Turned

Jacqueline Procter
Journal 20
March 7, 2008
Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Quote:
“Gerta, holding the child as a bulwark, with a new intelligence in her face, and her blue, adoring eyes fixed on her friend—not upon him.
He looked from one to the other dumbly.
And the woman who had been his wife asked quietly.
“What have you to say to us?”

Summary:
Mr. Marroner finally finds his wife, along with Gerta, the servant whom he impregnated. Mrs. Marroner left her husband without a forwarding address and has been taking care of Gerta and her child. Mr. Marroner is shocked to see the three of them.

Response:
My first thought upon reading the ending is that Mrs. Marroner and Gerta are a couple, but whether or not they are, the ending of the story is very empowering, especially for Mrs. Marroner. Although She is extremely hurt, because she loved her husband tremendously, she realizes that Gerta, inexperienced and willing to please everyone, did not possess the skills to fend her husband off. She blames her husband exclusively for taking advantage of such a naïve young girl.

Gerta represents the modern day surrogate mother. Mrs. Marroner couldn’t have a child with her husband so the next best thing is for her to rear his illegitimate progeny. Mrs. Marroner assumes the masculine role of provider, supporting Gerta and “their” child, by resuming her former teaching career as a college professor.

Mrs. Marroner is a role model for Gerta, as the “new Intelligence in Gerta’s face” is probably due to Mrs. Marroner influencing Gerta in getting an education for herself, which is why Gerta looks so adoringly at Mrs. Marroner.


Her husband, angry at Gerta for getting pregnant, does not accept responsibility for his actions and is dumbstruck with the revelation that his wife and his mistress are not only surviving without him, but they’re cohabitating. It's also a blow to his ego that Gerta, who once looked at him with adoration, now idolizes Mrs. Marroner.

Mrs. Marroner, a woman true to her word, has followed her husbands’ instructions of “taking care” of Gerta.