Minor Disorder, Major Collapse: A Broken Windows Reading of Wertenbaker’s The Grace of Mary Traverse

A declining and disordered society inevitably subjects its people to deep uncertainty and profound suffering. Timberlake Wertenbakers play The Grace of Mary Traverse reflects this societal collapse by portraying the decline of moral and social values in a world dominated by self-interest, power struggles, and corruption. Although this play has been analyzed through various critical lenses, it remains understudied within the framework of Broken Windows Theory. Therefore, this research examines Wertenbakers The Grace of Mary Traverse (1985) through the concepts proposed by James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling in their (1982) Broken Windows Theory. The study adopts a descriptive qualitative approach, guided by core principles of the theory such as social decay, unchecked disorder, and the societal response to minor signs of corruption. By investigating how neglected transgressions contribute to escalating chaos and exploitation, the analysis sheds light on Marys journey through an increasingly disintegrating social environment. The study concludes that Mary endures significant suffering due to the unchecked decay in her surroundings. As these overlooked signs of disorder accumulate, they give rise to widespread corruption, chaos, and moral decline, that profoundly shape Marys suffering and experience throughout the play.