Chapter Four Summary and Analysis

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Days after Thomas threw Mary into the hearth, her mother arrives at the Deerfield parlor carrying a bolt of fine lace and eight three-pronged silver forks. Mary immediately recognizes the forks as tools of the Devil, but her mother dismisses the concern, noting that even Governor Winthrop owned one and that such utensils are becoming common in England. Mary protests, insisting that Thomas will not abide forks in the house, but her mother smiles and places them on the cupboard shelf, promising that Mary will come around. Catherine, the servant, is curious and mimics using a fork, but Mary remains adamant.

Later that afternoon, Mary claims she has errands but deliberately walks to the wharves at the town cove. She watches sailors unload a ship, savoring the salt air and the sight of the young, tanned men working. She admits to herself that she came to watch them, but she rationalizes that they are merely objects of beauty, like a hawk or a rose, and not a temptation. She even prepares a false excuse in case anyone asks why she is there, knowing that gossips might read too much into her visit.

She then goes to her father's storehouse, which is crowded with newly arrived goods from the ship. Her father, James Burden, is in conversation with businessmen, but he greets her warmly and offers her new clothing and books. Mary selects a petticoat, a bodice, and two books—a poem by Michael Wigglesworth and a collection of psalms meant to divert the Devil—and thanks him. As she walks home through the crowded city, she reflects on her marriage. She realizes that she wants to see as little of Thomas as possible and that she genuinely loathes him. The thought lodges in her mind like a stubborn stump.

On High Street, she steps around a dead bird and is nearly flattened by a pair of oxen pulling a cart. The driver yells at her, and she gets slop from the street on her waistcoat and skirt. She worries about cleaning them before supper, knowing Thomas's mood will sour if his food is late. As she continues, she hears someone call out, "Mistress! Prithee, wait!"

Key Events

Mary's mother brings lace and eight three-pronged silver forks to the Deerfield parlor, sparking a debate about their propriety.
Mary refuses the forks, calling them tools of the Devil, but her mother leaves them on the cupboard shelf anyway.
Mary walks to the town cove wharves, where she watches sailors unload a ship and admits to herself that she came to see them.
She visits her father's storehouse, which is filled with exotic goods, and he offers her clothing and books.
Mary takes a petticoat, a bodice, and two books, then walks home through the crowded city.
She reflects on her loathing for Thomas and her desire to see as little of him as possible.
She is nearly struck by oxen on High Street and gets slop on her clothes.
Someone calls out for her to wait as she continues home.

Character Development

Mary emerges as a woman caught between duty and desire. Her reaction to the forks shows her adherence to religious orthodoxy, but her mother's insistence and Catherine's curiosity reveal that Mary is not entirely immune to new ideas. Her walk to the wharf is a deliberate act of rebellion, though she tries to justify it to herself as innocent admiration. She is aware of the social constraints on her behavior, as evidenced by her preparation of a false excuse for being at the wharf.

Her visit to her father's storehouse highlights her intellectual curiosity and her appreciation for the material comforts of trade. She is drawn to books and fine cloth, which Thomas dismisses. This contrast deepens her dissatisfaction with her husband. The chapter reveals that Mary's unhappiness is not merely about physical abuse—though that is present—but about a fundamental incompatibility. She does not like Thomas as a person, and she loathes him. This realization is a turning point in her internal life, even if she does not act on it yet.

Her father's affectionate treatment of her, calling her "little dove," stands in stark contrast to Thomas's harshness. Mary's relationship with her parents is more supportive, but she also recognizes that her father's ambitions brought her to the New World and into this marriage. The chapter shows Mary's growing self-awareness and her struggle to reconcile her desires with her faith and social expectations.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

Religious superstition vs. modern conveniences: The three-pronged forks symbolize the tension between traditional Puritan values and the encroaching materialism of the New World. Mary sees them as tools of the Devil, while her mother and father see them as harmless innovations. This conflict mirrors Mary's own internal struggle between orthodoxy and curiosity.

Temptation and sin: Mary's visit to the wharf is framed as a potential temptation. She watches the sailors and feels something akin to lust, but she rationalizes it as appreciation of God's creation. Her preparation of a false excuse shows her awareness that others might view her behavior as sinful, and she is already engaging in self-deception.

Marital discontent: Mary's realization that she loathes Thomas is a central theme. Her unhappiness is not just about his violence but about his lack of curiosity and his dismissive attitude toward her reading. The chapter deepens the portrait of a marriage that is emotionally and intellectually barren.

Desire for freedom: Mary's walk to the wharf and her enjoyment of the salt air and the open water suggest a longing for escape. The wharf represents a liminal space between the rigid order of the town and the vast, untamed ocean. Her rocking on the planks like a small girl hints at a desire to break free from adult responsibilities.

Trade and materialism: The storehouse is filled with goods from around the world—calico, books, tools, pistols, and more. Mary's father's trading empire brings both opportunity and moral danger. The chapter suggests that the New World offers material abundance but also temptations that challenge Puritan values.

Intellectual curiosity vs. orthodoxy: Mary's love of books is contrasted with Thomas's indifference to anything but the Bible. Her father provides her with books, but Thomas criticizes her reading. This tension reflects the broader conflict between learning and strict religious conformity.

Social constraints on women: Mary must navigate a world where her movements are scrutinized. She worries about gossips and prepares excuses for her behavior. Her mother's visit and her father's generosity are acceptable, but her own desires must be hidden.

Self-deception and rationalization: Mary repeatedly justifies her actions to herself. She tells herself that watching the sailors is not a sin, that she visited the wharf for innocent reasons, and that she doesn't need to see Thomas because he is boring. These rationalizations allow her to maintain a semblance of virtue while indulging her desires.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter deepens Mary's characterization and sets the stage for her eventual rebellion. It shows that her unhappiness is not merely a reaction to Thomas's violence but a fundamental incompatibility of temperament and values. Her loathing of Thomas is a significant development, as it moves her from passive endurance to active emotional rejection. The chapter also introduces the theme of material temptation and the tension between religious orthodoxy and the allure of the New World's commercial opportunities. Mary's visit to the wharf and her father's storehouse foreshadows her later actions, as she begins to assert her own agency, even if only in small, private ways. The chapter also highlights the role of gossip and reputation in colonial Boston, which will become increasingly important as the story progresses.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Mary react so strongly to the three-pronged forks, and what does this reaction reveal about her character?

Mary calls the forks tools of the Devil and refuses to allow them in her house. This reaction shows her adherence to strict Puritan beliefs and her fear of anything that might be seen as tempting sin. However, her mother's insistence and Catherine's curiosity suggest that Mary is not entirely closed to new ideas, but she feels compelled to uphold orthodoxy in her own home, especially given Thomas's likely disapproval. This reveals her internal conflict between faith and curiosity, and her desire to maintain control in a marriage where she has little power.

2. How does Mary rationalize her visit to the wharf, and what does this tell us about her self-awareness?

Mary tells herself that she came to watch the sailors because they are objects of beauty made by God, not temptations. She also prepares a false excuse in case anyone asks why she is there, showing that she is aware of how her behavior might be perceived. This rationalization demonstrates her ability to deceive herself while also being conscious of social expectations. It reveals a woman who is beginning to question the rules she has been taught but is not yet ready to openly defy them.

3. What does Mary's realization about Thomas reveal about the state of her marriage?

Mary realizes that she wants to see as little of Thomas as possible and that she loathes him. This is not just about his physical abuse but about his lack of curiosity, his dismissiveness toward her reading, and his general unpleasantness. The realization marks a turning point in her emotional life, as she moves from enduring her marriage to actively disliking her husband. This sets the stage for her later decisions and actions, as she begins to seek ways to escape or resist her situation.