A Dream’s Weary Awakening
Life is both fearfully wonderful and death mysteriously petrifying. Death holds true promise, the only inevitability for one’s future. With one hand it steals away a life and with the other it has transpierced all who loved the departed soul, eventually knocking upon their own door. In 1915 Katherine Mansfield lived this tragedy when her beloved younger brother passed away, and she was soon after diagnosed with extrapulmonary tuberculosis, ultimately leading to her death in 1923. In her story "The Garden Party" Katherine Mansfield enthralls her readers as she immerses them into her journey of facing death through the eyes of the lovely young girl; Laura, who lives in an enchanting world unscathed by death, discovers …show more content…
On a warm golden hazed summer day, the Sheridans’ home buzzed with excitement as they prepared for their upcoming garden party. Laura, being the “artistic one,” flies about their home arranging and exploring the chaos. Her entire life is charming- utterly bursting with life. She sees with eyes attentive to detail and all the “silent splendor” in which nature is enveloped. In an encounter with several workmen Laura finds them to be “extraordinarily nice.” Although Laura is aware of the "absurd class distinctions," the narrator states, "Well, for her part, she didn't feel them. Not a bit, not an atom," revealing her innocence of heart. Upon receiving an abundance of lilies Laura, overcome with joy, places her arms around her mother, Mrs. Sheridans’ neck and “gently, very gently, she bit her mother’s ear.” Laura’s frivolous yet innocent nature is testament to the insouciant world surrounding her, one in which has never experienced tragedy. Perhaps as the author may once have, Laura sees her life as untouchable, never expectant of the worst. Death, thus far a distant stranger, has never made an introduction. Then, with no warning, no signs of its arrival, death emerged from its dark corner and knocked upon their door, its messenger, Mr. Godber's man, loaded with cream puffs and gossip filled intentions bore news of a man's untimely …show more content…
As Laura makes her way toward the dark shadowed cottages thoughts of fear began to creep in. Her mind simply “couldn’t realize it,” this strange journey to visit a dead man. Unable to understand what is happening, Laura faces the shock and denial. She continues on, when she arrives at the home the narrator says, “The group parted. It was as though she was expected, as though they had known she was coming here.” Acutely aware of the eyes on her, she continues to battle fear, “‘Oh, to be away from this! She actually said ‘Help me, God.’” Laura does not feel that she should be there and desires to run from it all. As she looks upon the face of the deceased Mr. Scott she is overwhelmed with emotion. Her society is too selfish to send flowers and is indifferent towards this man, yet surrounding him with their swollen eyes and puffy faces are those who cherish him. He lay in a sleep he would never wake, loved. Laura’s eyes are opened to the truth of life, the selfish society in which she lives, and the love surrounding her as she looks at the dead man lying on a table. Laura releases a sob and runs from the room and into the arms of her beloved brother, who stood in the shadow of the cottages. The author revealed in these last moments that perhaps she was not only facing the loss of her brother but her own looming
Life is both fearfully wonderful and death mysteriously petrifying. Death holds true promise, the only inevitability for one’s future. With one hand it steals away a life and with the other it has transpierced all who loved the departed soul, eventually knocking upon their own door. In 1915 Katherine Mansfield lived this tragedy when her beloved younger brother passed away, and she was soon after diagnosed with extrapulmonary tuberculosis, ultimately leading to her death in 1923. In her story "The Garden Party" Katherine Mansfield enthralls her readers as she immerses them into her journey of facing death through the eyes of the lovely young girl; Laura, who lives in an enchanting world unscathed by death, discovers …show more content…
On a warm golden hazed summer day, the Sheridans’ home buzzed with excitement as they prepared for their upcoming garden party. Laura, being the “artistic one,” flies about their home arranging and exploring the chaos. Her entire life is charming- utterly bursting with life. She sees with eyes attentive to detail and all the “silent splendor” in which nature is enveloped. In an encounter with several workmen Laura finds them to be “extraordinarily nice.” Although Laura is aware of the "absurd class distinctions," the narrator states, "Well, for her part, she didn't feel them. Not a bit, not an atom," revealing her innocence of heart. Upon receiving an abundance of lilies Laura, overcome with joy, places her arms around her mother, Mrs. Sheridans’ neck and “gently, very gently, she bit her mother’s ear.” Laura’s frivolous yet innocent nature is testament to the insouciant world surrounding her, one in which has never experienced tragedy. Perhaps as the author may once have, Laura sees her life as untouchable, never expectant of the worst. Death, thus far a distant stranger, has never made an introduction. Then, with no warning, no signs of its arrival, death emerged from its dark corner and knocked upon their door, its messenger, Mr. Godber's man, loaded with cream puffs and gossip filled intentions bore news of a man's untimely …show more content…
As Laura makes her way toward the dark shadowed cottages thoughts of fear began to creep in. Her mind simply “couldn’t realize it,” this strange journey to visit a dead man. Unable to understand what is happening, Laura faces the shock and denial. She continues on, when she arrives at the home the narrator says, “The group parted. It was as though she was expected, as though they had known she was coming here.” Acutely aware of the eyes on her, she continues to battle fear, “‘Oh, to be away from this! She actually said ‘Help me, God.’” Laura does not feel that she should be there and desires to run from it all. As she looks upon the face of the deceased Mr. Scott she is overwhelmed with emotion. Her society is too selfish to send flowers and is indifferent towards this man, yet surrounding him with their swollen eyes and puffy faces are those who cherish him. He lay in a sleep he would never wake, loved. Laura’s eyes are opened to the truth of life, the selfish society in which she lives, and the love surrounding her as she looks at the dead man lying on a table. Laura releases a sob and runs from the room and into the arms of her beloved brother, who stood in the shadow of the cottages. The author revealed in these last moments that perhaps she was not only facing the loss of her brother but her own looming