MERRY. by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: Summary, Meaning & Analysis
A magistrate or authority figure charges Merry with violating three Puritan laws in one day: missing church, wandering on the Sabbath, and a third offense that hasn't been revealed yet.
The poem
Worship the Devil! You this day have broken Three of our strictest laws. First, by abstaining From public worship. Secondly, by walking Profanely on the Sabbath.
A magistrate or authority figure charges Merry with violating three Puritan laws in one day: missing church, wandering on the Sabbath, and a third offense that hasn't been revealed yet. The poem plunges us right into a tense standoff, without any softening or background. It feels like a courtroom scene, reflecting the harsh and unforgiving mood of early colonial New England.
Line-by-line
Worship the Devil! You this day have broken / Three of our strictest laws.
Tone & mood
Harsh and accusatory. The speaker wields all the power and spares no effort for civility. There's a stiff, almost robotic quality to the tone — offenses are listed like items on a bill. Longfellow offers no warmth here, just the chilling certainty of someone who sees the law and God as one and the same.
Symbols & metaphors
- The three broken laws — The numbered list of violations represents the entire Puritan legal and moral framework — a society where each action is observed, tallied, and penalized. The number three carries significant biblical meaning, reflecting the Trinity and Peter's three denials, which adds a layer of sacred gravity to the accusation.
- The Sabbath — The Sabbath here isn't merely a day for resting; it serves as a dividing line between the righteous and the condemned. Walking on it in a 'profanely' manner indicates that even public spaces were regulated by religious law during colonial New England.
- Devil-worship — Invoking the Devil right from the start shows how swiftly Puritan authority turned everyday actions into accusations of damnation. Skipping a church service isn't just a small mistake; in this context, it's seen as a move closer to Satan.
Historical context
This poem comes from Longfellow's dramatic work *New England Tragedies* (1868), particularly the play *Giles Corey of the Salem Farms*, which portrays the Salem witch trials of 1692. In a memorable scene, the character Merry faces Puritan authorities, showcasing how the laws of colonial Massachusetts intertwined religious practices with civil penalties. Written late in his career, Longfellow reflects on this dark period of American history with a discerning perspective. He was particularly concerned with how the strictness of Puritanism ruined lives, and these lines highlight that system at its most rigid — portraying a society where missing church and being outdoors on Sunday could be treated as seriously as major offenses. The fragment drops the reader right into a confrontation without any introduction, echoing how abruptly the Puritan legal system could target someone.
FAQ
Merry is a character in Longfellow's dramatic poem *New England Tragedies*. A Puritan authority figure accuses him of violating religious laws by skipping public worship and strolling around on the Sabbath. The poem presents only the accusation, leaving out Merry's side of the story.
The text specifically names two issues: the lack of public worship (First) and walking 'profanely' on the Sabbath (Secondly). A third issue is referenced but not fully articulated in this excerpt—the poem ends before the speaker completes the list.
In Puritan theology, not worshipping God wasn't a neutral act—it was viewed as a choice to side with the Devil. The speaker isn’t exaggerating for drama; this belief stems from the conviction that skipping church was a spiritual offense, not merely a social one.
The poem takes place in colonial New England during the 1692 Salem witch trials. Longfellow created it as part of a bigger dramatic piece that explores how Puritan law and religious fear came together to create injustice.
Here, it refers to considering the Sabbath as just another day—strolling about for non-religious reasons when the law mandated rest and worship. 'Profane' literally means outside the sacred, and in Puritan law, that distinction had legal implications.
It is both. Longfellow created it for *New England Tragedies*, a collection of dramatic poems written in blank verse—poetry that takes the form of dialogue and scenes, designed to be read and possibly performed.
Blank verse is unrhymed iambic pentameter — lines with about ten syllables and a natural stress pattern. This excerpt adheres to that structure, lending the speech a formal and serious tone that matches the weight of a legal accusation.
Longfellow is clearly critical. By depicting the authority figure jumping straight to 'Worship the Devil' for missing a church service, he highlights how disproportionate and dehumanizing Puritan law can be. He isn't celebrating this world — he's putting it on trial.