My Enemy’s Tears: my review

My Enemy’s Tears: Karen Vorbeck Wiliams

Mary Bliss was an inquisitive young child who loved to explore the land, learn about her environment and wanted to view the nine maidens dancing in a circle. Mary spent much of her time working on the farm, helping her mother and hoping that her father would rebuild their lives after moving. Finding that they could no longer live in England and having to pay huge tariffs to the King, her father decided to uproot his family moving them to America. But, not everything turns out the right way and when first moving to Boston his wealth and savings diminished and once again he needed to move but this time to Connecticut. Filled with much imagination and wanting to believe what the unorthodox nurse told her she crept out one night just to see if she could witness the nine maidens and what she sees was something that would frighten most children.

Mary Bliss is a strong- minded young child who knows what she wants and deeply cares for her family. It takes place in the 17^th century when those whose religious beliefs are different and customs not matching others you often wind up ostracized or an outcast. Growing up in New England after being transplanted there Mary learns much about prejudice, hate and about people whose religious beliefs take precedence over everything else and who refuse to allow anyone to deviate. An outstanding historical novel whose author researched the time period and the author describes the hardships and the religious difficulties of the time period when those that went against the King had to leave. Strict religious rules, good hygiene not adhered it and the punishments for nonconformity great.

The author allows the reader to learn more about Thomas Bliss reasons he chose to come to Connecticut, Thomas Hooker and his religious beliefs and even more how this life and move affected his family. Mary seems to be the most vocal of his children wanting to escape her life, helping wherever she can but resenting it all. Margaret, his wife, walked with a heavy heart and seemed burdened. Thomas seemed optimistic and hoped that this new place with its great land filled with trees would yield him more than where they came from. But, this story has yet to really begin as we have much to learn about Mary and where life takes her. The author then relates the history behind the relationship of the English and the Indians, the many battles fought and we need Tom Bliss and Joseph Parsons two young men who go off to battle, learn much about the Indians, their commanders and hopefully will survive in the end. Learning about harsh treatment of the Indians and their view of the English will enlighten many readers as to what they endured at the hands of many as the English and others did too.

The background information takes a while to set in before we get to the main story about Mary and Sarah. We learn more about her personality, her difficulties with dealing with her life, her parents and their set ways as well as her secret friendship with Goody Crespet. We learn about Mr. Hooker and his religious beliefs and that place in the stockade for defying the rules. The author with a quote introduces every chapter or information related to someone from the time period, a pastor, someone in the military or even the Governor. Hearing the thoughts and words of those that lived during that time period helps bring the era to life even more. Frontier life and living during these times created much strain on young Mary. Wanting to learn more about the Indians and even seeing a dead person seemed to fascinate her. This is a time when most were caught up in religion and thought about Satan and the evils that could befall someone if they did not adhere to their ways.

But the heart of the tale lies in the telling psychological portraits of the two women and their very different responses to the vicissitudes of their existence. In a fascinating afterward, Williams explains that her heroine is actually an ancestor of hers; how, as a child, she was fascinated by the story of how her relative had “triumphed” over false accusations of neighbors. In researching the book, Williams discovered a more complicated and less triumphal life, but one, which will not easily be forgotten once, read. Then Mary meets Sarah Lyman since she is going to be staying as the maid. Sarah seemed docile and not able to cope with weeding, planting or the chores that most young girls were required to do. Mary is a strong woman, young girl and learns the true meaning of trust. But, working for Mrs. Lyman was more than even Mary could bare and pleading with her mother did not work. Teaching Sarah how to work in the garden, spinning and helping did not last long as Sarah wanted Mary to do her work too. Listening to Sarah she learned more about her family, her heritage and their importance. Where Sarah’s family was greeted with a huge fanfare you might say upon arrival the Bliss family was not. The many differences are sited and seem to take its toll on Mary. Mary is self centered and selfish to a fault at times but so is Robert Lyman, Sarah’s brother.

The dissension begins between Mary and Sarah when Sarah’s father takes ill, the doctor fails in his treatment and he asks for Goody Crespet. Deemed a witch and thinking Mary has been deceived Sarah feels that the Devil follows her where she goes. But, what happens next and the end result is not what you expect as Mary gets her way due to Sarah’s weakness and the end result is tragic. As a result the Lyman children were moved to live with other relatives and their home locked and secured until sold. Returning from war Joseph Parsons got to know Mary quite well. Serving the Lyman family for three years blaming Mary for their separation.

The fear of witchcraft, the Devil and the war hangs over these people in Northampton. Prejudice, hate, deceit, lies and two women right in the core of things. Mary who understands the healing of herbal medicines and some people with birthmarks branded as witches. But, in 1646 she marries Joseph Parson and moves to Springfield. He is a successful merchant and now she would no longer have to struggle. But first the unthinkable happens and Goody is branded a witch and hung. The author shares Mary and Joseph’s courtship and her reservations due to her father’s troubles. Talking with her mother about conceiving, dealing with the rituals of marriage Mary then marries Joseph.

The story shifts back and forth between Sarah and Mary. Jealous of her that she had more than she did, even though at one time her maid, her time to give birth again near but something happens and things change. Thinking marriage would fulfill her it did not. While Mary was having her first child Sarah lost hers. Part two deals with the many different women, their relationships, their lives, births and deaths. Some were even questioned about their child’s death as were the Pierces said to have been involved in witchcraft. Life changed for Mary after the death of her son Benjamin. On the anniversary of his death she was once again pregnant. But, Mary has her own fears and her own demons surface causing Joseph to take drastic measures.

Sarah and Mary from two different Puritan families lived in the same community yet the jealously that Sarah felt for Mary ignited the superstition to follow as Mary was accused of being a witch and went on trial for her life. With her husband with the Indians another man seemingly pining for her with the help of her family she seemed to manage. Sarah’s loss of her children and watching Mary’s family flourish did much to ignite her hate for her. Trials were held, executions too as the author takes the reader deep inside the minds of the accusers and the end result.

As Sarah accuses Mary of being a witch and others reported her at meetings and thinking she was possessed by the Devil. Mary was acquitted and Sarah told to proclaim in public that she was liar but she did not because she was ill. These people even determined what women should or should not wear and what materials are forbidden.

But, Joseph did the ultimate betrayal to Mary and then fought with another man named Bartlett. Goody Bridgman and Goody Branch turned on her accusing her of being a witch.  Depositions written, family secrets bared, one woman faces death. The end result you have to read for yourself, what happens to the Bridgeman’s 11 year old son you won’t believe and I researched the time period and here are Sarah’s words: “I [Sarah] being brought to bed, about three days after as I was sitting up, having the child in my lap, there was something that gave a great blow on the door. And that very instant, as I apprehended, my child changed. And I thought with myself and told my girl that I was afraid my child would die…Presently… I looking towards the door, through a hole…I saw…two women pass by the door, with white clothes on their heads; then I concluded my child would die indeed. And I sent my girl out to see who they were, but she could see nobody, and this made me think there is wickedness in the place.”

Part three is most compelling as it is the trial of Mary Bliss and the final outcome is told. The magistrates conducted their hearings and the depositions were given and studies. Mary Parsons went in person, as did Samuel Bartlett. Mary spoke for herself and the author allows us to hear her own words. The final jurisdiction belonged to the Court of Assistants in Boston. The end result will definitely surprise the reader and what she had to endure would hopefully clear her name. But the documents were gathered and never disclosed. Just why did her son Joseph speak against her? When the case moved to a close the Court of Assistants indicted her and put her in prison until the trial. But, with the cruelty of her jailer she did not back down and the respect she warranted proved that Mary Bliss was a force that no one should reckon with and pleaded not guilty. How did they find her you will have to learn for yourself? Just why did they accuse her? Was it hate, prejudice, jealousy or just plain narrow-minded people or staunch believers in their own way and nothing else?  A trial so devastating and verdict and ending you will have to read for yourself as the author brilliantly takes us back to a time when so many were hung, killed and accused of being witches and one woman named Mary Bliss would never give up but stood tall. Was she ever cleared? Read My Enemy’s Tears and Find out.

Fran Lewis: reviewer