Analytic Entry on Literature

"Turned," by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, is a short story about the main character, Mrs. Marroner, discovering the affair her husband was having with their maid, Gerta. In the beginning, both Mr. and Mrs. Marroner cherish Gerta's physical beauty and willingness to learn. They see her as so close to perfection that it would be difficult for any man to resist her. Mr. Marroner unfortunately acts upon his feelings of attractiveness with the hope that Mrs. Marroner would never find out. However, when Mrs. Marroner accidentally reads a letter to Gerta, the secret is revealed and she sees no other option but to fire her. Even though Gerta is too vulnerable to resist Mr. Marroner, Mrs. Marroner still feels the need to become furious at only Gerta. She ordered her to, "Go and pack your trunk" (Gilman) demonstrating her anger towards the young girl, but not her own husband. Because men were imperative during this time, women treasured their existence. Mrs. Marroner did not want to believe that her husband could do such a terrible act, so she had no choice but to punish Gerta. This revealed the fear Mrs. Marroner had of losing her husband. Women were shaped to believe that they needed a husband in order to be successful in life. She believed that her husband was the only way to achieve happiness, so she did not put the blame on him at first. However, Mrs. Marroner came to the realization that although she was hurt by her husband's actions, she felt more pity for Gerta than anything else. She stated, "All that splendid, clean young beauty, the hope of a happy life, with marriage and motherhood, honorable independence, even-these were nothing to that man" (Gilman). Gerta had hoped for all that the typical women had wanted during this time in America. While she became emotionally attached, Mr. Marroner saw her as a simple fling. He had taken advantage of her vulnerability without considering her feelings throughout the whole affair. This proves the lack of respect men had for women at this time, and in some cases, still do today. They believed they could ignore any emotions, and do whatever they please because they were superior. Women were just objects to them, and although he may have loved his wife, it did not affect the actions he committed to fulfill his happiness. This further shows the small role women had in society by the way men took advantage of them. Women were not considered to be a real threat to a man's happiness, so they acted similar to the government by disregarding any opinions or feelings that they had.
After Mrs. Marroner's realization, though, she is able to begin the process of progression. She takes back her anger at Gerta, and instead turns that into a rage against her husband. She is no longer allowing herself to be viewed as more inferior, so she decides to fight back by leaving her home with Gerta. She put her life into her own hands and began to support herself and Gerta on her own instead of relying on the job and decisions of Mr. Marroner. As women began to earn more rights, they became stronger and no longer had to wait at the side of their husbands. Similar to Mrs. Marroner, once she had a solid foundation, she saw the power she could have had all along. It took a painful event to begin changing Mrs. Marroner, but at the end of the book, Mr. Marroner comes back and wants forgiveness. He has finally come to terms with the respect that women deserve. She now had the decision of what to do with their marriage, making her have a much more significant role in her husband's eyes.
Even though Mrs. Marroner blamed Gerta for the affair in the beginning, she was still being blinded by the reliance she had on her husband. Like most women during this time, she believed that having a husband was all that mattered. She soon learned, though, that women do not need a man in order to obtain happiness. By fighting back, and leaving her husband for a new life, she was demonstrating the willpower she had to eventually have a more important role in society.