# Aunt Allie — Oil! character guide > Aunt Allie in Oil! by Upton Sinclair. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Bertie, Alice, VII Bertie, Robbie Warden, Robbie, Miss Alberta Ross **First appearance:** 0001-oil ## Snapshot Bunny's sharp-tongued aunt Bertie, who tried to trap a wealthy lover into marriage, now lies recovering from an abortion and lectures her nephew on the practical uses of money and men. ## Who they are Aunt Allie, known as Bertie, is Bunny's worldly and cynical relative, a woman who pursued a career and a rich husband with equal calculation and has the scars to prove it. Recovering from a back-alley procedure, she confides in Bunny with startling candor about her failed scheme to trap Charlie into marriage, revealing both her vulnerability and her unshaken belief that money and social position are the only real prizes. Her pragmatic, unsentimental advice about Vee, marriage, and Dad's political dealings gives Bunny a window into the compromises adults make, and her voice sharpens the novel's critique of a society where women's ambitions are channeled into manipulation and self-preservation. ## Relationships ### [Bunny Ross](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/bunny_ross) _family_ Aunt Allie is Bunny's caring and wise aunt, often acting as a maternal figure and confidante. ### [Dad Ross](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/dad_ross) _family_ Aunt Allie and Dad Ross are siblings who share a strained but familial bond, often disagreeing on family matters. ### [Bunny Ross](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/bunny_ross) _family_ Aunt Allie is Bunny's caring and wise aunt, often acting as a maternal figure and confidante. ### [Bunny Ross](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/bunny_ross) _family_ Aunt Allie is Bunny's caring and wise aunt, often acting as a maternal figure and confidante. ### [Dad Ross](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/dad_ross) _family_ Aunt Allie and Dad Ross are siblings who share a strained but familial bond, often disagreeing on family matters. ### [Dad Ross](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/dad_ross) _family_ Aunt Allie and Dad Ross are siblings who share a strained but familial bond, often disagreeing on family matters. ## In the story ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/vii) Bertie, Bunny's sister, returns from school with a fashionable disdain for oil and a snobbish attitude toward the Groartys and Paul. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/i) Referred to as Bertie; helped push Bunny toward school and made a remark about oil stains under his fingernails. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/vii) Mentioned as Bertie, now a young lady of eighteen, with extravagant tastes and a desire to push Dad into high society. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/iv) Referred to as Bertie, Bunny's sister, who reveals the truth about their mother's past and Dad's motivations. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/vi) Bunny's sister who mocks his ideals and defends the family's wealth and class position. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/ii) Bunny's sister, referred to as Bertie; makes a cryptic comment suggesting she has her own secret life. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/iii) Full of dark hints about German spies, influenced by her young man in defense societies. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/v) Mentioned as having called Bunny a 'little oil gnome,' a phrase Eunice adopts. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/ix) Mentioned as Eunice's Aunt Alice, who takes the opposite view on wartime purchasing, buying cheap things to set an example. ### [IX: The Victory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/ix-the-victory) Head critic of the household when she is home. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/iv) Makes arrangements for a farewell party for Bunny. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/vii) Serves as head critic of the household when she is home. ### [X: The University](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/x-the-university) Referred to as Bertie; Bunny's sister who is upset that Bunny's political views have ruined her social standing. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/ix) Bertie, Bunny's sister, insists he make his social debut and quarrels with Eldon Burdick; she is angry that Bunny's views may ruin her social career. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/xi) Furious about the scandal ruining her social opportunities, she berates Bunny for his low tastes. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/vii) Bertie Ross, Bunny's sister, breaks off her affair with Eldon Burdick and pursues Charlie Norman, dragging Bunny into high society. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/ix) Mentioned as a reference point for Bunny's understanding of women's transformations. ### [X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/x) Questions Bunny about the encounter, assuming he had an affair, and comments cynically on Mrs. Norman's motives. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/xi) Bertie worries about Occidental Steel's slump and is denied a new car due to the economic downturn. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/vi) Bertie, Bunny's sister, who meets Vee and gives her approval after a luncheon. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/xv) Mentioned as having said the same thing as Eunice about sisters and brothers. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/iv) Called into the conspiracy, she wants Bunny to go so he won't get mixed up in the strike. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/vi) Bunny's mother, now remarried and obese; gives Bunny diamond rings for the strikers' relief fund. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/vii) Reveals she had an abortion after deliberately becoming pregnant by Charlie Norman; discusses her plans to return to Eldon Burdick and pursue a diplomatic life in Paris. ### [XVIII: The Flight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/xviii-the-flight) Writing from Europe, enjoying high society, urging Dad and Bunny to visit. ### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/i) Writing agreeable letters from Europe, enjoying high society and suggesting Bunny visit for a brilliant marriage. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/vii) Sends an agonized letter to Bunny, worried about his radicalism harming Eldon's career. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/viii) Visits Bunny and Dad on the Riviera, gets along with Aunt Emma. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/x) Bertie is enraged upon learning of Dad's involvement with Spiritualism and Mrs. Olivier, accusing Bunny of negligence and Mrs. Olivier of scheming to marry Dad for his money. ### [XIX: The Penalty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/xix-the-penalty) Referred to as Bertie; she sends a telegram asking for forgiveness after Dad's death. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/iii) Furious about Mrs. Olivier's influence and Bunny's political writing; reveals she has been working to get Eldon a diplomatic post. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/vii) Informs Bunny of Paul's arrest and tries to dissuade him from further involvement, fearing scandal. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/ix) Mentioned as Bertie, who Dad fears will react negatively to his marriage. ### [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/x) Sends a wire asking for forgiveness after being with Dad at the end. ### [XX: The Dedication](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/xx-the-dedication) Arrives in Angel City to claim her inheritance; hires a lawyer and interrogates Bunny about Dad's affairs and the will. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/ii) Bertie (Aunt Allie) cables Bunny, suspecting the widow Alyse destroyed the will, showing ongoing family conflict. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/iii) Mentioned as Bertie, hell-bent on getting into fashionable society despite her origins. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/iv) Furious over Bunny's decision to turn in the bonds, she becomes consumed by hatred and obsession with the estate, neglecting her appearance. She hires a lawyer and relentlessly pursues Vernon Roscoe. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/vii) Furious over Verne's financial maneuvers, she threatens violence and argues with Bunny about the estate. ### [XXI: The Honeymoon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/xxi-the-honeymoon) Bertie asks Bunny to investigate Vernon Roscoe's reports on the Prospect Hill field. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/iii) Mentioned as having planted the idea that Ruth was in love with Bunny. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/iv) Referred to as Bertie; she urged Bunny to investigate the field, suspecting Vernon Roscoe of trickery. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/chapters/vii) Mentioned as Bertie, who had previously told Bunny about his unnatural devotion to Paul. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters/aunt_allie - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/oil_se/characters