Mary Turner Gender Roles

Throughout Lessing’s The Grass is Singing, there is a clear reversal in gender roles. From the start, readers witness Mary rise from her ‘wifely duties’ to a more powerful position, while Dick regresses to a domesticated state. This situation escalates as Mary begins to unravel mentally and both she and Dick become physically ill because of their new domestic roles.

Mary Turner, a strong-willed, independent woman, operated outside of conventional societal roles that called for women to be submissive. During this time, women were subordinate to their husbands; however, Mary found herself in the power position of the household. Often, Mary became the dominating hand, while her husband became the subordinate. While other wives were placed in

He refused to put in ceilings for her, simply saying “it would cost so much” (66), he refused to plant better crops in order to turn a profit, but it seems degrading her husband’s manhood did have a consequence for both him and her. As Dick laid in bed sick, Mary devoted more of her time to the farm. This meant that she became in charge of the ‘boys.’ For Mary, this was far too much power; she became abusive, both verbally and physically. Her abuse lead to confusion from the workers as they were not accustom to taking orders from a woman. According to Charlie, “Niggers don’t understand women giving them orders;” after all, Mary was not supposed to be their boss that was Dick’s job

No longer able to make decisions for herself, Mary allows Moses to take charge of her mental capabilities, even putting her to bed and dressing her; Mary insisted that it is simple because “he has so little to do, he must earn his money” (214). Dick observes such behavior and deduces that the pair has had a sexual relationship. Ever the emasculated disappointment, Dick takes no action against Moses for the affair, but continues to let him care for Mary, stating, “Mary likes him” (204). This blunder ultimately ends Mary’s life, making Dick responsible for her untimely