# Mrs. Carew — Pollyanna Grows Up character guide > Mrs. Carew in Pollyanna Grows Up by Eleanor H. Porter. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Ruth Carew, Ruth, Carew, Mrs. Ruth Carew **First appearance:** 0005-iv-the-game-and-mrs-carew ## Snapshot A wealthy, grief-stricken woman who gives money but not herself, until Pollyanna's fretting over a poor boy named Jamie begins to crack her solitude. ## Who they are Mrs. Carew has walled herself off from society and charity alike since losing Jamie, refusing her nurse sister's pleas to get interested in something outside her own life. She takes in Pollyanna and finds the child's constant mourning over another Jamie unbearable, snapping that the glad game ought to fix it. Yet the very boy she insists is not her sister's son haunts her with panicky doubts, and her reluctant Christmas generosity is the first sign of a heart reawakening. ## Relationships ### [Pollyanna Whittier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/characters/pollyanna_whittier) _friendship_ Mrs. Carew is a wealthy, lonely woman who is deeply touched by Pollyanna's kindness and becomes a benefactor. ### [Aunt Polly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/characters/aunt_polly) _social_ Aunt Polly and Mrs. Carew are polite acquaintances, moving in the same social circles but not close. ### [Pollyanna Whittier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/characters/pollyanna_whittier) _friendship_ Mrs. Carew is a wealthy, lonely woman who is deeply touched by Pollyanna's kindness and becomes a benefactor. ### [Aunt Polly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/characters/aunt_polly) _social_ Aunt Polly and Mrs. Carew are polite acquaintances, moving in the same social circles but not close. ### [Aunt Polly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/characters/aunt_polly) _social_ Aunt Polly and Mrs. Carew are polite acquaintances, moving in the same social circles but not close. ## In the story ### [Pollyanna Grows Up](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/pollyanna-grows-up) Benefactor and friend, involved in Pollyanna's life. ### [Della Speaks Her Mind](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/i-della-speaks-her-mind) Grieving and resistant to change, she initially refuses but eventually agrees to take Pollyanna for the winter. ### [Some Old Friends](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/ii-some-old-friends) Della Wetherby's sister; described as having a wounded heart and living in gloom and bitterness after losing her nephew. ### [A Dose of Pollyanna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/iii-a-dose-of-pollyanna) Initially resentful and exasperated about Pollyanna's arrival; struggles with her own irritation and finds herself unable to send the child away due to Pollyanna's relentless cheerfulness. ### [IV: The Game and Mrs. Carew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/iv-the-game-and-mrs-carew) Mrs. Carew is exasperated by Pollyanna's constant gladness but eventually opens up about her lost nephew Jamie, revealing her deep grief and resistance to the Glad Game. ### [Pollyanna Takes a Walk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/v-pollyanna-takes-a-walk) Mentioned as having given Pollyanna permission to amuse herself; not physically present in the chapter. ### [Jerry to the Rescue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/vi-jerry-to-the-rescue) Worries when Pollyanna is late; scolds her for wandering alone but is relieved she is safe. ### [A New Acquaintance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/vii-a-new-acquaintance) Mrs. Carew accompanies Pollyanna to concerts and museums, and learns about Pollyanna's effect on trolley car passengers from Mary. ### [Jamie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/viii-jamie) Mentioned indirectly as the person Pollyanna hopes to reunite with Jamie. Pollyanna plans to bring her to meet Jamie. ### [Plans and Plottings](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/ix-plans-and-plottings) Initially reluctant and impatient with Pollyanna's insistence on walking in the Garden; refuses to let Pollyanna go with Jerry; upon hearing that the boy might be Jamie, she immediately agrees to go. ### [In Murphy's Alley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/x-in-murphy-s-alley) Accompanies Pollyanna to Murphy's Alley, questions Jamie about his identity, and is deeply affected by the poverty; later orders repairs to her tenements. ### [A Surprise for Mrs. Carew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/xi-a-surprise-for-mrs-carew) Struggles with doubt and despair over Jamie's identity; writes to her sister Della; ultimately offers to take Jamie in, but is rejected. ### [From Behind a Counter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/xii-from-behind-a-counter) Angry and frustrated after Jamie's refusal to live with her; tries to distract Pollyanna with Christmas decorations; coldly disapproves of Pollyanna's invitation to the salesgirl. ### [A Waiting and a Winning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/xiii-a-waiting-and-a-winning) Struggles with pride and heart as she realizes Pollyanna's departure will leave her lonely; finally asks Jamie to stay and begins to understand Sadie Dean's plight. ### [Jimmy and the Green-Eyed Monster](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/xiv-jimmy-and-the-green-eyed-monster) Mentioned in Pollyanna's account of Boston, particularly regarding her views on charity and socializing. ### [Aunt Polly Takes Alarm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/xv-aunt-polly-takes-alarm) Shows dramatic improvement: shades up, music playing, roses in the house, and enthusiastic about Jamie's development. ### [Two Letters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/xix-two-letters) Is described in Della's letter as changed, happy, and tired from overwork; she plans to come to Beldingsville with Jamie and Sadie. ### [The Paying Guests](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/xx-the-paying-guests) Arrives as a paying guest, showing beauty and lack of old bitterness; later feels a strange familiarity with Jimmy Pendleton. ### [Summer Days](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/xxi-summer-days) Forms a strong bond with Jimmy Pendleton; includes Sadie Dean as family; serves as chaperon for the camping trip. ### [Comrades](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/xxii-comrades) Expresses her deep love for Jamie and her ongoing anguish about whether he is truly Jamie Kent; credits Pollyanna for beginning her changed outlook on life. ### [XXIV: Jimmy Wakes Up](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/xxiv-jimmy-wakes-up) Provides comfort and sympathy to Jimmy, and shows knowledge about bridges, becoming his main solace. ### [The Game and Pollyanna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/xxv-the-game-and-pollyanna) Leaves Beldingsville with Sadie Dean and Jamie, returning to Boston. ### [John Pendleton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/xxvi-john-pendleton) Frequently discussed by John Pendleton; Pollyanna believes Jimmy is in love with her, causing Pollyanna heartache. ### [Jimmy and Jamie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/xxviii-jimmy-and-jamie) Shows pride in Jamie's achievements, becomes unsettled by the suggestion that John Pendleton loves Pollyanna, and leaves the room in distress. ### [John Pendleton Turns the Key](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/xxx-john-pendleton-turns-the-key) Revealed as the woman John Pendleton loves, though she is not present in the scene. ### [After Long Years](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/xxxi-after-long-years) Is the aunt of the real Jamie, now revealed to be Jimmy. ### [A New Aladdin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/chapters/xxxii-a-new-aladdin) Accepts Jimmy as her nephew and becomes engaged to John Pendleton. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/characters/mrs_carew - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_grows_up_se/characters