# Mary Shaw — The Dewy Morn character guide > Mary Shaw in The Dewy Morn by Richard Jefferies. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Mary, Shaw, Polly Shaw, pretty Polly Shaw, Polly, poor Mary **First appearance:** 0000-volume-i-i ## Snapshot A hamlet girl of stainless reputation and proud bearing, Mary Shaw guards her modesty with a reaping-hook and pays dearly for it. ## Who they are Known to the village as pretty Polly Shaw, she keeps the local lads at arm's length with a toss of her head and a silver brooch gifted by Felise. When Robert Godwin makes her a dishonourable proposal in the wheatfield, she cuts at him with a reaping-hook — and earns an enemy who never forgives. Her secret attachment to Abner Brown becomes the lever Godwin uses to threaten her family's cottage, making her quiet defiance the hinge on which several fates turn. ## Relationships ### [Felise Goring](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dewy_morn_se/characters/felise_goring) _friendship_ Felise and Mary Shaw are close friends, sharing confidences and supporting each other through personal struggles. ### [Abner Brown](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dewy_morn_se/characters/abner_brown) _psychological_ Abner Brown manipulates and controls Mary Shaw, using her as a pawn in his schemes against others. ### [Martial Barnard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dewy_morn_se/characters/martial_barnard) _social_ Martial Barnard and Mary Shaw are acquaintances, with their interactions often mediated by their connections to Felise and Abner. ### [Robert Godwin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dewy_morn_se/characters/robert_godwin) _friendship_ Mary Shaw and Robert Godwin are friends, with Mary often acting as a confidante and ally to Robert. ### [Felise Goring](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dewy_morn_se/characters/felise_goring) _friendship_ Felise and Mary Shaw are close friends, sharing confidences and supporting each other through personal struggles. ### [Felise Goring](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dewy_morn_se/characters/felise_goring) _friendship_ Felise and Mary Shaw are close friends, sharing confidences and supporting each other through personal struggles. ### [Robert Godwin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dewy_morn_se/characters/robert_godwin) _friendship_ Mary Shaw and Robert Godwin are friends, with Mary often acting as a confidante and ally to Robert. ### [Abner Brown](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dewy_morn_se/characters/abner_brown) _psychological_ Abner Brown manipulates and controls Mary Shaw, using her as a pawn in his schemes against others. ## In the story ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dewy_morn_se/chapters/volume-i-vi) Mary, the household attendant, notices Felise's changed mood and teases her about the ways of 'good-looking ladies.' ### [Chapter XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dewy_morn_se/chapters/volume-i-xi) Waits for Felise by the shore, chatters while Felise rests, and helps undo her hair. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dewy_morn_se/chapters/volume-i-xiv) Briefly mentioned as accompanying Felise during the earlier scene in the fern. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dewy_morn_se/chapters/volume-i-xv) Felise's maid, lively and devoted, teases Felise about being in love. ### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dewy_morn_se/chapters/volume-i-xxiii) A village gossip who has secretly conversed with Martial and received a kiss; she withholds this from Felise. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dewy_morn_se/chapters/volume-ii-ii) Suffers a fainting fit and is comforted by Felise, who promises not to call a doctor unless absolutely necessary. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dewy_morn_se/chapters/volume-ii-iv) Mary is courted by Abner Brown and secretly meets him at the rickyard. She also accepts bribes from Martial Barnard to reveal Felise's movements, believing she is helping her mistress find a lover. She is a proud, virtuous girl who once rejected Robert Godwin's dishonorable proposal. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dewy_morn_se/chapters/volume-ii-v) Confesses her engagement to Abner Brown and pleads for Felise's help to prevent his parents' eviction. ### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dewy_morn_se/chapters/volume-ii-vi) Mentioned as a favorite of Felise's, but even she would not have presumed to tell Felise about the estate's harsh law. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dewy_morn_se/chapters/volume-ii-xi) Expresses disappointment at the failure of Felise's petition, having hoped Felise's beauty would sway the Squire. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dewy_morn_se/chapters/volume-ii-xvii) Mentioned as the person who can obtain a glimpse of Felise for Martial on Wednesday evenings. ### [Miller Bond](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dewy_morn_se/chapters/volume-ii-xviii) Found struggling in the mill-pool after a crying spell with Abner; faints when Martial touches her during rescue. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dewy_morn_se/chapters/volume-ii-xix) Falls into the well; rescued by Martial but dies after giving birth to a premature child. ### [XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dewy_morn_se/chapters/volume-ii-xx) Her suicide is discussed; she died to save her parents from eviction, and Felise mourns her. ### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dewy_morn_se/chapters/volume-ii-xxi) Has been interred; her suicide and burial in oak are discussed. ### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dewy_morn_se/chapters/volume-ii-xxv) Referenced as having died by suicide, contributing to Felise's anxiety. ### [XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dewy_morn_se/chapters/volume-ii-xxix) Mentioned as someone for whom Godwin's death renders no reparation. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dewy_morn_se/characters/mary_shaw - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dewy_morn_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_dewy_morn_se/characters