“Some wanted him to tell their fortunes by looking into their hands; but Agnes said it was meddling with the Devil, and that Mrs. Alderman Parkinson would not want word to get round of such gypsy doings in her kitchen” (Atwood 155). 

“Jeremiah had done a conjuring trick, as surely as he’d pulled a coin from my ear, or made believe to swallow a fork; and just as he used to do such tricks in full view, with everyone looking on but unable to detect him, he had done the same here, and made a pact with me under their very eyes, and they were none the wiser” (Atwood 306). 

What does the introduction of Jerimiah do to the narrative of Alias Grace? What parallels can be drawn between Grace and Jerimiah?

Outline: In the first quote we read about Jerimiah’s introduction. As can be inferred, he threatens Protestant 19th century Canada. His magic tricks terrify Mrs. Parkinson. He is an outsider to this society in the same way Grace is. More than that, he is a subversion to religious tradition in the same way that Grace is a subversion to gender roles. His entrance to the plot introduces mysticism to the story and, later on, will introduce the haunting element. In the second quote, we see greater emphasis on the parallel between Grace and Jerimiah. Not only are they similar for their outsider status, but they are on the same side during the trial.