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When Polly Mooney is first introduced to the reader, she is described as a young, slim girl of nineteen with “light soft hair,” a “small full mouth,” and gray-green eyes which “had a habit of glancing upwards when she spoke with anyone, which made her look like a little perverse madonna.” All of these physical descriptions link Polly with the concept of innocence, from her doll-like features to her comparison with the Madonna, or the Virgin Mary. “The Boarding House” is, in part, a tale of lost innocence. As a result, Joyce introduces Polly to the reader in such a way in order to juxtapose Polly’s youthful naivety with the more risqué events that comprise the story. Joyce paints Polly as a young woman who has just barely left childhood behind. This is an essential aspect of her character because it explains why she is so easily manipulated by the older, more experienced characters in the story. Mrs. Mooney and Mr. Doran are both mature, worldly people which gives them an advantage over Polly, who does not have the same life experiences as them. As a result, it is easy for both Mr. Doran to seduce Polly and for Mrs. Mooney to manipulate Polly into an advantageous marriage. Joyce’s characterization of Polly forces the reader to wonder if the events of “The Boarding House” would have been different if Polly had been a little bit older and more wise to the ploys of others.
