In the texts, The Garden Party and The Dolls House, by Katherine Mansfield, symbolism is used often used symbolism in her short stories to skillfully illustrate the key theme of class prejudice. For instance, symbolism The Garden Party demonstrated class prejudice through contrasting symbols of the contrast of light and darkness when describing each setting. The Sheridan’s, who are very wealthy and highest in the class system often are described using positive connotations. In comparison the “poverty stricken” houses are described with symbols of darkness which gives negative connotations. IInn the second story, The Dolls House, Mansfield used the symbol of the gate to show the physical and metaphorical divides in 1920’s social hierarchy. The
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Katherine Mansfield used hats to highlight the cruel social bias of Wellington society in the 1920’s. In the short story Mrs. Sheridan is trying on an extravagant party hat she brought for herself to wear to the garden party., Hhowever, she then decides to give the hat to Laura in order to distract her from wanting to cancel the party, out of respect for the grieving Scott family across the road. The hat was used to show that Mrs. Sheridan is very controlling over her daughter, Laura. Laura’s willingness to abide her mother shows that she is likely to inherit Mrs. Sheridan’s heartless class prejudice attitudes. For example, “Before Laura could stop her she had popped it on.” This quote shows how the hat is forced on her just like her mother’s discriminative values, the fact that the hat used to belong to Mrs. Sheridan, affirms the point that Laura is following in her mother’s footsteps. “The hat is yours. It’s made for you… I’ve never seen you look such a picture.” Mrs. Sheridan successfully was able to distract Laura with materialistic goods. Laura falls for this as she soon is preoccupied with describing the fancy hat and forgets about cancelling the party. The Sheridan’s are oblivious to the fact that the houses on the lane have nothing and go through terrible hardship. In comparison to new frocks, and hats and chat about how wonderful fresh flowers and summertime …show more content…
It is symbolic of the boundaries in society, as when the Kelvey’s are let in the gate by Kezia they are shooed out by the older more prejudice members of upper class society. Kezia letting the Kelvey’s shows how the unfair class distinctions can only be changed by the higher class treating the lower class as equal. When the character Kezia starts to swing on the gate it demonstrates her indecisiveness, deciding whether she wants to say in the comfort of the upper class society or whether she wants to change and let the lower class in. “She began to swing on the big white gates of the courtyard… she slipped off the gate as if she was going to run away… Kezia clambered back on the gate; she had made up her mind; she swung out.” Mansfield used the gate as the Burnell’s physically shut out the Kelvey’s. Howeverbut I believe think they are also metaphorically dividing themselves from others inthe other people in society because of their higher ranking in the social hierarchy. Showing their mind set that their money makes they think that themy are better than everyone else. Highlighting how the Burnell’s have lost their moral values to fulfill their greed. Kezia hesitates as the Kelvey’s come past her house, but lets them in the gate. In doing so she breaks a boundary between the classes, the Kelvey’s come into the Burnell’s
Katherine Mansfield used hats to highlight the cruel social bias of Wellington society in the 1920’s. In the short story Mrs. Sheridan is trying on an extravagant party hat she brought for herself to wear to the garden party., Hhowever, she then decides to give the hat to Laura in order to distract her from wanting to cancel the party, out of respect for the grieving Scott family across the road. The hat was used to show that Mrs. Sheridan is very controlling over her daughter, Laura. Laura’s willingness to abide her mother shows that she is likely to inherit Mrs. Sheridan’s heartless class prejudice attitudes. For example, “Before Laura could stop her she had popped it on.” This quote shows how the hat is forced on her just like her mother’s discriminative values, the fact that the hat used to belong to Mrs. Sheridan, affirms the point that Laura is following in her mother’s footsteps. “The hat is yours. It’s made for you… I’ve never seen you look such a picture.” Mrs. Sheridan successfully was able to distract Laura with materialistic goods. Laura falls for this as she soon is preoccupied with describing the fancy hat and forgets about cancelling the party. The Sheridan’s are oblivious to the fact that the houses on the lane have nothing and go through terrible hardship. In comparison to new frocks, and hats and chat about how wonderful fresh flowers and summertime …show more content…
It is symbolic of the boundaries in society, as when the Kelvey’s are let in the gate by Kezia they are shooed out by the older more prejudice members of upper class society. Kezia letting the Kelvey’s shows how the unfair class distinctions can only be changed by the higher class treating the lower class as equal. When the character Kezia starts to swing on the gate it demonstrates her indecisiveness, deciding whether she wants to say in the comfort of the upper class society or whether she wants to change and let the lower class in. “She began to swing on the big white gates of the courtyard… she slipped off the gate as if she was going to run away… Kezia clambered back on the gate; she had made up her mind; she swung out.” Mansfield used the gate as the Burnell’s physically shut out the Kelvey’s. Howeverbut I believe think they are also metaphorically dividing themselves from others inthe other people in society because of their higher ranking in the social hierarchy. Showing their mind set that their money makes they think that themy are better than everyone else. Highlighting how the Burnell’s have lost their moral values to fulfill their greed. Kezia hesitates as the Kelvey’s come past her house, but lets them in the gate. In doing so she breaks a boundary between the classes, the Kelvey’s come into the Burnell’s