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The Getting of Wisdom · Character

Mrs. Gurley

The school's formidable matron, all chilly smiles and watchful eyes, who rules the dining hall and the girls' daily lives with brisk, unsparing authority.

supporting

Also known as altogether Mrs. Gurley, old Gurley

First appearance: iii

As a supporting figure in The Getting of Wisdom, Mrs. Gurley is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

The Lady Superintendent of the College, who is stern and rebukes Laura for pointing and commenting on her apron.
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Mrs. Gurley is the presiding power of the ladies' college, the woman who escorts Laura into the dining room before fifty-five staring girls and whose bedroom sits conveniently above the piano where girls practise. Her…

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The fuller portrait of Mrs. Gurley sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Mrs. Gurley in iii

Character Web

25 connections

A slice of how Mrs. Gurley sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

LRLaura RambothamMOMotherBOBobTMTilly MacnamaraESEvelyn SouttarMGMrs. Gurley

Relationship types

  • Professional
  • Other

Character groups

  • Schoolgirls and Family
  • Protagonist
  • Elite Social Circle

+20 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

SetupEscalationClimax
  • Setup
  • Escalation
  • Breaking point
  • Aftermath
  • Closing

Laura reaches an emotional and psychological peak of isolation and humiliation as she is publicly mocked, aban…

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Relationships

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Mrs. Gurley in iii

In the story

Mrs. Gurley appears across 5 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Mrs. Gurley unlock in the free preview.

See Mrs. Gurley in iii