Characters
Summary
Long-Questions
1. "Helen Turrell is ashamed that
Michael is her son." Do you agree with this statement?
2. Sketch the character of the Helen.
Short-Questions
1. What was the effect of Michael's
death on Helen?
2. What is the real relation between
Helen and Michael?
3. Who is Mrs. Scarsworth? Why is she
attached to Helen?
4. How do we know who the gardener
really is?
13. The Gardener
Rudyard Kipling
Characters
Helen Turrell : Michael's mother
Michael Turrell : Helen's son but called nephew
George Turrell : Helen's brother, an Indian police inspector
Mrs. Scarsworth : her lover killed in battle
The gardener : may be Michael's father
Place :
India; South of France; England
Hagenzeele Third Military Cemetery : a graveyard where Michael was buried
Summary
“The Gardener” is a story composed by Rudyard Kipling, a well known name in English literature. George Turrell was an inspector in Indian police. He had a sister named Helen. She had had love affair with someone and she became pregnant. It was a shameful thing to live in the society. So, she pretended to cure her lungs and went to the south of France. There she had a child who was named Michael. She lived in France for some time. Then she came back to England and said that Michael was the son of her brother George, who had died of a horse fall. She also said that a nurse had cared the child for some time. But the nurse didn't look after the child well. So, she dismissed the nurse. And she added that she had paid some money to the child's mother. So that she wouldn't claim right over the child.
Now, Helen and Michael lived together, Michael called aunt in day time and mummy at night time. This relation was kept in secret. When Michael completed his school education, he joined the army instead of going to the oxford university. When he was in England, he didn't have to work hard. But he was sent to France in war. There he was missed in a bomb blast. Then Helen was informed that Michael was missing.
After the war, Helen was sent a letter describing that Michael was killed and he was buried in Hagenzeele Third Military cemetery. His grave number was also written in the letter. So, Helen decided to go to Hagenzeele Third and see Michael's grave. On the way of cemetery, she met a woman whose lover was killed in the battle but she told that she came to meet her relative’s grave. When she went there, she couldn't find Michael's grave herself because there were thousands of graves. Then she asked a gardener to find out her nephew's grave, but the gardener said that he would show where her son laid/ buried. Then Helen looked at the gardener for the last time and came back home.
Long-Questions
1. "Helen Turrell is ashamed that Michael is her son." Do you
agree with this statement?
Yes, I agree with this statement that 'Helen Turrell is ashamed that Michael is her son. The time of the Helen, Indian society was so traditional. It was shameful task to pregnant without getting married. So, she pretended to cure lungs, she went France and delivers a child, Michael. She went in England. She told lie to everyone that the child Michael was her silly Brother George's son. He was killed before Michael's birth. Michael mother wouldn't claim on the child because she was paid by her. So, she kept quite. All these details were public property. Helen told everyone their details. So, Michael was very sad to this subject. But Helen permitted him to say mummy at bed time, because unmarried mother were treated badly. When gardener told her that he would show her son's grave although she couldn't tell son's grave. Even after death of Michael she hid the truth.
All these evidences that show Michael was Helen's own son. She is afraid to be criticized and ashamed in the society. So, she lied to everyone.
2. Sketch the character of the Helen.
Helen Turrell was from Hampshire, London. She was thirty five years old, beyond marriage. She had a brother George Turrell. He was an Indian police inspector. He was engaged with a girl and before marriage he died, and after his death the girl give birth a child, Michael. Helen paid her and brings up him herself.
She is telling lie to everyone. She is a liar. She lies to her son Michael too. Helen's character is a little mysterious. She has unmarried yet at the age of 35. Why didn't she marry yet? Having lung's problem, she lives so long time and healthy too. Being mysterious, she is a hard working woman. She spends money in Michael's education. She has confidence to do her work smoothly. She is educated and courageous woman too. She gets afraid with traditional belief. So, loving much her child, she hides mother love. She was much sensitive and sincere in her relation to the child, which can be proved by her visit to his cemetery.
Short-Questions
1. What was the effect of Michael's death on Helen?
When Michael had to go to war, Helen was already shocked. When she knew that Michael was killed all her hopes were shattered. His death had completely isolated her. Her Single son was killed so, She was much upset physically and mentally. The effect of Michael's death on Helen was very miserable.
2. What is the real relation between Helen and Michael?
Mother and son is the real relation between Helen and Michael. Helen told everyone that Michael was George's son, because she would afraid of society. So, she went to South of France to give birth. And then, she went to England to bring up the child, Michael. This relation kept secret by Michael and Helen. But the gardener knew the real relation between them that Helen was Michael's mother.
3. Who is Mrs. Scarsworth? Why is she attached to Helen?
Actually Mrs. Scarsworth is a liar; she lies to everyone to hide the truth. But she was tired to lie so she tries to find to share her secret. So she introduces with Helen. She tells her that she is a missionary worker. And she is going to visits the kins. Though, she is regular visitor of the grave to mourn her pains by her boyfriend’s grave, which situated in Hagenzeele named as a ‘Third Military Cemetery’
4. How do we know who the gardener really is?
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