# IV explained — The Demi-Gods

> Chapter companion for The Demi-Gods by James Stephens.

## What happens

Mary wakes her father Patsy Mac Cann and they discuss their situation with the three angels. Patsy initially wants to flee, but Mary insists on staying and providing food for the strangers. She gives him three shillings to buy provisions from a nearby house.

## Themes in this chapter

### Social Marginalization

The Mac Canns are poor travelers, concerned about appearances and shame before the strangers, highlighting their vulnerable social position.

### The Divine and the Mundane

Mary insists the strangers are angels, while her father suspects they might be circus performers, blending the sacred and the ordinary.

## Character check-ins

### Patsy Mac Cann

Awakened by Mary; initially wants to flee with the cart but is persuaded to stay and buy food.

### Mary Mac Cann

Takes charge, refuses to abandon the angels, and gives her savings to buy food.

## Key lines

> Listen, the best thing we can do is to load the things into the cart, without making any noise, mind you! then we'll yoke the little ass as easy as anything, and then I'll get into the cart and I'll drive off as hard as ever I can pelt, and you can run beside the ass with a stick in your hand and you welting the devil out of him to make him go quick.

Patsy proposes they quietly pack up and flee, with him driving the cart and Mary running alongside to urge the donkey on.

_Patsy's plan to escape the angels._

> I'll do nothing of the kind, and it wasn't for that I woke you up.

Mary refuses to run away, stating that was not her purpose in waking him.

_Mary's defiance of her father's plan._

> It's angels they are, and if they're not angels itself they are rich men, for there's big rings of gold on their fingers, and every ring has a diamond in it, and they've golden chains across their shoulders, I'm telling you, and the stuff in their clothes is fit for the children of a king.

Mary insists the strangers are angels or at least wealthy men, pointing to their gold rings, diamonds, and fine clothes.

_Mary's reasoning for staying with the strangers._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_demi_gods_se/chapters/iv
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_demi_gods_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_demi_gods_se/chapters