Character Breakdown: Lady Mary Crawley from Downton Abbey

Since the beginning of Downton Abbey, I connected to Mary Crawley. She's my favorite character from the show, even though a lot of people think she's mean and cold. I think the reason I like her so much is that I see a lot of myself in her. We're both people that like to keep our emotions on the inside, often say things we instantly regret (though I hope I'm not as bad as her), and have a hard time opening up to people.

But enough of my waxing eloquent about why Mary and I are spirit animals. Let's get to the breakdown of her character, not at all inspired by seeing the Downton Abbey movie recently. (Have you seen it? Did you like it? Talk to me!)

Personality

• Determined. When Mary puts her mind to something, something drastic has to happen to stop her from accomplishing it. She will fight for what she wants, right or wrong, and is good at getting it too.

• Romantic. Despite her hardened outward appearance, Mary is hopeless romantic at heart. She doesn't want to give her heart to the wrong person, which is why she seems to distant. But when she's with the one she loves, you see her light up.

Virtues

• Smart. Mary is quite the intelligent girl, keeping up with recent news and figuring out solutions to problems. If she doesn't know something, she takes time to learn about it.

• Progressive. She's always been been a forward thinker. She's supports Rose marrying a Jew, Tom joining the family, and changing their ways at Downton to keep up with the times. And that is why Downton is still floating.

Flaws

• Arrogant. Mary can have a high and mighty attitude. She doesn't always think that others might not see things the same way and can think others beneath her at times.

• Mean. Her biggest fault, however, is her mean streak. You do not want to get on this girl's bad side because her tongue is the definition of a two-edged sword. She knows how to take someone down with a few well placed worlds.

Skills

• Horsewoman. I've always admired her horse riding skills. It's something you don't often think of a high born lady doing, but she does it with grace and finesse.

• Hostess. Mary can negotiate a dinner with aplomb. She's been raised to do it, but she still does it with poise.

• Estate management. One of the most interesting twists of the show came about halfway through when Mary took over managing the estate with Tom. She learned how to do things like buy pigs, inspect tenants, and make hard choices on what to do.

What Makes Her Interesting

• Her complete focus. Mary has always been a girl that knows what she wants. She forges ahead through life with her eyes on the prize, even when she pushes others aside. It's fascinating to watch her decide to go after something and go through with it.

• Her personal struggles. But of course, what really endeared her to me was all that she's gone through during the show. She's had a hard time of it, and while some people say she might deserve it, no one deserves all she's gone through. There's a reason she hides her emotions so well, and only lets a few people see how she truly feels.

Have you watched Downton Abbey? What is your favorite thing about Mary Crawley? Tell me in the comments.

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