# XIX explained — Scarlet Sister Mary

> Chapter companion for Scarlet Sister Mary by Julia Peterkin.

## What happens

Mary tries to console Budda Ben after he is turned out of the church for cursing Andrew's children. She urges him to stop fretting and suggests they go see a picture of Hell together. Budda is deeply hurt and cries, not about being a fallen member, but because Mary does not mind how Andrew treated him.

## Themes in this chapter

### Community and Tradition

The church's authority to expel members and the community's reaction highlight the importance of religious conformity and social standing.

### Sin and Redemption

Budda Ben's cursing and fall from grace, along with Mary's advice to seek forgiveness, reflect the cycle of sin and the possibility of redemption.

### Independence and Resilience

Mary's pragmatic advice to Budda to move on and her plan to get crutches for Keepsie demonstrate resilience and self-reliance.

## Character check-ins

### Mary Pinesett

Mary comforts Budda Ben, advises him to be thankful, and plans to ask Andrew to make crutches for Keepsie.

### Budda Ben

Budda is furious and heartbroken after being turned out of the church, curses the deacons, and eventually cries.

### Andrew

Andrew rebuked Budda Ben in church for cursing children; Mary plans to ask him to make crutches for Keepsie.

### Auntie

Auntie is mentioned as Budda's mother who cried all night and cannot stand ugly talk about Andrew.

### Keepsie

Mary wants to get Keepsie light crutches so he can go to school joyfully.

### Brer Dee

Budda suggests Brer Dee make the crutches instead of Andrew.

## Key lines

> Misery filled his dull red-rimmed eyes. His high-pitched outbursts of fury were pitiful. Mary begged him to be quiet, not to make himself sick.

Budda Ben's eyes were full of misery and he shouted in a high-pitched, pitiful fury. Mary pleaded with him to calm down for his own health.

_Mary shows compassion for Budda's emotional distress._

> Budda Ben, of all people in the whole world! She had never seen him shed a tear before.

Mary was shocked to see Budda Ben crying, as she had never seen him cry before.

_Budda's tears reveal the depth of his hurt._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/scarlet_sister_mary_se/chapters/xix
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/scarlet_sister_mary_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/scarlet_sister_mary_se/chapters