Previous
Chapter 1
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Mary Barton, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Employers vs. Workers
Sexuality and Danger
Christianity
Poverty and Morality
Empathy vs. Ignorance
Summary
Analysis
The Bartons and Wilsons return to the Bartons’ modest home to have tea together. John and Mrs. Barton tell Mary to go buy food and invite Alice Wilson to join them. After Alice arrives, she offers a toast to absent friends—and immediately realizes her gaffe: Esther is absent. Mrs. Barton weeps. At the end of the evening, Alice apologizes. Mrs. Barton hugs her, tells her she knows Alice didn’t mean to trouble her, and blesses her.
Alice’s apology to Mrs. Barton shows her empathy, humility, and desire to help others, while Mrs. Barton’s decision to bless Esther—a religious response—shows the centrality of Christianity to the characters’ personal and social lives.
Themes
