Character Analysis
Dick thinks Mary’s an opportunist for marrying a wealthy man so soon after Abe’s death. But she’s also the last person we see him talking to before he leaves town. After the dirty bathwater episode, she is a real snob to Dick. But then when she needs him he bails her out of jail. She is sort of a free spirit, taking life as it comes. But you know all this, why are we rehashing old news? Just so we can make the point that Mary is one of the characters that represents hope, change and forgiveness. She could have been destroyed by her husband’s death. She could have remained enemies with Dick forever. Instead she finds a life of happiness, and gets to keep Dick as a friend.