Guide Mentor

Character Role Analysis

Mary Poppins, Bert

Mary's a classic mentor figure, complete with a wise twinkle in here eye. She gives excellent advice to George Banks and to the kids, explaining that "a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down in the most delightful way." She's all about making life less of a garbage fire by pouring kindness and sweetness on it. That's the message she sends to the Banks Family.

Bert's also a heavy in the mentor department. He explains things to Jane and Michael that they're too young to fully grasp:

BERT: You know, begging your pardon, but the one my heart goes out to is your father. There he is, in that cold heartless bank day after day, hammed in by mounds of cold heartless money. I don't like to see any living thing caged up.

He helps them realize that their father needs help, even more than they do, and that that's the whole purpose of Mary Poppins' intervention. Bert also makes wise comments to George, pointing out that he should spend time with his kids while he still can, instead of waking up years later and realizing his whole life just blew right past him.