Several short stories have criticized the characteristics of the upper class in England; Authors, Oscar Wilde and Katherine Mansfield, have criticized the upper class through their stories. Katherine Mansfield’s stories “The Doll House,” “A Cup of Tea,” and “The Garden Party,” and Oscar Wilde’s story, “Lord Arthur Saville’s Crime,” portray how the upper class tends to be self-centered, untruthful, insensitive, and superficial. The first negative characteristic of the upper class is their tendency to be self-centered. Mansfield’s “The Doll House,” is a story about upper class children, the Burnells. In the story, three sisters are given a doll house which they show off to their friends. Because of class difference, the Kelveys, girls from
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When the Burnells finish describing the doll house, they begin inviting girls over. When this happened, it says, “the little Kelveys moved away forgotten” (208). No one thinks about the Kelveys; they are pushed to the back of the group and excluded. All the girls are insensitive to them; the girls’ behavior continues and they begin to tease them. One girl says, “is it true you are going to be a servant when you grow up” (209). They tease and mock them asking if they will be servants. Lil Kelveys reaction is described, “instead of answering… a silly shamefaced smile” (209). The girls were insensitive and embarrassed the Kelveys. They were shamed because of the upper class’s insensitivity. The family in “The Garden Party” are also insensitive. After the party, the scene is described, “there… all those sandwiches, cakes, puffs, uneaten” (232). The Sheridans have many leftovers from the party, all untouched. Mrs. Sheridan remembers the dead man’s family and says, “let’s make up a basket” (232). She asks her daughter, Laura, to put together a basket and bring it to his family. However, Mrs. Sheridan is being insensitive; she offers party food to mourners. She does not consider their feelings or
When the Burnells finish describing the doll house, they begin inviting girls over. When this happened, it says, “the little Kelveys moved away forgotten” (208). No one thinks about the Kelveys; they are pushed to the back of the group and excluded. All the girls are insensitive to them; the girls’ behavior continues and they begin to tease them. One girl says, “is it true you are going to be a servant when you grow up” (209). They tease and mock them asking if they will be servants. Lil Kelveys reaction is described, “instead of answering… a silly shamefaced smile” (209). The girls were insensitive and embarrassed the Kelveys. They were shamed because of the upper class’s insensitivity. The family in “The Garden Party” are also insensitive. After the party, the scene is described, “there… all those sandwiches, cakes, puffs, uneaten” (232). The Sheridans have many leftovers from the party, all untouched. Mrs. Sheridan remembers the dead man’s family and says, “let’s make up a basket” (232). She asks her daughter, Laura, to put together a basket and bring it to his family. However, Mrs. Sheridan is being insensitive; she offers party food to mourners. She does not consider their feelings or