Mary Greenhill/Jessup Character Analysis in It Can’t Happen Here

Mary is the second of Doremus and Emma Jessup’s three children. Athletic, savvy, and stylish, she is married to the prominent doctor Fowler Greenhill. They have one son, David. But she is only a minor character in the novel until Effingham Swan, Shad Ledue, and Aras Dilley murder her husband. Then, grief-stricken and vengeful, she becomes the Fort Beulah New Underground’s most fearless activist and pamphleteer. She eventually sacrifices her life in order to assassinate Swan and avenge Greenhill’s death.

Mary Greenhill/Jessup Quotes in It Can’t Happen Here

The It Can’t Happen Here quotes below are all either spoken by Mary Greenhill/Jessup or refer to Mary Greenhill/Jessup. 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:

“Wouldn’t it be awful if somebody took a shot at Mr. Swan and the Chief? Might change all history,” Mary shouted down.

“No chance of that! See those guards of his? Say, they could stand off a whole regiment—they could lick Walt Trowbridge and all the other Communists put together!”

“I guess that’s so. Nothing but God shooting down from heaven could reach Mr. Swan.”

“Ha, ha! That’s good! But couple days ago I heard where a fellow was saying he figured out God had gone to sleep.”

“Maybe it’s time for Him to wake up!” said Mary, and raised her hand.

Related Characters: Mary Greenhill/Jessup (speaker), Doremus Jessup/William Barton Dobbs, Oscar “Shad” Ledue, Effingham Swan

Page Number and Citation: 331

Explanation and Analysis:

Mary Greenhill/Jessup Character Timeline in It Can’t Happen Here

The timeline below shows where the character Mary Greenhill/Jessup appears in It Can’t Happen Here. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...now have three children. The oldest is 32-year-old Philip, a successful lawyer. Next is 30-year-old Mary, the wife of a respected local doctor, Fowler Greenhill, and mother of an eight-year-old son,... (full context)

But first, Jessup visits his daughter Mary’s family. He finds Mary writing letters at her desk while her husband Fowler Greenhill, their... (full context)

...of subversive literature (like Marx and Trowbridge). The government seizes all of Greenhill’s property, so Mary and David have to move back to Doremus Jessup’s house. Mary is overwhelmed with grief:... (full context)

Political Communication and Mass Media Theme Icon

...he can. He often considers quitting his job, but he has to support Emma, Sissy, Mary, and David. Still, he feels no different from a dishonest salesman who sells scam products... (full context)

...the bathroom and admits that he’s planning to return. Buck Titus packs Doremus, Emma, Sissy, Mary, David, and Foolish the dog into his car. Julian Falck says goodbye to Sissy—he wishes... (full context)

...Shad Ledue comes to the house and asks about Doremus Jessup’s connections to Karl Pascal. Mary calls Ledue a murderer and threatens to kill him. Louis Rotenstern and Buck Titus come... (full context)

...who is busy running the press. Lorinda Pike sets the type, and Emma, Sissy, and Mary help bind pamphlets. (full context)

Of everyone in the Fort Beulah New Underground, Mary Greenhill is the most determined and extreme. For instance, she and Buck Titus boldly distribute... (full context)

...Olmsted visit him from Fort Beulah. Olmsted updates Jessup on his family and friends: Emma, Mary, and Sissy are safe at home, Lorinda Pike is still free, and Buck Titus is... (full context)

...instance, Clarence Little reports Henry Veeder’s escape plan and gets released as a reward. Emma, Mary, Sissy, David, and even Philip (who’s now a judge for the Corpos) all visit Jessup,... (full context)

...the Fort Beulah New Underground has either gone to Trianon or quit out of fear. Mary Greenhill now leads it, and just Sissy, Father Perefixe, Dr. Olmsted, and a few others... (full context)

In Albany, Mary Greenhill joins the new Women’s Flying Corps. She’s already an expert driver and mechanic, so... (full context)

After Mary dies, the government names her a military heroine. Philip Jessup visits from Massachusetts and declares... (full context)

...Jessup and Lorinda Pike run a mostly empty tea room in Beecher Falls. They discuss Mary’s death: Lorinda thinks that Mary clearly wanted to kill Swan, but the Corpos covered it... (full context)

...the inmates at Trianon finally get news of the outside world. Doremus Jessup learns about Mary’s death and the coups. Karl Pascal is growing bitter and impatient, and Jessup can’t stand... (full context)

...Falck, Henry Veeder, John Pollikop, Truman Webb, and even Karl Pascal. Lorinda Pike, Emma, Sissy, Mary, David, Foolish, and Mrs. Candy wait in the distance. Shad Ledue starts to chase them—and... (full context)