A Good Plain Cook” by Barbara Baynton – Summary

“A Good Plain Cook” by Barbara Baynton – Summary

Barbara Baynton’s short story “A Good Plain Cook” explores the harsh realities of life for women in the Australian bush and the hypocrisy of social and moral expectations.

The story centers on a young bush woman who lives with a man and their child in an isolated rural setting. The woman works hard, taking care of the baby, the house, and the cooking—she is, as the title suggests, a “good plain cook.” However, her life is marked by emotional neglect, loneliness, and hardship.

One day, the man brings home another woman to serve as a domestic helper, supposedly to help with household duties. But it quickly becomes clear that this new woman is more of a rival than a helper. The man treats the newcomer with affection and attention, while ignoring the mother of his child. The bush woman silently suffers the humiliation and betrayal, realizing that her usefulness and position depend solely on her domestic labor.

The story builds on this tension until the woman’s despair deepens into resignation. Baynton presents no dramatic revenge or confrontation; instead, she portrays the woman’s silent endurance in a patriarchal and unforgiving environment.