Mary, Mary · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for Mary, Mary by James Stephens.
Chapter 1
Dedication
The book is dedicated to Bethel Solomons, M.B.
Chapter 2
Mary, Mary
Mary Makebelieve reflects on her life and her mother's dreams for her, while navigating the harsh realities of poverty in Dublin. She lies about her mother's work to maintain appearances, and her mother falls ill, forcing Mary to take over her work. The chapter explores Mary's internal conflict between fantasy and reality, her mother's aspirations for her to marry well, and the beginning of her entanglement with a policeman.
Chapter 3
I
Mary Makebelieve lives with her mother in a cramped, grimy top-floor room in a Dublin back street. Her mother, a charwoman, escapes her harsh reality by pretending they are rich, dreaming of grand houses, servants, and fine dresses. Mary loves her mother deeply, despite her mother's overwhelming and sometimes painful displays of affection.
Chapter 4
II
Mary Makebelieve's daily routine is depicted, from lighting a difficult fire each morning to sharing breakfast in bed with her mother, who talks incessantly about past events, future errands, and elaborate plans for improving their room. After her mother leaves, Mary returns to bed, then tidies up and spends her days walking the streets or sitting in St. Stephen's Green Park, where she observes the ducks and eels, imagines stories about the flowers, and later shops along Grafton and O'Connell Streets. In the evenings, she and her mother watch theatergoers and invent plots from the posters, with Mary talking most at night and her mother most in the morning.
Chapter 5
III
Mary Makebelieve reflects on her mother's romanticized visions of marriage and wealth, contrasting them with the grim reality of their lives. She begins to see marriage as a factual necessity rather than a fairy tale, and develops a curious, naive attraction to men, wondering about the nature of male-female relations. A question about whether her mother was ever struck by a man provokes an intense, unexplained emotional outburst.
Chapter 6
IV
Mary Makebelieve becomes fascinated by a massive policeman who directs traffic at the intersection of Grafton Street. She secretly watches him daily, and one day their eyes meet, leaving her mesmerized and frightened. That night, she avoids going home by Grafton Street and lies to her mother about being tired, unable to sleep as she lies in the dark.
Chapter 7
V
This chapter describes Mary Makebelieve's physical appearance in detail, focusing on her fair hair, grey eyes, small nose, and delicate hands. It also explores her mother's obsession with preserving Mary's girlishness and the tension in their relationship as Mary begins to mature into womanhood.
Chapter 8
VI
At sixteen, Mary Makebelieve remains unemployed at her mother's insistence, who dreams of a better future through marriage or a relative's return from America. Mary spends her days wandering Dublin, observing strangers and finding comfort in familiar faces, while her mother prefers the lively atmosphere of Phoenix Park.
Chapter 9
VII
Mary Makebelieve starts the day with an easy fire and a cheerful mood. Her mother receives a postcard from a new client, Mrs. O'Connor, sparking hopes of steady work and extra income. Over breakfast, they share stories of kindness and generosity, but Mrs. Makebelieve reflects on the grinding poverty that forces her to work constantly. She oscillates between believing that the poor have hidden resources and fearing the true depth of their suffering.
Chapter 10
VIII
Mary Makebelieve spends a sunny day preparing herself, mending her white dress, choosing a necklace, and going out toward Phoenix Park, feeling grown-up and dreaming of adornments like a red coral wristlet and a black velvet sash.
Chapter 11
IX
Mary Makebelieve wanders through the park, observing the beauty of the flowers, the play of children, and the freedom of nature. She sits alone under a tree, feeling a sense of peace, until a man's shadow appears and a deep voice speaks to her, revealing the great policeman from Grafton Street.
Chapter 12
Chapter X
Mary Makebelieve meets a policeman in Phoenix Park, who impresses her with his knowledge and size. She feels shy and self-conscious, especially about her short dress, and struggles to speak. He escorts her through the park, and she eventually bids him goodbye, feeling both awed and distressed.
Chapter 13
XI
Mrs. Makebelieve returns home exhausted from her arduous work at Mrs. O'Connor's house, describing in detail the many rooms, ornaments, and furnishings. Mary, preoccupied with her secret encounter with a policeman, asks her mother about policemen as husbands. Mrs. Makebelieve gives a mixed assessment, noting their advantages but also their moral dangers. Mary longs to confide in someone her own age but cannot bring herself to tell her mother. Mrs. Makebelieve feels unwell and goes to bed early, while Mary stays up dreaming by the fire.
Chapter 14
XII
Mrs. Makebelieve recovers slightly and talks at length about her brother Patrick's possible return from America, while Mary secretly goes out to meet the big policeman in Phoenix Park.
Chapter 15
XIII
Mary Makebelieve frequently meets her new friend, a big policeman, who takes her to restaurants and walks with her along the River Dodder. He tells her stories about his work and life, while subtly questioning her about her family. Mary lies about her mother's occupation, claiming she is a dressmaker instead of a charwoman.
Chapter 16
XIV
Mrs. Makebelieve returns home deeply fatigued and ill, struggling with a strange apathy that alarms her. Mary tries to cheer her but eventually goes out alone, walking through Dublin's lively evening streets. She watches crowds heading to the Gaiety Theatre and dreams of the big policeman taking her there, only to see him arrive with another girl, leaving Mary heartbroken.
Chapter 17
XV
Mary's mother is ill and bedridden, unable to work. Mary is sent to buy provisions but instead wanders aimlessly in the park, torn between her desire to meet someone and her guilt over neglecting her sick mother. She returns home late, finding her mother asleep, and is overwhelmed with relief and a renewed sense of love and duty.
Chapter 18
XVI
Mrs. Makebelieve's health deteriorates severely, and the family's poverty deepens as they sell all their furniture to survive. Unable to work, Mrs. Makebelieve sends Mary to take her place at Mrs. O'Connor's house, marking a painful transition from childhood to womanhood.
Chapter 19
XVII
Mary Makebelieve wakes early on her first day of work, prepares breakfast, receives detailed cleaning advice from her mother, arranges for a neighbor to care for her mother, and walks to Mrs. O'Connor's house, reflecting on the unfamiliar morning streets and her longing for the policeman.
Chapter 20
XVIII
Mary works at Mrs. O'Connor's house, where she encounters the 'big policeman'—the same man she saw with another girl at the Gaiety Theatre—and the girl herself, who works in the house. Mary's shame and confusion overwhelm her as she mechanically completes her tasks.
Chapter 21
XIX
Mary returns home to find Mrs. Cafferty and her six children creating a chaotic but lively atmosphere around her mother, who is recovering from illness. Mrs. Cafferty's boisterous presence and the children's antics seem to revive Mrs. Makebelieve, who appears much improved. Mary is drawn into the children's games, and the chapter highlights the healing power of community and family chaos.
Chapter 22
Chapter XX
Mary spends her first day's wages on delicacies to tempt her mother's appetite. Mrs. Makebelieve, recovering from illness, shares a dream about her brother Patrick returning from America wealthy and unmarried, sparking fantasies of moving to a better part of Dublin. The idyllic morning is cut short when a neighbor's noise reminds Mrs. Makebelieve of work, and she hurriedly dresses and leaves.
Chapter 23
XXI
Mary, left alone with her thoughts, actively suppresses memories of the policeman and her recent work, finding refuge in Mrs. Cafferty's garrulous company. The chapter then explores the nature of women's conversation and social dynamics, contrasting it with men's, and delves into Mrs. Cafferty's morning grievance about her husband.
Chapter 24
XXII
Mrs. Cafferty and Mary go shopping together, discussing the challenges of motherhood and dressing children. Mrs. Cafferty compliments Mary extensively, boosting her confidence. They shop for Nora's first Communion outfit, and during their walk, Mary spots the policeman from a distance, feeling a mix of familiarity and fear, and is relieved to be with Mrs. Cafferty.
Chapter 25
XXIII
Mrs. Makebelieve plans to reclaim her pawned belongings, which hold deep sentimental value, and resents working for Mrs. O'Connor. She angrily recalls an encounter with a policeman, then comforts Mary and advises her to maintain inner freedom despite servitude. Mary shares a vision of peaceful convent life, but her mother discourages it, advocating for engagement with the world and helping others as a woman's true calling.
Chapter 26
XXIV
Mary encounters the big policeman again in Dublin, but his demeanor has shifted from respectful to condescending after seeing her cleaning a hall. He compliments her excessively, but Mary senses his insincerity and greed. When he suddenly embraces her, she flees in fear.
Chapter 27
XXV
Mrs. Cafferty visits Mrs. Makebelieve, distressed by her family's worsening poverty due to her husband's idle trade. She struggles to feed eight children on a shrunken income, and the chapter reflects on the relentless adjustments poor families must make to survive, contrasting their plight with the predictable cycles of nature. To cope, Mrs. Cafferty decides to take in a lodger, a young man who does not drink.
Chapter 28
XXVI
Mrs. Cafferty's new lodger, a young man, arrives and is described as thin, energetic, and good-natured. Mrs. Makebelieve and Mary discuss his habits and appetite with Mrs. Cafferty, leading to reflections on youth, motherhood, and domestic governance.
Chapter 29
XXVII
Mary meets Mrs. Cafferty's lodger, a thin young man who helps her carry a water bucket, sparking her anger at being seen in her house attire. The chapter delves deeply into Mary and her mother's obsessive discussions about dress, fashion rules, and the philosophy of clothing as an expression of the soul.
Chapter 30
XXVIII
The policeman becomes obsessively fixated on Mary after she flees from his embrace, torn between his desire for her body and his need for vengeance. He resents her social inferiority yet cannot dismiss her from his mind, and his anger grows when he sees her happily chatting with another young man. His frustration spills over into his interactions with his aunt and another girl, as he seethes with a dark determination to make someone pay for his wounded self-respect.
Chapter 31
XXIX
Mary and her mother grow closer to Mrs. Cafferty's lodger, a young man who shares meals with them and becomes a regular companion. He expounds his radical views on policemen, soldiers, landlords, employers, and Ireland, while Mary and her mother listen with interest. The young man and Mary begin taking evening walks together, bonding over their shared ignorance and curiosity.
Chapter 32
The Proposal
The policeman visits the Makebelieve home and formally asks Mrs. Makebelieve for Mary's hand in marriage. Mary is terrified and ashamed, while her mother is shocked and hostile. The proposal forces a confrontation between mother and daughter, revealing Mary's fear of the man and her mother's disdain for him.
Chapter 33
XXXI
The young man returns to Mrs. Cafferty's lodging with torn clothes and sticking-plaster after a fight with a much larger man, whom he describes as the biggest man in the world. He recounts the fight with pride, and Mrs. Makebelieve and Mary silently recognize the attacker as the big policeman. Mrs. Makebelieve reflects on Mary's growing independence and her own transition from motherhood to a new phase of life, accepting that her daughter is no longer a child. The young man and Mary continue their evening walks, and Mrs. Makebelieve observes their intimacy with a mixture of approval and pain.
Chapter 34
XXXII
Mrs. Makebelieve receives a letter informing her that her brother Patrick Joseph Brady has died and left her a substantial inheritance. After visiting the solicitors and receiving an advance of fifty pounds, she and Mary begin to adjust to their new fortune. Mary goes for a walk with the young man, who is now well-fed and melancholy, but eventually his hunger returns and with it his spirits. The chapter concludes with a philosophical reflection on the nature of life, evil, and progress, and a farewell to Mary as she steps into her future.
