Character Relationship Map: Petulia

Characters

• Petulia Danner (played by Julie Christie) — protagonist

  Petulia Danner is a young socialite married to Dave Danner for six months. She becomes romantically attached to Dr. Archie Bollen, repeatedly pursues him, and begins an affair despite her marriage. Af...

• Dr. Archie Bollen (played by George C. Scott) — protagonist

  Dr. Archie Bollen is a physician divorcing Polo and the central romantic partner in Petulia Danner's life. He initially resists her advances but eventually begins an affair with her. He investigates h...

• Barney (played by Arthur Hill) — supporting

  Barney is Dr. Archie Bollen's coworker. During Petulia's hospitalization, he is present with Archie and Wilma while they watch a Polaroid slide show of family photographs. His role is limited, but the...

• Polo (played by Shirley Knight) — supporting

  Polo is Dr. Archie Bollen's soon-to-be ex-wife. She tells Archie that she is remarrying, angering him because he had considered reconciling with her. She later appears with Archie during a roller derb...

• May (played by Pippa Scott) — supporting

  May is Dr. Archie Bollen's girlfriend during the early part of the story. She spends an afternoon picnic with Archie, and Petulia Danner observes Archie when he arrives at May's apartment. May therefo...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Dr. Archie Bollen → Polo (Family Spouse) — They are still legally or emotionally connected while their marriage is breaking apart.

  Archie is divorcing Polo, and Polo visits his apartment to tell him that she is remarrying.

• Petulia Danner → Dr. Archie Bollen (Romantic Lovers) — Their affair is the central emotional relationship, marked by attraction, impulsiveness, separation, and unresolved attachment.

  Petulia becomes romantically attached to Archie, pursues him repeatedly, and eventually spends nights with him.

• Dr. Archie Bollen → Barney (Professional Coworker) — Barney is connected to Archie through work and shares a private social moment with him.

  Archie watches a Polaroid slide show with his coworker Barney and Barney's wife.

• Dr. Archie Bollen → May (Romantic Girlfriend) — May is Archie's existing romantic partner during the period when his involvement with Petulia intensifies.

  Archie spends an afternoon picnic with May and later goes to her apartment before Petulia follows him.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Petulia Danner → Polo (Conflict Romantic Rival) — Their relationship is indirectly opposed through their competing positions in Archie's romantic life.

  Petulia pursues Archie while he is still divorcing Polo and while Polo remains emotionally significant to him.

Story Analysis

A volatile affair exposes the emotional instability beneath marriage, social privilege, and attempts at ordinary domestic life.

Plot Progression

1. A Chance Attraction — Petulia meets Archie at a benefit concert and reveals that his medical work helped create her attachment to him. Their first hotel encounter ends when Petulia reconsiders.
2. The Tuba Pursuit — Petulia makes an impulsive visit to Archie's apartment with a tuba, while Archie responds with detachment. Polo's announcement that she is remarrying exposes Archie's unresolved desire for reconciliat...
3. An Affair Escalates — Petulia follows Archie through his social and professional spaces while he remains connected to May. Archie eventually gives in, and the two spend the night together.
4. Violence And Silence — Archie finds Petulia severely beaten and watches her hospitalization unfold from outside. His accusation at the Danners estate fails to produce an explanation because Petulia says nothing.
5. A Final Unfinished Goodbye — A year later, Archie and Petulia meet again while their separate lives remain unsettled. Their maternity-ward farewell ends with Petulia calling for Archie as she enters delivery.