Portray the character of Mary in “The Grass is Singing.”

Answer

Portray the character of Mary, focusing on her development, education, and feminist ideals, in Doris Lessing’s “The Grass is Singing.” [NU: 2015, 18, 20, 22]  ★★★

Mary Turner is the central character of Doris Lessing’s (1919–2013) “The Grass is Singing” (1950). She is not only a victim of personal weakness but also of colonial society. From her childhood and education to her marriage and death, Mary’s life reflects women’s struggles. Her loneliness, broken marriage with Dick, and strange bond with Moses show her tragic path.

Mary’s Childhood and Early Education: Mary grew up in a poor, unhappy family. Her father is a railway worker and a drunk. Her mother is bitter and quarrelsome. Mary’s education begins at boarding school. There she is, happy and free from her parents’ quarrels. Lessing writes,

“She was extremely happy, so happy that she dreaded going home at holiday time”.

She learns discipline and enjoys the structured life. School becomes her happiest memory. Later, this education helps her get an office job. But her childhood also leaves scars. She fears marriage and family because of her parents’ fights.

Independent Working Life in Town: After school, Mary became a secretary in a small town. She works in an office, earns money, and enjoys life. She lives in a girls’ club, plays games, goes to the cinema, and has many friends. She feels independent and respected. Mary avoids marriage at this stage. She enjoys freedom. She does not want children because she remembers her mother’s pain. When her friends gossip about her age, she feels uneasy. They whisper: 

‘‘She’s not fifteen any longer: it is ridiculous! Someone 

should tell her about her clothes.’’

This social pressure later pushes her to marry.

Marriage with Dick Turner and Farm Life: Mary marries Dick Turner, a poor farmer. At first, she hopes for love and security. But soon she sees his poverty. Dick cannot make money. Their farm is bare and broken. Mary feels trapped in the small