Allegedly

Throughout the novel, Mary appears as a reliable narrator, but by the end, it is clear that perhaps she is guilty after all. How does this deceptive practice impact the novel’s underlying plot and message?

• How does the late admission of Mary’s guilt change readers’ perceptions of the relationship between Mary and her mother, Dawn?
• How does the admission change readers’ attitudes toward other characters?
• Are Mary’s descriptions of her mother’s abuse and manipulation real, or are they a product of her relationship with her mother?
• What, if anything, can we trust about Mary’s account of her traumatic upbringing?
• How do the excerpts from books, doctor’s notes, and official reports related to Mary’s case provide clues as to what readers can and cannot trust about Mary’s case?
• What clues or warnings does Jackson provide that might implicate Mary before her admission?
• Does Mary’s admission of guilt change the message about carceral and mental health institutions? Why or why not?

Teaching Suggestion: Students may benefit from written copies of the questions to refer to while discussing. Students may also benefit from previewing questions ahead of time to prepare in-depth answers and refer more directly to the text. Group or personal notetaking may increase information retention. To help students identify clues, warnings, and/or excerpts in the text that point to Mary’s guilt, it may be helpful to create an outline of key events and official documents; students could also do this as a take-home assignment before attempting the Discussion/Analysis Prompt.