"Half-Hanged Mary" is Canadian writer Margaret Atwood's tale of patriarchal cruelty and powerful transformation. This dramatic monologue's speaker is Mary Webster, a 17th-century woman hanged for witchcraft in Puritan Massachusetts. Dangling from a tree, choking but not dying, Mary has plenty of time to reflect on the sadistic sexism that got her here—and when she's found alive the next morning, she truly becomes the powerful witch she was falsely accused of being before. This poem first appeared in Atwood's 1995 collection Morning in the Burned House.

• Read the full text of “Half-Hanged Mary”

• “Half-Hanged Mary” Summary

• “Half-Hanged Mary” Themes

  • 

    Misogyny and Oppression

    Where this theme appears in the poem:

    • Lines 10-18
    • Between Lines 18-19
    • Lines 19-30
    • Between Lines 30-31
    • Lines 31-55
    • Between Lines 55-56
    • Lines 56-62
    • Lines 85-87
    • Lines 178-184
    • Between Lines 184-185
    • Lines 185-200
  • 

    Resistance, Perseverance, and Sacrifice

    Where this theme appears in the poem:

    • Between Lines 55-56
    • Lines 56-74
    • Between Lines 74-75
    • Lines 75-102
    • Between Lines 125-126
    • Lines 126-144
    • Between Lines 164-165
    • Lines 165-184
    • Between Lines 184-185
    • Lines 185-215
  • 

    Suffering and Transformation

    Where this theme appears in the poem:

    • Lines 23-26
    • Between Lines 55-56
    • Lines 56-74
    • Between Lines 102-103
    • Lines 103-125
    • Between Lines 125-126
    • Lines 126-144
    • Between Lines 144-145
    • Lines 145-164
    • Between Lines 164-165
    • Lines 165-184
    • Between Lines 184-185
    • Lines 185-215

• Line-by-Line Explanation & Analysis of “Half-Hanged Mary”

  • Lines 1-9

    Rumour was loose ...
    ... a thrown stone.

    

    

    

    

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  • Lines 10-18

    I was hanged ...
    ... come in handy.

    

    

    

    

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  • Lines 19-22

    The rope was ...
    ... onto the tree.

    

    

    

    

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  • Lines 23-30

    Trussed hands, rag ...
    ... me wearing it.

    

    

    

    

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  • Lines 31-40

    The bonnets come ...
    ... save your life.

    

    

    

    

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  • Lines 41-49

    Help me down? ...
    ... pointing a finger.

    

    

    

    

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  • Lines 50-55

    I understand. You ...
    ... need it all.

    

    

    

    

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  • Lines 56-68

    Well God, now ...
    ... spell out Grace?

    

    

    

    

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  • Lines 68-74

    Does my twisting ...
    ... of Your face.

    

    

    

    

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  • Lines 75-80

    My throat is ...
    ... down on despair.

    

    

    

    

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  • Lines 81-93

    Death sits on ...
    ... Why suffer?

    

    

    

    

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  • Lines 94-102

    A temptation, to ...
    ... To let go.

    

    

    

    

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  • Lines 103-116

    Out of my ...
    ... as mine are.

    

    

    

    

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  • Lines 117-125

    There is only ...
    ... the angels caw.

    

    

    

    

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  • Lines 126-136

    wind seethes in ...
    ... or silver disc

    

    

    

    

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  • Lines 136-144

    my lungs ...
    ... not give in

    

    

    

    

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  • Lines 145-149

    Sun comes up, ...
    ... lived a millennium.

    

    

    

    

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  • Lines 150-159

    I would like ...
    ... revelation of deafness.

    

    

    

    

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  • Lines 160-164

    At the end ...
    ... will have two.

    

    

    

    

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  • Lines 165-177

    When they came ...
    ... that went over.

    

    

    

    

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  • Lines 178-184

    Now I only ...
    ... I am one.

    

    

    

    

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  • Lines 185-193

    My body of ...
    ... of my way.

    

    

    

    

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  • Lines 194-200

    My first death ...
    ... I can say.

    

    

    

    

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  • Lines 201-211

    Holiness gleams on ...
    ... been dead twice?

    

    

    

    

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