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Spoon River Anthology, Mary McNeely summary

Mary McNeely of 246 · 1 min to read the chapter

In Mary McNeely, Mary describes love's withdrawal as a loss of self and explains her long isolation in her father's house. Her effort to transform grief gives way to peace when the sight of her sorrowing father beneath a cedar takes root in her heart.

What happens

  1. Mary tells a passerby that love reveals the self through another person, while withdrawal destroys that sense of self.
  2. She invokes a saying that contrasts having a friend with having sorrow that remains friendless.
  3. She spends years in her father's house, seeking herself and trying to transform her sorrow.
  4. The image of her grieving father beneath a cedar enters her heart and brings peace.
  5. She addresses souls who turn earthly darkness into fragrant purity and wishes them lasting peace.

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What to notice

Mary states the cost of a beloved's withdrawal. This explains why her solitude involves recovering her identity, not simply enduring sadness.

Quick check

What image brings Mary peace?

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