Mrs. Gentry
Mrs. Gentry was a resident of Plainsroad Village and the wife of Mr. Gentry. She was a member of the Gentry Family and served as a nurturing presence in the life of Zaira von Monocle, who came to regard her as a caretaker alongside her own mother. Mrs. Gentry was also known informally as "Ma." She lived as a neighbor of Zaira in Plainsroad Village.
Description
Mrs. Gentry was described as somewhat stocky in build, with gray hair tied back in a bun. She wore an aging apron, suggesting a life centered on domestic work and the rhythms of farm living.
Biography
Life at the Farm
In For Steam and Country, Mrs. Gentry was established as a fixture of daily life on the Gentry farm near Plainsroad Village. She was known for her cooking and took the time to teach Zaira von Monocle how to cook, a memory Zaira later recalled warmly, referencing "the way I'd helped my mother or Mrs. Gentry cook back on the farm."
When James and Zaira arrived at the farm, Mrs. Gentry was found chopping vegetables and singing. She welcomed them with characteristic hospitality, inviting Zaira to dinner and remarking that "Toby's always welcome here," referring to Toby the ferret.
On a prior occasion, Mrs. Gentry had shaken in fear when James Gentry set the barn aflame; however, she did not use the incident to make James feel inhuman, demonstrating a compassionate and measured temperament.
During a separate incident in the kitchen, Mrs. Gentry screamed when the oven caught fire, underscoring the unpredictable hazards of life on the farm.
The Wyranth Attack
When soldiers arrived at the farm, Mrs. Gentry grabbed a rake and stood loyally at Mr. Gentry's side in an effort to stall them, demonstrating courage in the face of danger.
Mrs. Gentry was believed to have perished when the Wyranth Empire attacked Plainsroad Village. Zaira later reflected: "Mrs. Gentry often had referenced our inevitable future marriage, but she likely perished when the Wyranth attacked our village."
Role in For Steam and Country
In For Steam and Country, Mrs. Gentry appeared directly during scenes set at the Gentry farm and was subsequently mentioned only in passing as a memory by Zaira. She represented the warmth and stability of Zaira's earlier life before the conflict with the Wyranth Empire upended it. Zaira counted her among the people who had taken care of her.
Role in The Fight for Rislandia
In The Fight for Rislandia, Mrs. Gentry was not present as an active character but was remembered by Zaira with grief and affection. Zaira stated, "I missed him and Mrs. Gentry too," grouping her among those lost or separated from her as a result of the war. The novel also noted that Mrs. Gentry had panicked when Wyranth artillery advanced on the Gentry farm, though the precise timing of this detail relative to the events of For Steam and Country is not fully specified in the text.
Relationships
- Mr. Gentry: Mrs. Gentry's husband. The two stood together in defiance of the soldiers who came to the farm.
- James Gentry: Mrs. Gentry's son. She responded to his dangerous outburst with fear but without cruelty, and she reportedly spoke often of a future marriage between James and Zaira.
- Zaira von Monocle: A young woman Mrs. Gentry helped raise and taught to cook, and a neighbor in Plainsroad Village. Zaira remembered her with affection and grief.
- Toby: The ferret accompanying Zaira and James, whom Mrs. Gentry welcomed to the farm.