Mary, Mary · Chapter
VIII explained
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.
What happens
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.
Themes in this chapter
Appearance and Dress
Mary's meticulous attention to her dress, hair, and necklace reflects her desire to present herself as grown-up and attractive.
Fantasy vs. Reality
Mary dreams of coral wristlets and velvet sashes while her actual dress is let out to its last tuck and her beads are cheap penny purchases.
Coming of Age and Sexuality
The letting down of the last tuck and the rolling up of her hair mark Mary's transition into young womanhood, and she notices admiring glances from young men.
Characters to notice
- Mary Makebelieve
Engages in domestic chores, dresses up, and goes out toward Phoenix Park, feeling grown-up and dreaming of adornments.
- Mrs. Makebelieve
Mentioned as having made Mary's dresses and promised to add a false hem; her Sunday skirt is a potential source of a black velvet sash.
Key passages
“The letting down of the last tuck in her dress marked an epoch as distinct as did the first rolling up of her hair.”
Mary sees the final letting out of her dress as a milestone of growing up, just as significant as when she first put up her hair.
Highlights Mary's sense of entering womanhood through small sartorial changes.
“She wished earnestly that she had a sash of black velvet about three inches deep to go round her waist.”
Mary longs for a black velvet sash to complete her outfit, imagining how it would look.
Illustrates Mary's desire for elegance and her resourceful thinking about her mother's skirt.
“The sun was shining gloriously, and the streets seemed wonderfully clean in the sunlight.”
The bright sunshine makes the city look beautiful and clean to Mary.
Sets a cheerful, hopeful mood for Mary's walk.