# Parsons — The History of Mr. Polly character guide

> Parsons in The History of Mr. Polly by H. G. Wells.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** old Parsons, the gallant Parsons, the enthusiastic Parsons

**First appearance:** 0000-i-beginnings-and-the-bazaar

## Snapshot

One of the Three Ps, a plump, curly-haired apprentice with a great memory and a real love of literature, who recites Shakespeare at the slightest provocation.

## Who they are

Parsons is Mr. Polly's fellow apprentice in the drapery shop, a bellowing, enthusiastic young man who knows Milton and Shakespeare by heart and reads aloud whether anyone wants him to or not. Through him Mr. Polly gets his first taste of Verona and of a life larger than the counter, and the friendship of the Three Ps is one of the few warm things in his youth. Parsons matters because he shows what Mr. Polly might have been with a little more encouragement and a little less circumstance.

## Relationships

### [Mr. Polly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_mr_polly_se/characters/mr_polly)

_friendship_

Parsons is a free-spirited and intellectual friend from Mr. Polly's youth who inspires his romantic idealism.

### [Mr. Garvace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_mr_polly_se/characters/mr_garvace)

_professional_

Mr. Garvace is a stern employer who dismisses Parsons for his unconventional and rebellious behavior.

### [Platt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_mr_polly_se/characters/platt)

_friendship_

Parsons and Platt are close friends and former colleagues who share a bond of intellectual and rebellious camaraderie.

### [Mr. Polly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_mr_polly_se/characters/mr_polly)

_friendship_

Parsons is a free-spirited and intellectual friend from Mr. Polly's youth who inspires his romantic idealism.

### [Platt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_mr_polly_se/characters/platt)

_friendship_

Parsons and Platt are close friends and former colleagues who share a bond of intellectual and rebellious camaraderie.

### [Mr. Polly](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_mr_polly_se/characters/mr_polly)

_friendship_

Parsons is a free-spirited and intellectual friend from Mr. Polly's youth who inspires his romantic idealism.

### [Mr. Garvace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_mr_polly_se/characters/mr_garvace)

_professional_

Mr. Garvace is a stern employer who dismisses Parsons for his unconventional and rebellious behavior.

### [Mr. Garvace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_mr_polly_se/characters/mr_garvace)

_professional_

Mr. Garvace is a stern employer who dismisses Parsons for his unconventional and rebellious behavior.

## In the story

### [I: Beginnings, and the Bazaar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_mr_polly_se/chapters/i-beginnings-and-the-bazaar)

One of the 'Three Ps' at Port Burdock Bazaar; a friend with a love for literature and recitation.

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

Fellow apprentice and member of the Three Ps, enthusiastic about literature, recites Shakespeare and Milton, introduces Mr. Polly to Bocaccio and Rabelais.

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

The gallant and enthusiastic leader of the Three Ps, who expounded on the Joy de Vive and led their adventures.

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

Referenced as a more picturesque youth with a rich voice, given to enthusiastic readings of Carlyle.

### [The Dismissal of Parsons](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_mr_polly_se/chapters/ii-the-dismissal-of-parsons)

The enthusiastic window dresser who is dismissed after a violent confrontation with Mr. Garvace over his unconventional display.

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

Gets himself dismissed after a violent incident related to his window dressing theories.

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

The enthusiastic window dresser who defies Mr. Garvace and attacks him and Morrison.

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

Dismissed after assaulting Mr. Garvace; heroically packs his box and is bound over in court, then vanishes without saying goodbye.

### [III: Cribs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_mr_polly_se/chapters/iii-cribs)

Former friend who has left Port Burdock for London; his letters reveal new socialist interests that alienate Mr. Polly.

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

Has left Port Burdock for London; his letters show new interests in socialism, which alienate Mr. Polly.

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

Mentioned as a richly satisfying friend from Mr. Polly's past, contrasted with his current loneliness.

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

Mr. Polly considers hunting him up for a holiday, but Parsons has left his position without a forwarding address.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_mr_polly_se/characters/parsons
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_mr_polly_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_mr_polly_se/characters