Mary Makebelieve

The Man

Mary Makebelieve is deeply entangled with The Man in a manipulative, obsessive dynamic where he exerts control over her reality.

The Young Man

Mary Makebelieve shares a tense, romantic connection with The Young Man, filled with longing and emotional conflict.

Mrs. Makebelieve

Mary Makebelieve and Mrs. Makebelieve are mother and daughter, with a strained relationship marked by misunderstanding and care.

Patrick

Mary Makebelieve and Patrick are close friends, with Patrick offering her a grounding presence amidst her turmoil.

Mrs. Cafferty

Mary Makebelieve and Mrs. Cafferty are neighbors, with Mrs. Cafferty acting as a gossipy but concerned observer.

Mr. Cafferty

Mary Makebelieve and Mr. Cafferty are barely acquainted, exchanging only polite nods.

The Man

Mary Makebelieve is deeply entangled with The Man in a manipulative, obsessive dynamic where he exerts control over her reality.

Mrs. Makebelieve

Mary Makebelieve and Mrs. Makebelieve are mother and daughter, with a strained relationship marked by misunderstanding and care.

Mrs. Makebelieve

Mary Makebelieve and Mrs. Makebelieve are mother and daughter, with a strained relationship marked by misunderstanding and care.

The Man

Mary Makebelieve is deeply entangled with The Man in a manipulative, obsessive dynamic where he exerts control over her reality.

Patrick

Mary Makebelieve and Patrick are close friends, with Patrick offering her a grounding presence amidst her turmoil.

Mary, Mary

The protagonist, a young girl grappling with poverty and her mother's expectations, who begins to take on adult responsibilities.

I

The narrator and protagonist, living in poverty with her mother in a Dublin back street.

II

Mary performs the morning chores, shares breakfast with her mother, spends time in the park observing ducks and eels, and walks through the city shops.

III

Contemplates marriage as both a romantic ideal and a practical reality; feels a magnetic, confused attraction to men.

IV

Mary is captivated by the policeman, secretly watching him each day. After their eyes meet, she feels a frightened exaltation and avoids Grafton Street, lying to her mother about her thoughts.

V

Described in detail: fair hair, grey eyes, small nose, delicate hands, and a figure beginning to show womanly contours.

VI

At sixteen, Mary is not yet working; she spends her days alone, wandering the streets and observing strangers, feeling a sense of friendship with familiar faces.

VII

Mary lights the fire and shares breakfast with her mother, listening to her mother's stories and contributing her own observations of kindness in the streets.

VIII

Engages in domestic chores, dresses up, and goes out toward Phoenix Park, feeling grown-up and dreaming of adornments.

IX

Mary explores the park, admiring flowers and nature, and encounters the policeman.

Chapter X

Meets a policeman in the park, feels shy and self-conscious about her appearance and inability to converse.

XI

Asks her mother about policemen as husbands, keeps secret her encounter, and stays up dreaming by the fire.

XII

Prepares breakfast, alters her skirt, dresses up, and secretly goes to Phoenix Park where she meets the big policeman.

XIII

Mary enjoys the attention and company of the policeman, but lies about her mother's work out of shame.

XIV

Mary tries to comfort her mother, then goes out alone, dreaming of the policeman but witnessing him with another girl.

XV

Struggles with guilt and resentment as she neglects her mother's needs to wander in the park, then returns filled with love and remorse.

XVI

Takes over her mother's work at Mrs. O'Connor's house, stepping into adult responsibilities.

XVII

Awakens early, prepares for her first day of work, receives advice from her mother, arranges care for her mother, walks to Mrs. O'Connor's house, and thinks about the policeman.

XVIII

Works as a maid at Mrs. O'Connor's house, scrubbing floors and washing; experiences terror and shame upon seeing the policeman and the girl from the theatre.

XIX

Returns home to find her mother recovering with the help of Mrs. Cafferty and her children; joins in the children's games.

Chapter XX

Lavishes her wages on food for her mother, watches her mother eat with delight, and discusses dreams with her.

XXI

Mary actively avoids confronting thoughts of the policeman and her past work, using Mrs. Cafferty's chatter as a distraction.

XXII

Accompanies Mrs. Cafferty shopping, feels self-conscious and fearful upon seeing the policeman.

XXIII

Shares a vision of peaceful convent life but is gently discouraged by her mother; finds comfort in her mother's embrace.

XXIV

Mary meets the policeman again, feels discomfort at his changed attitude, and flees when he grabs her.

XXVI

Listens to the discussion about the young man and pities him for his appetite being publicly discussed.

XXVII

Mary is embarrassed to be seen by the young man in her house attire and is deeply absorbed in her mother's lessons on dress and fashion.

XXVIII

Obsessed over by the policeman; seen chatting with a young man, her face flushing when she spots him.

XXIX

Listens to the young man's stories and opinions, walks with him in the evenings, and feels a growing intimacy.

The Proposal

Mary is terrified and ashamed during the policeman's proposal, feeling pursued and trapped. She remains silent and tearful, refusing to meet his gaze.

XXXI

Mary's face goes pale during the young man's story, and she silently confirms her mother's conjecture about the attacker. She continues her evening walks with the young man.

XXXII

Accompanies her mother to the solicitors and begins planning how to spend the inheritance; walks with the young man, discussing gifts and a new house.