# Dr. Gurney — The Turmoil character guide

> Dr. Gurney in The Turmoil by Booth Tarkington.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Gurney, Dr. Kraft, Ole Doc Gurney, ole Doc Gurney, ole Gurney, Doc Gurney, Ole Gurney, Ole Doc

**First appearance:** 0002-i

## Snapshot

The Sheridans' blunt old physician, who treats the family's bodies and diagnoses its soul-sickness with the same unsparing, sardonic honesty.

## Who they are

Dr. Gurney is the one man in the Sheridan orbit who refuses to be intimidated by the old man's money or temper, calling Sheridan 'hysterical' to his face while bandaging the hand he bloodied on a statue. He sees what Sheridan cannot: that Bibbs's nervous collapse is real, and that the family's worship of work is its own kind of disease. His gruff, unimpressed presence gives the novel its moral barometer, and his friendship with Bibbs becomes a quiet refuge from the Sheridan storm.

## In the story

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turmoil_se/chapters/ii)

Referred to as 'Ole Doc Gurney,' the family physician who diagnosed Bibbs and recommended the sanitarium, dismissed by Sheridan as a 'nutty alarmist.'

### [Chapter IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turmoil_se/chapters/ix)

Mentioned by Sheridan as having declared Bibbs organically healthy, dismissing physical excuses for his behavior.

### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turmoil_se/chapters/xiv)

Examines Bibbs and finds him improved; warns that the machine shop may harm him again. Expresses dark humor about the irony of good health leading to a death sentence.

### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turmoil_se/chapters/xv)

Referenced as the doctor Bibbs visited earlier in the day, providing context for Bibbs's routine.

### [Chapter XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turmoil_se/chapters/xxi)

Treats Sheridan's injured hand; notes Bibbs's improved health and contentment with machine work.

### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turmoil_se/chapters/xxii)

His automobile is parked at Roscoe's house, though Bibbs fails to recognize it in the fog.

### [XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turmoil_se/chapters/xxiii)

Attends Sibyl, learns of Bibbs's change, and advises Roscoe to rest, incurring Sheridan's wrath.

### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turmoil_se/chapters/xxv)

Attends to James Sheridan, trying to calm him and insisting he keep his injured hand in a sling.

### [XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turmoil_se/chapters/xxvi)

Treats Sheridan's hand, defends Bibbs's choices, and tries to reason with Sheridan about giving Bibbs a chance.

### [XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turmoil_se/chapters/xxvii)

Quoted by Mrs. Sheridan as saying Bibbs could be a bigger businessman than Jim and Roscoe if he wakes up.

### [XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turmoil_se/chapters/xxxi)

Gurney removed the bandages from Sheridan's hand and advised on matters concerning Mary Vertrees.

### [XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turmoil_se/chapters/xxxii)

Mentioned as the doctor who treated Sheridan's hand and who theorizes that Mary's companionship was key to Bibbs's recovery.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turmoil_se/characters/dr_gurney
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turmoil_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_turmoil_se/characters