Mary the Third: A Comedy in Prologue and Three Acts

"Mary the Third" is a witty and insightful comedy that explores the evolving landscape of love, marriage, and female independence across three generations of American women. Written by the pioneering playwright Rachel Crothers, this play captures the spirit of the early 1920s, a time when the "New Woman" began to challenge traditional social norms. The narrative structure-composed of a prologue and three acts-contrasts the romantic ideals of the Victorian era and the turn of the century with the frank, unsentimental pragmatism of the modern age.Through the character of Mary III, Crothers examines the tension between personal desire and societal expectation. As Mary III observes the compromises and unhappiness in her mother's and grandmother's marriages, she seeks a more honest and egalitarian approach to her own future. "Mary the Third" remains a significant work in the history of American theater, noted for its sharp dialogue, psychological depth, and progressive stance on domestic politics. It provides a fascinating glimpse into the cultural shifts of the Jazz Age and continues to resonate as a study of the universal struggle for self-determination within the family unit.This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant. Read more