chapters/ii-conversation) Harriett is mentioned as working at the country club and considering leaving school. ### [Jimboy's Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/chapters/iii-jimboy-s-letter) Mentioned as wild and talented, taught to buck-dance by Jimboy, and a source of worry for Aunt Hager. ### [Thursday Afternoon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/chapters/iv-thursday-afternoon) Returns home from the country club; defies her mother's authority and leaves for a barbecue at Willow Grove. ### [Guitar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/chapters/v-guitar) Sings and dances with Jimboy, showing her strong voice and racial sense of rhythm, and teases Annjee about sitting on Jimboy's lap. ### [VII: White Folks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/chapters/vii-white-folks) Sits on the porch edge, recounts humiliations at school, the movie theater, and her job with Mrs. Baker, and expresses fierce hatred of white folks, rejecting her mother's call to church. ### [Dance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/chapters/viii-dance) Defies her mother's punishment by sneaking out to the dance with Mingo, taking Sandy along. ### [Carnival](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/chapters/ix-carnival) Stays home with Sandy, packs her belongings, and leaves with the carnival, kissing Sandy goodbye. ### [XII: Hard Winter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/chapters/xii-hard-winter) Sends a letter from Memphis, stranded and broke after the carnival show moved on. ### [XIII: Christmas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/chapters/xiii-christmas) Harriett is mentioned as being away; the family sends her money out of concern for her well-being. ### [Return](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/chapters/xiv-return) Returns from Memphis after quitting the minstrel show; appears thinner with bobbed hair and rouge; chooses to live at Maudel's, causing family tension. ### [Nothing but Love](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/chapters/xvi-nothing-but-love) Mentioned as having left home to stay with the Smothers family in the Bottoms. ### [Barbershop](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/chapters/xvii-barbershop) Mentioned as working as a chambermaid; subject of gossip in the barbershop. ### [XIX: Ten Dollars and Costs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/chapters/xix-ten-dollars-and-costs) Arrested for streetwalking along with Maudel Smothers, causing great distress to her mother, Aunt Hager. ### [Note to Harriett](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/chapters/xxi-note-to-harriett) Living in the Bottoms; Sandy delivers a message to her about Aunt Hager's illness. ### [Beyond the Jordan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/chapters/xxii-beyond-the-jordan) Weeps at the funeral; receives Hager's gold watch; leaves alone into the rain. ### [Tempy's House](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/chapters/xxiii-tempy-s-house) Harriett is Tempy's sister, living in the Bottoms. Tempy never mentions her and is deeply ashamed of her, viewing her as a 'hidden cancer.' Harriett's wild lifestyle contrasts sharply with Tempy's respectability. ### [A Shelf of Books](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/chapters/xxiv-a-shelf-of-books) Sandy recalls that Harriett has gone away from Stanton and is rumored to be on stage in Kansas City. ### [Elevator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/chapters/xxix-elevator) Sandy compares himself to her, wanting to avoid being a servant to white people forever. ### [Princess of the Blues](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/chapters/xxx-princess-of-the-blues) Performs as 'The Princess of the Blues' at the Monogram Theatre, reunites with Sandy and Annjee, and insists Sandy stay in school, offering financial help. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/characters/harriett - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/not_without_laughter_se/characters