# July Pinesett — Scarlet Sister Mary character guide > July Pinesett in Scarlet Sister Mary by Julia Peterkin. **Role:** major **Also known as:** July, Old Paupa July, Dat July **First appearance:** 0002-i ## Snapshot Handsome, guitar-playing July wins Mary's heart at the wedding, but his wandering feet and easy charm keep her watching the road for his return. ## Who they are July is the man every woman in the Quarter wants and the one Mary gets, his fine new suit and straight brows making him the envy of the groomsmen. Yet even on his wedding day he dances with Cinder while his bride stands outside, and his heart thumps under her arm with something other than calm. His absences and reappearances will test whether Mary's pride can hold what her love cannot. ## Relationships ### [Mary Pinesett](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/scarlet_sister_mary_se/characters/mary_pinesett) _romantic_ July is Mary's husband, but his frequent absences and infidelity create a strained and ultimately broken romantic bond. ### [Cinder](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/scarlet_sister_mary_se/characters/cinder) _social_ Cinder and July have a casual acquaintance as fellow members of the same community. ### [Maum Hannah](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/scarlet_sister_mary_se/characters/maum_hannah) _family_ July is Maum Hannah's grandson-in-law, but their relationship is strained due to his treatment of Mary. ### [Budda Ben](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/scarlet_sister_mary_se/characters/budda_ben) _family_ Budda Ben is July's father, often defending or admonishing his son's behavior toward Mary. ### [Mary Pinesett](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/scarlet_sister_mary_se/characters/mary_pinesett) _romantic_ July is Mary's husband, but his frequent absences and infidelity create a strained and ultimately broken romantic bond. ### [Mary Pinesett](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/scarlet_sister_mary_se/characters/mary_pinesett) _romantic_ July is Mary's husband, but his frequent absences and infidelity create a strained and ultimately broken romantic bond. ### [Maum Hannah](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/scarlet_sister_mary_se/characters/maum_hannah) _family_ July is Maum Hannah's grandson-in-law, but their relationship is strained due to his treatment of Mary. ### [Budda Ben](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/scarlet_sister_mary_se/characters/budda_ben) _family_ Budda Ben is July's father, often defending or admonishing his son's behavior toward Mary. ### [Cinder](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/scarlet_sister_mary_se/characters/cinder) _social_ Cinder and July have a casual acquaintance as fellow members of the same community. ### [Cinder](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/scarlet_sister_mary_se/characters/cinder) _social_ Cinder and July have a casual acquaintance as fellow members of the same community. ### [Budda Ben](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/scarlet_sister_mary_se/characters/budda_ben) _family_ Budda Ben is July's father, often defending or admonishing his son's behavior toward Mary. ## In the story ### [Scarlet Sister Mary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/scarlet_sister_mary_se/chapters/scarlet-sister-mary) Mary's husband, whose abandonment sets the stage for her trials. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/scarlet_sister_mary_se/chapters/ii) July is Mary's wild, playful lover who marks her ear and buys her hoop earrings; he has returned from working away. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/scarlet_sister_mary_se/chapters/iii) July is Mary's beloved, who has returned from travels to marry her. He is implicated in the 'sin' with Mary, though he is not present in the chapter. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/scarlet_sister_mary_se/chapters/iv) The groom, handsome and eager for fun, insists on attending the dance despite his new wife's fatigue. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/scarlet_sister_mary_se/chapters/v) The groom, who dances with Cinder and later takes Mary home, showing both neglect and affection. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/scarlet_sister_mary_se/chapters/vi) July is Mary's husband, who works hard but avoids house repairs and prefers leisure on weekends; he wants a son to help with his projects. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/scarlet_sister_mary_se/chapters/vii) Absent from the meeting; has gone to the crossroads store to gamble with friends. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/scarlet_sister_mary_se/chapters/viii) July is pleased with the birth of his son, fetches castor-oil and whisky, buys Mary a dress, and names the baby Unexpected. ### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/scarlet_sister_mary_se/chapters/ix) July stays out all night shooting craps, returns with Cinder's perfume on him, lies to Mary, and later shows signs of guilt and headache; he is easily charmed by Cinder's flattery. ### [X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/scarlet_sister_mary_se/chapters/x) Abuses Mary physically and emotionally, is obsessed with Cinder, and is manipulated by Mary's feigned helplessness. ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/scarlet_sister_mary_se/chapters/xi) July is absent, having gone to town for pleasure, neglecting Mary and their son Unex. Mary recalls his broken marriage vows and his selfishness. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/scarlet_sister_mary_se/chapters/xii) Mary's husband who has taken Cinder as a side-gal; the target of the love charm. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/scarlet_sister_mary_se/chapters/xiii) Has not returned from the excursion; Mary prays for him and blames Cinder. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/scarlet_sister_mary_se/chapters/xvii) July is mentioned as Mary's former husband who abandoned her, and Mary has moved on with June in his place. ### [XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/scarlet_sister_mary_se/chapters/xxvi) July returns after twenty years, attempting to win Mary back with gifts and money, but is rejected. ### [XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/scarlet_sister_mary_se/chapters/xxvii) July is mentioned as having come to Mary and been turned away; his abandonment is recalled. ### [XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/scarlet_sister_mary_se/chapters/xxviii) July is mentioned as Unex's father, who left when Unex was a baby. Mary asks Unex if he has seen July. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/scarlet_sister_mary_se/characters/july_pinesett - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/scarlet_sister_mary_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/scarlet_sister_mary_se/characters