# Dolly Harlan — Short Fiction character guide

> Dolly Harlan in Short Fiction by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Harlan, Dolly, Dolores, Dora

**First appearance:** 0206-i

## Snapshot

A Princeton football hero and beautiful young man, Dolly Harlan is in love with Vienna and quietly deciding whether to let the game go.

## Who they are

Dolly Harlan is the golden boy of his class — handsome, athletic, engaged to the magnetic Vienna, and admired by everyone except the people who find him dull. He wants a year free of football, and he tells himself that refusing to be bullied back onto the field is a matter of self-respect, not cowardice; Vienna wants him to speak his piece and be his own man. His torn ankle, his long engagement, and his quiet stubbornness about the autumn make him the story's study in a young man learning what he is willing to give up for love.

## Relationships

### [Anson Hunter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/characters/anson_hunter)

_romantic_

Anson has a casual romantic fling with the lively Dolly, reflecting his pattern of avoiding serious commitment.

### [Anson Hunter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/characters/anson_hunter)

_romantic_

Anson has a casual romantic fling with the lively Dolly, reflecting his pattern of avoiding serious commitment.

### [Anson Hunter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/characters/anson_hunter)

_romantic_

Anson has a casual romantic fling with the lively Dolly, reflecting his pattern of avoiding serious commitment.

## In the story

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/chapters/vi)

Dolly marries during the autumn, an event that depresses Anson and makes him feel old.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/chapters/i)

A Princeton halfback who secretly hates football but feels morally obligated to play; struggles with anxiety in the Yale Bowl.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/chapters/ii)

The handsome Princeton football hero, elated after the victory, but bruised and weary; he flirts with Vienna Thorne and later dismisses Carl Sanderson's suicide attempt as weak.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/chapters/iii)

Dolly endures the football season with hatred, plays through the Yale game, and avoids talk of captaincy.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/chapters/iv)

Vienna's romantic interest; he decides not to play football, later breaks his ankle in a suspicious accident that allows him to avoid practice.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/chapters/v)

Determined to play football despite a nearly healed ankle injury, against Vienna's wishes; plays in the Yale game, limping and dropping punts but contributing to the defense.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/chapters/vi)

After the game, Dolly is euphoric and slightly drunk, talks about his football performance, and later asserts his identity at the Ambassador Hotel.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/chapters/iv)

Dolores, the maid, covers for George with Helen Avery and shares a brief, intimate moment with him.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/characters/dolly_harlan
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_16_se/characters