How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
We went once that week to see Mama in Salem Prison. It was such a terrible place that Mary and I wept openly. But Mama was so busy attending to the other women that she could not abide our tears. (15.84)
Mama English sure is a strong lady. She's been called a witch, locked up in prison, and basically shamed in front of the whole town, but does she get down about it? No sirree. Even when she's locked up, Mama E helps everyone out around her. How do you think her daughters take after her? Are they as compassionate and kind as their mama? And how are they different?
Quote #8
His stony silence persisted. I stood up. "I will leave your home, Joseph, if you wish."
His scowl became even more forbidding. "Did I say I wished such?"
"No. But I cannot stay under your roof if you cannot forgive me."
[…]
"We cannot allow ourselves such feelings—I, my anger, or you, your self-pity. You have come to me now. I expressed my anger at what I perceived to be your lack of trust. You say such was not the case. Very well, I choose to believe you. I will put my anger aside and ask you to forgive it. (19.83-85, 88)
Susanna has come clean to Joseph and now we've got feelings up the wazoo in the Putnam house. Susanna is super guilty, Joseph is pretty peeved… but they both decide to be the better person and do some good old-fashioned forgiving. We're pretty impressed that they can move on so quickly. And Joseph is matter-of-fact about the whole thing—he knows they need to move forward, and forgiveness is the way to do that.
Quote #9
He unrolled the parchment. "Here ninety-three neighbors have put their names," he said, "to declare that in half a century in the town of Salisbury, Mary Bradbury has never been known to make trouble, that she is a devout woman, a good wife of Thomas, and mother of eleven upstanding children."
I let my eyes wander over the petition. When I again raised them to Mary, she smiled at me. Tears slid down my face. I embraced her.
"Forgive me," I said. (22.53-55)
Mary Bradbury has been accused of being a witch, and Susanna was starting to believe the tall tale; lucky for Sus though, Mary Bradbury is a forgiving lady. She's also sweet as can be and has oodles of neighbors on her side—just take a look at how many folks signed a petition for Mary. Since most people who speak out in favor of the accused witches get called witches themselves, this is a truly brave thing to do. Looks like there's a lot more compassion in Massachusetts than Susanna thought.