Mary Jane Character Analysis in The Dead

Kate and Julia’s niece. Her father Pat died and her aunts took her into their care around thirty years ago. Now she plays the organ at Haddington Road. She acts as a peace keeper throughout the night, diffusing tension when the discussion turns too controversial. She is the third of the “Three Graces” Gabriel describes in his speech, along with his two aunts.

Mary Jane Quotes in The Dead

The The Dead quotes below are all either spoken by Mary Jane or refer to Mary Jane. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

). Note: all page numbers and citation info for the quotes below refer to the Penguin Classics edition of The Dead published in 1993.

I know all about the honour of God, Mary Jane, but I think it’s not at all honourable for the pope to turn out the women of the choirs that have slaved there all their lives and put little whipper-snappers of boys over their heads. I suppose it is for the good of the Church if the pope does it. But it’s not just Mary Jane, and it’s not right.

Related Characters: (speaker),

Page Number and Citation: 195

Explanation and Analysis:

Mary Jane Character Timeline in The Dead

The timeline below shows where the character Mary Jane appears in The Dead. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...have been hosting the party for many years and are joined by their only niece Mary Jane , who moved in with them after her father’s death thirty years ago. All three... (full context)

Nostalgia and the Past vs. the Present Theme Icon

Gabriel has trouble paying attention to Mary Jane ’s piano piece, and as his gaze wanders he notices a picture of the balcony... (full context)

...to her proudly, as though she is his prodigy. However the mood quickly changes when Mary Jane makes a comment about singing for the honor of God and Aunt Kate snaps, bringing... (full context)

...the dining room, Gabriel sees Miss Ivors putting on her coat to leave. Gretta and Mary Jane are trying to convince her to stay, and since she continues to insist on leaving,... (full context)

Ireland, Anti-Nationalism, and the Foreign Theme Icon

...preparation for Gabriel’s speech. In his speech he praises his aunts (calling Kate, Julia, and Mary Jane the “Three Graces”) and recognizes their hospitality, attributing it to an Irish virtue disappearing with... (full context)

...someone close the door so that Mrs. Malins does not catch a cold and die. Mary Jane explains that the door was open because Mr. Browne is outside, and Aunt Kate jokes,... (full context)

...join Gabriel observing the scene. The song seems to be an old Irish air, and Mary Jane recognizes the voice as that of Mr. Bartell D’Arcy. He then abruptly stops singing and... (full context)