| “ | After all, England achieved its greatest heights a century ago under a woman, Queen Bess. And yet over here, men like your Mr. Hathorne still doubt the value of a strong woman. And I think perhaps, Mrs. Sibley, you are like the Queen Elizabeth of Salem. | ” |
— Dr.Wainwright to Mary Sibley
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The relationship between the Salem witch, Mary Sibley, and Dr. Samuel Wainwright.
Early History
After Dr. Wainwright came to Salem and made his presence known, Mary saw him as a potential ally against the misogynists who would usurp her command over the town.
Throughout the Salem serie
In Cry Havoc, the two met in Church, when Wainwright makes her entrance mocking of Mr. Hawthorne's theories of divine punishment. Mary is immediately attracted to the doctor, who's so different from the Puritans. The man, in fact, is determined to find a rational cure to the plague and for a couple of times they flirt in a veiled way, as when the doctor compares Mary to a juicy unexplored wilderness hidden from respectability.
In Blood Kiss, TBA
In From Within, after a visit to the makeshift hospital, the doctor introduces mary in his private rooms, where the woman has the opportunity to observe the designs of man and his morbid equipment on the study of death. Here Samuel reveals to Mary his passion for death and introduces her to his sexual fantasies, puts his hands on Mary's neck bringing her almost to death to let her experience the thrill of life.
Mary enjoys Samuel's oral attentions
In Book of Shadows, the doctor is examining the corpse of the late selectman Alexander Corwin when Mary comes to his lab. During the autopsy, Samuel has an interesting encounter with Mary, urging her intimate parts with his hand. Their "meeting" continues to Sibley's house, where the two have their first sexual intercourse.
In The Beckoning Fair One, Samuel attending the dinner at Sibley's house, but is overshadowed by Sebastian Von Marburg who brazenly wooing Mary.
In Dead Birds, after arriving at the conclusion that Mary is a witch, even the witch responsible for having unleashed the plague, the man asked her to teach him witchcraft.
In Wages of Sin after the revelation that Mary is a witch she tells him that he must destroy all evidence of her witchcraft if he wishes to continue with her teachings and he destroys his life work and the Malum by burning them. Later he visits Mary and finds her in the company of Sebastian Von Marburg, she tells him that the baron is one of them and can be trusted and allows the baron to take him to the crag to continue his Initiation knowing he may be sacrificed or harmed.Quotes
- Dr.Wainwright: Science teaches what the poets always knew Woman is not only man's equal, but his superior.
- Mary Sibley: Really? In what way?
- Dr.Wainwright: Well, the most important Her capacity to endure pain. Even the frailest woman can take far greater pain than the strongest man. I've delivered too many babies to doubt that.
- -- in Blood Kiss
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- Mary Sibley: You talk of pain and ecstasy. You came to seek the seat of the soul, but I see no evidence that you have the courage to touch mine. Perhaps if you wish to address the seat of my soul, you might consider another approach.
- Dr.Wainwright: Such as? A man of science, unlike a Puritan, can take as well as give instruction.
- Mary Sibley: You once said that I was like the queen Elizabeth of Salem. How would you have approached good Queen Bess if you wanted something from her.
- Dr.Wainwright: On my knees. Of course, I not only know the duty that a subject owes his monarch. I also understand the ties that bind them together.
- -- in Book of Shadows
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- Dr.Wainwright:The conclusion is inescapable. You, Mary Sibley, are responsible for this pox.
- Mary Sibley: Who have you told?
- Dr.Wainwright: Not a soul. But Cotton Mather has nearly figured it out. And if he knew what I knew, he surely would. But I have convinced him that we must handle this, for the moment, in secrecy.
- Mary Sibley: I suppose you want the glory of catching the witch yourself?
- Dr.Wainwright: Not at all. It is not my sense of justice that is aroused, it is my curiosity. See, I would know how such a thing is possible.
- Mary Sibley: You desire my confession?
- Dr.Wainwright:Open your eyes, woman. It is me, Wainwright. I am not a puritan. Indeed, I'm not even a Christian. No, my religion is science. And I am more convinced than ever that what the Church calls magic and witchcraft is but undiscovered science. I told you once that I had never met a woman like you, one who would peer into the abyss with me. But now I know you have peered longer and deeper than I.
- Mary Sibley: And what is it you want from me?
- Dr.Wainwright: I want in.
- -- in Dead Birds
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- Dr.Wainwright: And this orrery, like some celestial clockwork, tracks the comet overhead? Only the great Edmond Halley has even speculated that comets are not singular occurrences, that they cyclically return. And yet you witches have known for centuries. Such knowledge, such power, and yet you hamstring your own great achievements. You are scientists years beyond the rest of us. Why do you hide?
- Mary Sibley: Because they kill us if we do not.
- Dr.Wainwright: I understand now. Like Socrates, like Galileo, like Bruno, you are martyrs of truth. And finally you are fighting back, waging war against the puritans. And wiping out your enemies. Well, I will tell you, your enemies are my enemies.
- Mary Sibley: I have many enemies.
- Dr.Wainwright: Well, perhaps you need some more friends. Trust me and I will dedicate myself to you All my knowledge, all my insight and ingenuity. Armed with the secrets of your world, I will be not only friend but a weapon.
- -- in Dead Birds
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Gallery
Trivia
- Samuel considers Mary a great woman, comparing her to Queen Elizabeth I of England.
- Both consider the Puritans behavior to be hypocritical as well as their blind religion.
- Currently Samuel seems to be the only person who really cares of Mary; in fact, the two begin a relationship, although Mary is harassing courted by Baron Von Marburg.
- After discovering that Mary is a witch, instead of cast her away as John Alden did, the doctor asked her to teach him Witchcraft.
- According to Adam Simon in one of the Writer's Wrap, Wainwright is maybe the first man with whom Mary has been totally herself.
See Also
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