The Maypole Of Merry Mount

Edgar is the May-lord who carries the gilded staff in preparation for his marriage to Edith. He is described as being in the “flush of youth” (Paragraph 14) and is “comely” (Paragraph 4) with long hair. Both he and Edith are described as possessing “youthful beauty” whose purity is “chastened by adversity” (Paragraph 34). He cares deeply for Edith and notes her silence before their wedding. However, Edgar also seems to be a realist and knows that nothing gold can stay: “Oh Edith, this is our golden time. Tarnish it not by any pensive shadow of the mind, for it may be that nothing of futurity will be brighter than the mere remembrance of what is now passing” (Paragraph 11). Even though the frivolity of the Merry Mounters seems to require them to think only of the immediate present, Edgar positions himself as different from his comrades almost immediately. He knows that this happiness is but fleeting and that there may be troubles on the horizon for the young couple, an attitude which is more prescient than even he acknowledges.

Edgar resolves to stand by his bride no matter what, wanting to protect her as much as possible. When Endicott is doling out punishments, he sees this potential in Edgar: “There may be qualities in the youth which may make him valiant to fight and sober to toil and pious to pray” (Paragraph 42). Instead of punishing Edgar in the same manner as the other revelers, Endicott feels as though Edgar demonstrates the potential for conformity to the rigidity of Puritan society. Indeed, the readers already know that Edgar is perhaps not as enchanted with Merry Mount as he might otherwise seem, for he knows that trouble will befall him and Edith at some point in the future. Edgar then represents the potential that all youth possess if they turn away from frivolity and embrace Thought and Wisdom.

Edith exists much in Edgar’s shadow. Not much is made of her personal appearance, although much is made of Edgar’s. She is often referred to as the May Lord’s Lady, which suggests that she does not exist separate from Edgar, even though he seems to exist separate from her. Edith’s thoughts are only considered when reflected by Edgar’s own: “And besides, dear Edgar, I struggle as with a dream, and fancy that these shapes of our jovial friends are visionary and their mirth unreal, and that we are no true lord and lady of the May” (Paragraph 12). Edith is described as “pensive” (Paragraph 10) and as having “mystery” (Paragraph 12) in her heart; however, a portion of this mystery might be due to the fact that her fate and very existence is inextricable from that of Edgar’s. Edith reflects the classic Victorian constructs of marriage in which the woman bends to and becomes the embodiment of the will of the man.

Similarly, whereas Edgar is prized by Endicott for his potential strength and piety, Endicott believes that Edith may make a good mother: “There may be qualities […] in the maiden that may fit her to become a mother in our Israel, bringing up babies in better nurture than her own hath been” (Paragraph 42). Edith’s potential lies exclusively in her ability to be a good mother and raise children within the confines of Puritanism. Edith’s very potential is mitigated by her own mother’s actions, as Edith cannot entirely be blamed for her mother’s failure to raise a good Puritan girl. Endicott asserts that the responsibility for child-rearing lies entirely upon the shoulders of the mother, whereas the father can explore other virtues of strength and piety. Within Puritanism, Edith has one potential role: that of mother.

The priest, while nameless, still plays a significant role within the story. He serves as a contrast to John Endicott, the iron man. Instead of firmly leading his community, the priest repeatedly enjoins the Merry Mounters to revel in their frivolous jollity. He is the character against whom Edith and Edgar react, as his routine urging of his fellows to merriment begins to ring hollow in their ears. Similarly, although he urges joy where Endicott urges piety, there is some indication that the two are foils for one another, as the priest’s false happiness seems as unyielding as Endicott’s Puritanism.

There can be no doubt that the priest is the leader of the Merry Mounters: “By the riot of his rolling eye and the pagan decorations of his holy garb, he seemed the wildest monster there, the very Comus of the crew” (Paragraph 6). The priest is described as Comus, the son of Dionysus and similarly a god of festive revelry. As Comus, the priest commands his subjects to partake in this festivity, the implication being that they will not be welcomed in Merry Mount if they do not. There is also some indication that the priest once served the Christian God, although he now serves Dionysus. The priest serves as the foil to Endicott himself, as both are similarly unyielding in their rule over their communities. As Endicott’s peer, Endicott then is unable to judge the priest and so leaves the decision for his punishment up to the discretion of the court.