The History of Mr Polly - Herbert George Wells

Summary

The History of Mr. Polly tells the story of Alfred Polly, a perpetually discontented and rather inarticulate draper's assistant in early 20th-century England. Born into the lower middle class, Polly inherits a modest sum of money, which he uses to open his own drapery shop in the fictional town of Fishbourne. He marries his cousin, Miriam, but both the business and the marriage quickly prove to be dull and unfulfilling, leading Polly to increasing despair and indigestion. Facing financial ruin and a life he despises, Polly orchestrates an elaborate scheme to burn down his shop, fake his own death, and escape. He successfully vanishes, embracing the life of a tramp. After wandering for some time, he encounters the Potwell Inn, run by a kind but downtrodden woman, Mrs. Larkins, who is terrorized by her brutish, alcoholic nephew, Jim. Polly finds a new purpose and a sense of belonging by staying to protect Mrs. Larkins, engaging in several comical and dangerous battles with Jim. He eventually drives Jim away, settling into a comfortable, simple, and surprisingly happy life at the inn, free from the constraints of his previous existence.

Book Sections

Section 1

Alfred Polly's life begins with a description of his early school days and his subsequent entry into the world of drapery. He is presented as a dreamy, somewhat ineffective young man with a peculiar way with words, prone to malapropisms. He works for several demanding and uninspiring employers, enduring the tedious and spirit-crushing routine of a draper's apprentice. He yearns for something more, for adventure and beauty, but his environment offers none. His father's death eventually brings him a small inheritance of around five hundred pounds, providing him with a chance to escape his dreary apprenticeship.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
Alfred Polly	Protagonist, dreamy, discontented, articulate in his own way, prone to malapropisms, seeks escape from monotony.	Yearns for a more exciting and fulfilling life, desires freedom and beauty.
Mr. Rumbold	Polly's first employer, stern, traditional, representative of the oppressive working environment.	To run his business efficiently and profitably, upholding strict discipline.
Mr. Garrold	Another employer, similarly uninspiring and part of Polly's tedious existence.	To manage his drapery business.

Section 2

With his inheritance, Polly decides to open his own drapery shop in the town of Fishbourne. He also marries his cousin, Miriam Larkins, a seemingly sensible and quiet woman. Initially, Polly is filled with hope for this new chapter. He imagines a successful business and a happy domestic life. However, these dreams quickly unravel. The business proves to be a struggle, with little custom and constant worries about stock and accounts. His marriage to Miriam, while not openly hostile, quickly settles into a routine of dull practicality, devoid of romance or intellectual connection. Polly finds himself increasingly trapped and miserable.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
Miriam Larkins	Polly's cousin and later his wife. Initially perceived as quiet and pleasant, she becomes a dull, practical, and uninspiring partner, unable to understand Polly's dreams.	To have a respectable life and marriage, to manage the domestic affairs of their home.

Section 3

The narrative delves deeper into Polly's deepening despair. The shop in Fishbourne continues to fail, accumulating debt and stagnation. Polly's relationship with Miriam grows increasingly strained and silent, filled with unspoken resentments. He suffers from chronic indigestion, which exacerbates his general malaise. He attempts to find solace in books, buying various volumes on history and science, but his lack of formal education and focus prevents him from truly engaging with them. His attempts at self-improvement are as futile as his business ventures, leading him further into a state of profound unhappiness and a sense of wasted life.

Section 4

Polly's misery reaches a climax. He contemplates suicide as the only possible escape from his intolerable existence. He spends time fantasizing about various dramatic ways to end his life – drowning, poisoning, shooting himself – but his innate timidity and a certain sense of theatricality prevent him from following through. He imagines the impact his death would have, the "melancholy interest" it would cause. The thought of suicide becomes a morbid, almost comforting, preoccupation, a way of asserting some control over his life, even if only in his imagination.

Section 5

Polly finally devises a plan that offers an escape without the finality of suicide: he will burn down his shop and fake his own death for the insurance money. He meticulously plans the fire, setting up paraffin-soaked rags and ensuring his escape route. The execution of the plan is chaotic and almost goes wrong, with Polly nearly getting caught and sustaining minor injuries. However, despite the clumsy nature of the act, he manages to ignite the fire and slip away into the night, leaving his old life and the burning shop behind him.

Section 6

Polly successfully escapes Fishbourne, taking on the persona of a tramp. He revels in the newfound freedom of wandering the English countryside. The open air, the simplicity of living day-to-day, and the absence of his old responsibilities bring him a sense of exhilaration and liberation. He sleeps under hedges, eats simple meals, and enjoys the beauty of nature. This period of wandering represents a profound break from his past, a purging of the stifling conventions that had bound him. He experiences a brief but intense moment of fear when he thinks he might be recognized, but otherwise, he feels truly alive for the first time in years.

Section 7

His travels eventually lead him to the Potwell Inn, a rustic establishment. He encounters Mrs. Larkins (no relation to Miriam), the inn's proprietress, a large, kind, but weary woman. She is being constantly tormented and exploited by her brutish, alcoholic nephew, Jim, who has a violent temper and makes her life miserable. Polly witnesses one of Jim's outbursts and feels a surge of protectiveness towards Mrs. Larkins. He instinctively intervenes in a dispute, surprising both himself and the others with his courage, an action that marks a turning point in his character development.

Character	Characteristics	Motivations
Mrs. Larkins (of Potwell)	Proprietress of the Potwell Inn, a kind, generous, and large woman, weary from her nephew's abuse.	To run her inn peacefully, to survive Jim's bullying, to find some quiet happiness.
Jim (the Bully)	Mrs. Larkins' nephew, violent, alcoholic, parasitic, and abusive.	To exploit his aunt, to satisfy his own desires for alcohol and control.

Section 8

Polly decides to stay at the Potwell Inn, taking on the role of protector for Mrs. Larkins. He finds a sense of purpose he never had as a draper. He engages in a series of comical and increasingly dramatic battles with Jim. These confrontations are often absurd but genuinely dangerous, with Polly using his wit and unexpected bursts of courage to outsmart and fight off the larger, stronger Jim. After several skirmishes involving various improvised weapons and much physical comedy, Polly finally manages to drive Jim away from the inn for good, establishing his new position as a capable and benevolent guardian.

Section 9

With Jim gone, Polly settles into a comfortable and fulfilling life at the Potwell Inn. He becomes an invaluable assistant to Mrs. Larkins, helping with odd jobs, maintenance, and entertaining guests. He enjoys the simple pleasures of rural life, the camaraderie with Mrs. Larkins, and the feeling of being useful and appreciated. He finds a profound sense of peace and contentment in this unconventional existence, a stark contrast to the misery of his previous life. He has truly found his place and a form of happiness he never thought possible.

Section 10

His newfound peace is briefly threatened when Miriam, his former wife, discovers that he is alive and traces him to the Potwell Inn. She visits, bringing with her the oppressive atmosphere of his past. The encounter is awkward and revealing, highlighting how much Polly has changed and how little he resembles the man she married. He manages to convince her that he is better off dead to her, and she, disheartened by his transformation and resolute refusal to return, eventually leaves, promising to keep his secret. This interaction solidifies Polly's break from his old life and reaffirms his commitment to his new path.

Section 11

The book concludes with Polly fully embracing his new life at the Potwell Inn. He has achieved a deep and lasting contentment, free from the societal expectations and personal failures that once plagued him. He reflects on his journey, understanding that his escape, though born of desperation, led him to a genuine and simple happiness. He continues his routine, enjoying the company of Mrs. Larkins and the tranquility of the inn, proving that happiness can be found in unexpected places and often requires a radical redefinition of success and purpose.

Literary Genre

Comic Novel, Social Satire, Bildungsroman (a novel of formation, though an unconventional one), Picaresque.

Author Facts

• Herbert George Wells (1866–1946), universally known as H.G. Wells, was a prolific English writer.
• He is widely regarded as "The Father of Science Fiction" for his pioneering works in the genre, including The Time Machine (1895), The War of the Worlds (1898), and The Invisible Man (1897).
• Beyond science fiction, Wells also wrote numerous realistic novels and social commentaries, often satirizing the class system and social conditions of Edwardian England, as exemplified by The History of Mr. Polly, Kipps, and Tono-Bungay.
• Wells was a socialist and a prominent public intellectual, frequently writing on politics, history, and social reform. He was a keen observer of human nature and society, often using his fiction to explore his social and political ideas.
• He was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature four times.

Morale

The central morale of The History of Mr. Polly is the importance of breaking free from conventional expectations and societal traps to find personal happiness and fulfillment. It suggests that true contentment does not always lie in material success, traditional relationships, or adhering to social norms, but rather in self-discovery, embracing freedom, and finding a purpose that genuinely resonates with one's spirit. The book advocates for the courage to abandon a life of quiet desperation and forge a new path, even if it means defying societal judgments or expectations. It's a testament to the idea that one can reinvent oneself and achieve a profound sense of peace, even after perceived failures.

Curiosities

• Semi-Autobiographical Elements: Many literary critics view The History of Mr. Polly as a semi-autobiographical work. H.G. Wells himself came from a lower-middle-class background and had personal experience with the limitations and frustrations of the "shopkeeping" class, which he often depicted in his realistic novels. His own escape from a conventional life into a writing career mirrors Polly's quest for freedom.
• Polly's Malapropisms: A significant source of humor and characterization in the novel comes from Mr. Polly's distinctive speech patterns, which are replete with malapropisms and attempts at grandiloquence. He often misuses or mangles words, trying to sound more educated or profound than he is, highlighting his aspirations and his underlying lack of formal education. This linguistic quirk makes him both endearing and comical.
• Critique of Edwardian Society: The novel offers a sharp, yet often humorous, critique of the stifling nature of Edwardian lower-middle-class life, particularly the banality of suburban existence and the soul-crushing routine of retail work. Wells uses Polly's dissatisfaction to expose the limitations and anxieties imposed by a rigid social structure.
• Departure from Sci-Fi: The History of Mr. Polly stands in contrast to Wells' more famous science fiction works. It showcases his versatility as a writer and his mastery of social realism, demonstrating that he was equally adept at portraying the inner lives and everyday struggles of ordinary people as he was at imagining futuristic worlds.