# Aunt Polly Harrington — Pollyanna character guide > Aunt Polly Harrington in Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Miss Polly Harrington, Miss Polly, Polly, Aunt Polly, Miss Harrington, Polly Harrington **First appearance:** 0002-i-miss-polly ## Snapshot A proud, duty-bound spinster who takes in her orphaned niece out of obligation and finds her ordered life quietly dismantled by the child's relentless cheer. ## Who they are Miss Polly Harrington runs her household on schedule and self-control, granting her niece a room and a wardrobe but withholding warmth. Her stiffness masks old wounds, particularly around Dr. Chilton and the sister who married and left her behind. When Pollyanna begins softening the house, the cat, and even Miss Polly's own habits, the aunt must decide whether affection is a weakness or the thing she has been missing, which drives the emotional current of the middle chapters. ## Relationships ### [Pollyanna Whittier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_se/characters/pollyanna_whittier) _family_ Aunt Polly is Pollyanna's strict but ultimately loving guardian, whose stern exterior gradually softens under Pollyanna's influence. ### [Nancy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_se/characters/nancy) _professional_ Aunt Polly is Nancy's employer, and their relationship is formal but becomes warmer as Nancy proves her loyalty. ### [John Pendleton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_se/characters/john_pendleton) _romantic_ Aunt Polly and John Pendleton were former lovers who reunite and eventually marry, resolving their past misunderstandings. ### [Jimmy Bean](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_se/characters/jimmy_bean) _family_ Aunt Polly initially disapproves of Jimmy Bean but later accepts him as a foster son, becoming his guardian. ### [Pollyanna Whittier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_se/characters/pollyanna_whittier) _family_ Aunt Polly is Pollyanna's strict but ultimately loving guardian, whose stern exterior gradually softens under Pollyanna's influence. ### [Pollyanna Whittier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_se/characters/pollyanna_whittier) _family_ Aunt Polly is Pollyanna's strict but ultimately loving guardian, whose stern exterior gradually softens under Pollyanna's influence. ### [Nancy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_se/characters/nancy) _professional_ Aunt Polly is Nancy's employer, and their relationship is formal but becomes warmer as Nancy proves her loyalty. ### [John Pendleton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_se/characters/john_pendleton) _romantic_ Aunt Polly and John Pendleton were former lovers who reunite and eventually marry, resolving their past misunderstandings. ### [Nancy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_se/characters/nancy) _professional_ Aunt Polly is Nancy's employer, and their relationship is formal but becomes warmer as Nancy proves her loyalty. ### [Jimmy Bean](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_se/characters/jimmy_bean) _family_ Aunt Polly initially disapproves of Jimmy Bean but later accepts him as a foster son, becoming his guardian. ### [Jimmy Bean](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_se/characters/jimmy_bean) _family_ Aunt Polly initially disapproves of Jimmy Bean but later accepts him as a foster son, becoming his guardian. ## In the story ### [Pollyanna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_se/chapters/pollyanna) Receives Pollyanna with formality and assigns her an attic room; shows a stern, duty-bound demeanor. ### [Miss Polly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_se/chapters/i-miss-polly) Miss Polly is introduced as a stern, hurried woman who prides herself on her repose of manner. She receives the news of her niece Pollyanna's arrival with cold duty rather than warmth, and instructs Nancy to prepare an attic room. ### [Old Tom and Nancy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_se/chapters/ii-old-tom-and-nancy) Aunt Polly is discussed by Nancy and Old Tom; she is portrayed as bitter and prickly, with a past love affair that changed her. ### [The Coming of Pollyanna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_se/chapters/iii-the-coming-of-pollyanna) Mentioned as the aunt who arranged for Pollyanna's arrival but did not come to meet her. She is described as strict and particular, having ordered screens and given specific instructions about the room. ### [The Little Attic Room](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_se/chapters/iv-the-little-attic-room) Coldly receives Pollyanna, forbids talk of her father, and assigns her to a plain attic room to teach humility. ### [The Game](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_se/chapters/v-the-game) Sends Pollyanna to bed early and is briefly told about the game by Pollyanna. ### [A Question of Duty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_se/chapters/vi-a-question-of-duty) Emphasizes duty and obligation, outlines a rigorous daily schedule for Pollyanna, and reacts irritably to Pollyanna's questions about finding gladness. ### [Pollyanna and Punishments](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_se/chapters/vii-pollyanna-and-punishments) Takes Pollyanna shopping; discovers her on the roof and is both stern and helpless as her punishment is again taken as a reward; ultimately brings Pollyanna to sleep in her own bed. ### [Pollyanna Pays a Visit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_se/chapters/viii-pollyanna-pays-a-visit) Establishes Pollyanna's schedule and sends calf's-foot jelly to Mrs. Snow as a duty. ### [X: A Surprise for Mrs. Snow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_se/chapters/x-a-surprise-for-mrs-snow) Moves Pollyanna to a better room after hearing her wishes; feels disturbed by Pollyanna's assumption that she never felt glad. ### [XI: Introducing Jimmy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_se/chapters/xi-introducing-jimmy) Aunt Polly is presented with Jimmy Bean by Pollyanna and rejects him angrily. She also reluctantly accepted a stray kitten and a dog brought home by Pollyanna. ### [Before the Ladies' Aid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_se/chapters/xii-before-the-ladies-aid) Aunt Polly has a headache and skips the Ladies' Aid meeting; she previously called Jimmy Bean a beggar, which Pollyanna remembers. ### [Just a Matter of Jelly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_se/chapters/xiv-just-a-matter-of-jelly) Has gone to Boston for a cousin's funeral; returns later and initially refuses then allows Pollyanna to give jelly to John Pendleton as her own gift. ### [Dr. Chilton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_se/chapters/xv-dr-chilton) Questions Pollyanna about Dr. Chilton's visit and scolds her for telling John Pendleton outright that she did not send the jelly. ### [A Red Rose and a Lace Shawl](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_se/chapters/xvi-a-red-rose-and-a-lace-shawl) Returns from a Ladies' Aid meeting with naturally curled hair; reluctantly allows Pollyanna to style her, but flees in shame when Dr. Chilton sees her. ### [Just Like a Book](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_se/chapters/xvii-just-like-a-book) Mentioned as the object of John Pendleton's past affection and as the one who refused to send him jelly. ### [Prisms](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_se/chapters/xviii-prisms) Pollyanna tries to talk about Mr. Pendleton and Dr. Chilton, but Aunt Polly avoids the subjects and shows bitterness toward Dr. Chilton. ### [XIX: Which Is Somewhat Surprising](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_se/chapters/xix-which-is-somewhat-surprising) Referenced as the person Pollyanna believes John Pendleton loved, though not present in the chapter. ### [XX: Which Is More Surprising](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_se/chapters/xx-which-is-more-surprising) Aunt Polly is referenced as the object of Pollyanna's loyalty and the person Mr. Pendleton mistakenly believes is not the 'glad' kind. She is not present in the chapter but is central to the conflict. ### [A Question Answered](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_se/chapters/xxi-a-question-answered) Shows concern for Pollyanna by sending Nancy with an umbrella; Pollyanna realizes her aunt wants her to stay. ### [An Accident](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_se/chapters/xxiii-an-accident) Shows deep distress and love while caring for the injured Pollyanna, contradicting her usual duty-bound demeanor. ### [John Pendleton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_se/chapters/xxiv-john-pendleton) Deeply affected by Pollyanna's condition and her words of gratitude; receives John Pendleton's visit and begins to reconcile. ### [A Door Ajar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_se/chapters/xxvi-a-door-ajar) Accidentally reveals the grim prognosis to Pollyanna and faints from the shock of being overheard. ### [Two Visits](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_se/chapters/xxvii-two-visits) Delivers John Pendleton's message to Pollyanna about adopting Jimmy Bean, and is surprised by the town's outpouring of support for her niece. ### [XXVIII: The Game and Its Players](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_se/chapters/xxviii-the-game-and-its-players) Receives visitors and learns the full story of the Glad Game from Nancy. ### [Through an Open Window](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_se/chapters/xxix-through-an-open-window) Aunt Polly has embraced the glad game and actively seeks out glad stories to share with Pollyanna. She remains estranged from Dr. Chilton, refusing to ask him to visit due to pride and a past quarrel. ### [Jimmy Takes the Helm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_se/chapters/xxx-jimmy-takes-the-helm) Initially surprised and indignant, but ultimately agrees to call Dr. Chilton after Jimmy's explanation. ### [A New Uncle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_se/chapters/xxxi-a-new-uncle) Agitated but ultimately reconciles with Dr. Chilton and reveals her happiness to Pollyanna. ### [Which Is a Letter from Pollyanna](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_se/chapters/xxxii-which-is-a-letter-from-pollyanna) Addressed in the letter; she married Uncle Tom by Pollyanna's bedside. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_se/characters/aunt_polly_harrington - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pollyanna_se/characters