buckle up kiddos i've finished that part of ac4 (again) and i have some thoughts to share
about how Mary affects Edward even after her death
so. i suck at introductions, but let start in the... end. more specifically, the hallucination scene
what interesting to me is that its Caroline who plays the role of guilt. at that moment Edward doesn't know yet that she's also dead, but it's her who his mind puts in the place of accuser. she represents not only herself but all people that Edward let down.
she doesn't try to make him change his life. only accuses him in making mistakes in the past. (please, keep in mind that it's not real Caroline, but Edward's mind playing tricks on him).
and in the end... she dissapears. like everyone else in Edward's life.
and that's where Mary steps in. she accuses him too, BUT there's bif fat BUT she also STILL tries make him "change his course". Mary is that part of Edward's mind that still believes that there's a chance for him to change. (also, the cliffs becomes visible only then "Caroline" disappears and "Mary" appears. only then Edward starts to see that he leads his ship to his death.)
i'll get to scene in prison later, but in that scene while dying Mary also tries to the same, but somehow it feels more... gentle, while in hallucination Edward's mind doesn't offer him it.
also "Mary" in Edward's mind doesn't really talk about people Edward let down. only about him. the only time she broughts up something about it it's still about Edward and him not wanting to save himself
now let's step back and get back to Jamaican prison.
after Mary asks him to "do his part", Edward pleads her to stay with him. yes, it's an act of despair. but it also shows that Edward believes that it's Mary who can make him save himself from his own destruction (and i think that's why exactly after her death Edward finally breaks. Not after Thatch's death who was something like a mentor figure. Not after Ben's betrayal. But after Mary's death.)
to what Mary replays
now let's get back to the hallucination.
"Mary" still believes that Edward can "build himself up" to what Edward, contradictory to his plead in prison, says "JUST LEAVE ME BE"
but she stays. she keeps her promise to be with Kenway.
and she will stay with him. as a guilt, yes, but that guilt will not make him drown. will not make him blind to cliffs that will kill him. this guilt will make him want do better.
Mary Read will make him want to do better.
