I must say that people like that are usually only so open-minded when the issue at hand doesn't pertain to themselves. What I mean to say, is that if Mary were in love with someone, and this someone would start openly flirting around, I doubt she see that as all just good fun.

I'm sure she has acquired many of the attitudes through her friends and from the influence of the admiral. But I'm also sure that she knows what loyalty means.

So I'm really not sure about Mary, whether she is really cruel on purpose or not.

But, going back to the symbols used by JA throughout the book, I'm wondering if Mary is supposed to be the symbol of evil.