Even though Polly has such little direct involvement in the narrative, Joyce paints her as a living individual, a dynamic character with round qualities by giving her psychological qualities ("Polly knew that she was being watched ... There had been no open complicity"); a complex personality ("She sang: I'm a ... naughty girl"); and motivation ("Polly had been made awkward [because]... she did not wish it to be thought that in her wise innocence she had divined the intention behind her mother's tolerance"); and by giving various stages of progress through the story, stages that are evident after Polly is taken out of typewriting.