The History of Mr. Polly · Character

Mrs. Larkins

Miriam's mother, a bustling, managing woman who keeps her daughters' suitors guessing and her tea-table in a state of cheerful, buttery disarray.

supporting

Also known as Larkins, the Larkins, Aunt Larkins

First appearance: i beginnings and the bazaar

As a supporting figure in The History of Mr. Polly, Mrs. Larkins is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Aunt Larkins attends the funeral with her three daughters, actively participating in the proceedings.

In the storyMr. Polly an OrphanOpen this moment free

Mrs. Larkins presides over the Larkins household with a mix of shrewdness and slapdash hospitality, sizing up Mr. Polly's matrimonial prospects while forgetting the butter. She boasts of having kept Larkins hesitating two years before marrying, a cautionary tale she aims squarely at her daughters' beaux. Her enigmatical grimace when she catches Mr. Polly's hand brush Miriam's signals a watchful, worldly tolerance that shapes the courtship's uneasy temperature.

See Mrs. Larkins in Mr. Polly an Orphan Book page

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Character Web

10 connections

A slice of how Mrs. Larkins sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Polly's Domestic Circle
Protagonist

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

Mr. Polly reaches his emotional and psychological peak here by embracing suicide as a liberating act, experien…

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In the story

Mrs. Larkins appears across 14 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Mr. Polly an Orphan
Aunt Larkins attends the funeral with her three daughters, actively participating in the proceedings.
III
Aunt Larkins, who arrives with her three daughters and embraces Mr. Polly warmly.
IV
Present at the funeral, happy in her daughters' company and overseeing the family's participation.
V
Argues with Uncle Pentstemon about the upbringing of her daughters.
II
Mrs. Larkins welcomes Mr. Polly warmly, joins in the laughter, and comments on his cycling story.
III
Urges Mr. Polly to stay for supper and suggests the walk.
IV
Implied as the mother of the cousins; Mr. Polly visits 'the cousins' at the Larkins home.
VI: Miriam
Welcomes Mr. Polly back, chats about the family, and observes his interaction with Miriam.
I
Welcomes Mr. Polly warmly, talks about her daughters, and observes his interactions with them.
II
Orchestrates the meeting and insists Minnie stay home.
III
Welcomes Mr. Polly warmly and provides household jam for tea.
IV
The emotional mother of the bride, weeping copiously and struggling with her bonnet throughout the ceremony.
V
Clinging to Mr. Voules and sobbing emotionally over her daughter's marriage.
The Wedding Feast
The mother of the bride, who arrives with the wedding party and later speaks in praise of Miriam.

Chapter companion notes

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See Mrs. Larkins in i beginnings and the bazaar

See Mrs. Larkins in Mr. Polly an Orphan