Views of Somebodies Bread and Butter In Katherine Mansfield’s short story “The Garden Party”, Laura’s wavering view on the class distinctions of the time can be seen through the reoccurring symbol of the sandwiches that are presented throughout the story. The symbolism of the sandwiches can be seen in the two juxtaposing symbols- the delicacy of the sandwiches, symbolizing the upper class, and the bread-and-butter, symbolizing the lower class. Both of these contradictory symbols work together to form the image of Laura’s wavering opinion on the class distinctions that are imposed in the generation of the play.
The bread-and-butter shows the reader the symbolism that strongly captures some of the main points that “Garden Party” offers about …show more content…
Sheridan’s reaction to the different types of sandwiches strongly shows how she is inclined to prejudice and inclined to making rash decisions. When discussing all of the 15 different types of sandwiches (62), Mrs. Sheridan mistakes the type of sandwich for “”Egg and-… It looks like mice. It can’t be mice, can it?” “Olive, pet,” said Laura, looking over her shoulder… “What a horrible combination it sounds. Egg and Olive” (62). This shows how inclined Mrs. Sheridan is to prejudice and once the reality of the situation comes to light, being the combination of sandwiches in this situation, she still is negative towards the idea of it due to the fact that she has already made up her mind. Mrs. Sheridan’s view on the sandwiches symbolizing her prejudice view is antagonistic compared to Laura’s view of the food to be “perfectly good food” (67) but conflicts when she calls Mrs. Smith, a woman of the working class, a “creature” (67) while proposing to deliver his family food. The symbolization of the fifteen different combinations of sandwiches, may also suggest the different variations of classes that the Sheridan’s are living and propose that Mrs. Sheridan is not particularly open to variety and change. The symbolism of Mrs. Sheridan’s confusion of olive being mouse, a creature, can be seen in comparison to when she calls Mrs. Smith a “poor creature” (67) which represents the negative view and impact that Laura was raised and influenced upon by her …show more content…
The bread-and-butter symbolizes Laura’s role play as a work girl while also showing her contradictory side of her submission of dominance to the lower class where she is seen to feel embarrassment and a need to act with authority, like her mother, while ordering the workmen as a superior. Mrs. Sheridan’s confusion of the sandwiches shows her prejudice impulses and implies that once the truth is revealed to her she still sees the negative- simply because she has already made up her mind on the matter. This presumption shows the relativity of how she is very prejudice towards the lower class and is continually demeaning towards them, which shows that she is inclined to changing her opinion on the matter. Finally, the sandwiches also symbolize the delicacies that the upper classes have in which the lower class does not, and strengthens the different views that both woman’s perspective on the lower class. Sandwiches, although a subtle object in the short story, provide the reader with a stronger insight into Laura’s view in juxtaposition to her mothers in the era of “The Garden
The bread-and-butter shows the reader the symbolism that strongly captures some of the main points that “Garden Party” offers about …show more content…
Sheridan’s reaction to the different types of sandwiches strongly shows how she is inclined to prejudice and inclined to making rash decisions. When discussing all of the 15 different types of sandwiches (62), Mrs. Sheridan mistakes the type of sandwich for “”Egg and-… It looks like mice. It can’t be mice, can it?” “Olive, pet,” said Laura, looking over her shoulder… “What a horrible combination it sounds. Egg and Olive” (62). This shows how inclined Mrs. Sheridan is to prejudice and once the reality of the situation comes to light, being the combination of sandwiches in this situation, she still is negative towards the idea of it due to the fact that she has already made up her mind. Mrs. Sheridan’s view on the sandwiches symbolizing her prejudice view is antagonistic compared to Laura’s view of the food to be “perfectly good food” (67) but conflicts when she calls Mrs. Smith, a woman of the working class, a “creature” (67) while proposing to deliver his family food. The symbolization of the fifteen different combinations of sandwiches, may also suggest the different variations of classes that the Sheridan’s are living and propose that Mrs. Sheridan is not particularly open to variety and change. The symbolism of Mrs. Sheridan’s confusion of olive being mouse, a creature, can be seen in comparison to when she calls Mrs. Smith a “poor creature” (67) which represents the negative view and impact that Laura was raised and influenced upon by her …show more content…
The bread-and-butter symbolizes Laura’s role play as a work girl while also showing her contradictory side of her submission of dominance to the lower class where she is seen to feel embarrassment and a need to act with authority, like her mother, while ordering the workmen as a superior. Mrs. Sheridan’s confusion of the sandwiches shows her prejudice impulses and implies that once the truth is revealed to her she still sees the negative- simply because she has already made up her mind on the matter. This presumption shows the relativity of how she is very prejudice towards the lower class and is continually demeaning towards them, which shows that she is inclined to changing her opinion on the matter. Finally, the sandwiches also symbolize the delicacies that the upper classes have in which the lower class does not, and strengthens the different views that both woman’s perspective on the lower class. Sandwiches, although a subtle object in the short story, provide the reader with a stronger insight into Laura’s view in juxtaposition to her mothers in the era of “The Garden