‘The Good Corn’ and 'Turned'

In this piece of coursework we looked into two stories these were 'The Good Corn' written by H.E. Bates the writer of the very popular T.V series the 'Darling Buds of May'. Like many of H.E.Bates other stories 'The Good Corn' was set in an English countryside, H.E.Bates chooses to write about these sort of life as it is simple and he can relate back to his childhood. The second story was 'Turned written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman of America. Charlotte Perkins Gilman was one of the first people to stand up for the rights of women, she also became one of the first American Women to successfully divorce her Husband. These sort of actions were not though of in America as once a woman agreed to marriage she belongs to her husband. If the Wife cannot prove two types of wrong doing within her husband divorce is forbidden.

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At first glance these two do not seem to have to have to many differences. The difference in class is the first thing that stands out to me. You have the upper class People from 'Turned,' who live a life of luxury and the middle class people from 'The Good Corn'. The main similarity in both of theses stories is the women have help around the house, these people who help them are obviously from the working class. Both of the main character women cannot have children this does not become apparent until well into the second paragraph. At this point you just think up all of the possible reasons and ways that this may reflect the ending of the story. Within the stories you find out a lot about the characters an d you areable to build up a very vivid character profile on each one of them. In 'Turned' It looks like Charlotte Perkins Gilman is trying to portray Mrs Marroner as a warm kind natured women who looks at not being able to have children as a downfall but uses the fact she can not have children as way to make her marriage stronger. On the other hand H.E.Bates portrays Mrs. Mortimer also as a kind natured woman but he also makes comments on her way of dealing with not being able to have children. He gets the point across that it is a womans job to have children, And during the story there are several Lines which help to make Mrs Mortimer feel that she is not for filling her duty within the relationship. In the second Paragraph you get evidence of this, firstly when H.E.Bates talks about their days trading at the market. Then when the money is been counted half of it is given to Mrs Mortimer and the other half placed in a tin and Mr Mortimer says "You know what this is for don't you".

H.E.Bates talk more from his point of view, which is not a feminist one throughout the story. H.E.Bates uses small words that make a huge impact on Mrs Mortimers Character. These words are things like duty, misfortune, failure, and phrases like 'Ther is no point in the existnce of them.' As Mrs Marroner is unable to for fill Mr. Maortimers sexual needs he brings another character in. Elsie the farm helper girl is made to sound like a little bit of a tart. She seems to have a promiscuous tinge in her. It is obvious that Mrs. Mortimer does not know that Elsie and Mr. Mortimer have anything going on. But during the story Mrs Mortimer does express that she would understand if Mr Mortimer found someone else. Whether she meant it or not was a different matter.

In Charlotte Perkins Gilman story 'The Good Corn' she does make it obvious that Mrs Marroner

Hayley Guile 20th October 2001

Wide Reading Coursework

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