Mary Deerfield, 24 years old, is the protagonist of the novel. Mary is beautiful, with “Delft blue” eyes and corn-yellow hair. She is a survivor of domestic violence and social stigma and is eventually condemned to hang as a witch, but is a survivor whose freedom develops over the course of the narrative through self-determination and the help of some friends.

Mary struggles at first with her abusive marriage due to Puritan society’s strict Gender Roles and Violence Against Women. At the novel’s opening, she is timid and sometimes prone to self-blame, wondering if her barrenness is a punishment for some transgression. When Thomas’s violence escalates and she seeks a divorce, she begins to develop a deeper sense of agency and a belief in her own worth, feeling confident that she will be able to prove her case. The trial, however, drives home her powerlessness in her society: The magistrates side with Thomas and order her to return to him. Mary lapses briefly back into doubt and self-loathing, but eventually decides to free herself by any means.  

Mary also struggles with questions of religious faith and salvation. When she is accused of witchcraft, Mary has committed adultery and planned to murder Thomas—actions demonstrative of either her will despite forces that oppress her, or her inherent evil.