# Samuel Povey — The Old Wives’ Tale character guide > Samuel Povey in The Old Wives’ Tale by Arnold Bennett. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Samuel, Sam, Mr. Povey, Povey, the young Povey **First appearance:** 0003-book-i-mrs-baines ## Snapshot The Baineses' conscientious young draper, outwardly insignificant and inwardly proud, who marries Constance and becomes the shop's anxious, devoted master. ## Who they are Samuel Povey rises from assistant to son-in-law to proprietor, a man of small body and large, easily wounded vanity, capable of black and terrible furies when jealous. He loves Constance with a sensitive, tyrannic conscience, and he loves the shop with something closer to religion. His Annual Sale poster is the first crack in Mrs. Baines's old order, and his fussing devotion carries the family through its long decline. ## Relationships ### [Constance Baines](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/characters/constance_baines) _family_ Husband and wife in a stable, loving marriage built on mutual respect and quiet domesticity. ### [Sophia Baines](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/characters/sophia_baines) _family_ Brother-in-law and sister-in-law with a respectful, somewhat formal familial bond tinged by Sophia's disdain for Samuel's ordinariness. ### [Daniel Povey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/characters/daniel_povey) _family_ Cousins with a strained relationship due to Daniel's reckless behavior and Samuel's disapproval. ### [Constance Baines](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/characters/constance_baines) _family_ Husband and wife in a stable, loving marriage built on mutual respect and quiet domesticity. ### [Sophia Baines](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/characters/sophia_baines) _family_ Brother-in-law and sister-in-law with a respectful, somewhat formal familial bond tinged by Sophia's disdain for Samuel's ordinariness. ### [Sophia Baines](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/characters/sophia_baines) _family_ Brother-in-law and sister-in-law with a respectful, somewhat formal familial bond tinged by Sophia's disdain for Samuel's ordinariness. ### [Constance Baines](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/characters/constance_baines) _family_ Husband and wife in a stable, loving marriage built on mutual respect and quiet domesticity. ### [Daniel Povey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/characters/daniel_povey) _family_ Cousins with a strained relationship due to Daniel's reckless behavior and Samuel's disapproval. ### [Daniel Povey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/characters/daniel_povey) _family_ Cousins with a strained relationship due to Daniel's reckless behavior and Samuel's disapproval. ## In the story ### [The Old Wives’ Tale](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/the-old-wives-tale) The quiet and diligent shop assistant, whose presence hints at future domestic ties with Constance. ### [Book I: Mrs. Baines](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/book-i-mrs-baines) The new assistant in the shop, quiet and diligent, who will later marry Constance. ### [The Square](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/i-the-square) Enters the showroom groaning in pain, then pretends to be a casual passerby; the reliable shop assistant. ### [II: The Tooth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/ii-the-tooth) Recovering from laudanum, wears an antimacassar, and mistakenly believes he swallowed his loose tooth. ### [Elephant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/iv-elephant) Insists on accompanying Mrs. Baines and Constance to the elephant, citing the roughness of the crowd. ### [VI: Escapade](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/vi-escapade) Samuel Povey, jealous of Gerald's attention to Constance, fabricates a summons to separate them, showing his emotional turmoil. ### [VII: A Defeat](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/vii-a-defeat) Suppressed by the widows, but later confronts Mrs. Baines about marrying Constance. ### [Book II: Constance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/book-ii-constance) A shop assistant and eventual suitor to Constance, involved in family and business matters. ### [Revolution](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/i-revolution) Bridegroom, takes charge of the shop, and tries to appear at ease in the marital bedroom. ### [Christmas and the Future](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/ii-christmas-and-the-future) Now 39, a solid and successful man, but still diffident. He is deeply affected by Constance's feminine charm and reliability, and is busy with his first Annual Sale. ### [III: Cyril](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/iii-cyril) Father of Cyril, finds him in the cellar after the party; lacks imagination and careful observation. ### [Crime](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/iv-crime) Gives Cyril a silver watch, escorts him to school, and discusses Cyril's future career with Constance. ### [Another Crime](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/v-another-crime) Obsessed with saving Daniel Povey, he neglects his health and business, driving a wedge between himself and Constance. ### [VI: The Widow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/vi-the-widow) Recently deceased, Samuel is remembered by Constance for his honesty, loyalty, and modest possessions. His funeral was simple, and his absence leaves a void in Constance's life. ### [VIII: The Proudest Mother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/viii-the-proudest-mother) Deceased; his cigars are given to Cyril by Constance, and Cyril offers a patronizing verdict on them. ### [Book IV: What Life Is](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/chapters/book-iv-what-life-is) Samuel's presence underscores the themes of marriage, domesticity, and the subtle tragedies of ordinary life. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/characters/samuel_povey - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_old_wives_tale_se/characters