Summary Of Half Hanging Margaret Atwood

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In the poem “Half-Hanged Mary” by Margaret Atwood, Mary Webster is accused of witchcraft and a group of men attempt to hang her. Webster’s so called crime is not living the life of subordinance her society expects her too. Instead, she remains unmarried and childless and farms her own land. The men in her town despise her for these actions and feel threatened because in the 1600s land meant power. Hanging Webster makes the men feel that they have regained control and power. In lines 29-30 Atwood describes the effect violence has on the men who attack Webster “The men of the town stalk homeward/excited by their show of hate”. This type of raw power emotionally and possibly sexually excites the men. After Webster is cut down and found to be