Juno and the Paycock Lesson Plan

The Boyles' awareness of their social class is a constant theme in the play, and it comes up again here. Why does Mary think that Bentham has left her, and how does her mother respond? Is Mary correct in her thinking?

Mary believes that Bentham may have left her because her family wasn't "good enough for him." The notion of being "good enough" is tied up tightly with notions of social class. Bentham is an ambitious man who is trying to improve his social standing, and Mary feels that even though she has tried to become more educated by reading, she will never be adequate for someone like Bentham. This is a key tragedy for Mary, because it indicates that she can do...