Katherine Mansfield, an acclaimed English short-story writer of the 20th century, was born in New Zealand and died at the young age of 35. Her collection of work consists of many outstanding short stories that delve into the intricacies of human nature and psychology. A notable feature of her stories is her skillful use of symbols through objects and events. Instead of focusing on progressing the plot, Mansfield aims to evoke particular atmospheres and subtle emotions. When portraying characters, she emphasizes their feelings rather than their actions.
She is focused on their inner life, which is naturally shown through their behavior. Katherine Mansfield is skilled at writing psychological short stories, just like Chekhov. In fact, she is known as the English Chekhov.
In the beginning, Rosemary and Philip are presented as a
...wealthy couple leading a luxurious life. It is unclear if their love for each other is based on materialistic reasons. The story depicts Rosemary spending money freely without any consequences or need to justify herself to her husband.
Rosemary is highly regarded in society, not specifically for her looks, but for her remarkable attributes including her engagement in current events, perceived intelligence, and enthusiasm for contemporary literature. Conversely, Philip may not possess Rosemary's level of brilliance, but he develops self-awareness as the narrative unfolds. In addition to the couple, they encounter a girl on the street who requests money for a cup of tea. Rosemary welcomes her into their home and assumes a mentorship role in the girl's life.
We can infer this information from the fact that whenever Rosemary wants the girl to come into th
scene, she appears. However, in the last scene when Rosemary becomes jealous of her, the girl mysteriously disappears without any explanation. Another character in the story is the shop man, who is also influenced by Rosemary. This is evident from his polite behavior, which is emphasized in the text with specific details. However, Rosemary also takes advantage of him because he is vulnerable.
He attempts to catch her attention with the enamel box and succeeds. He vows to keep the box for her because he understands her and knows that she will return to purchase it. She possesses the ability to acquire whatever she wants without having to answer to anyone. We observe her vulnerability not only in her conversation with the salesperson, but also in her envy towards Miss Smith when he speaks affectionately about her. This behavior aligns with Philip's expectations as he manipulates her and successfully takes advantage of her flawed character.
Philip is an intelligent man who effectively influences Rosemary, a symbol of possessive femininity. However, her lack of self-confidence and tendency to easily believe things leads to jealousy when she sees another girl in the street. In a direct and ironic question, she asks Philip if she is pretty, revealing her past behavior to him despite assuming he is unaware.
- The title is symbolic and metaphorical. It is in strong position. (A cup of tea – a price of cup of tea = a price of family happiness for Rosemary).
- The theme - The relationship between people.
- The message - Sometimes we do plausible
actions just to please our own vanity.
details.
The author portrays Rosemary as a lively person, highlighting her youthful energy, intelligence, modern sensibility, fashionable taste, and literary expertise. A symbolic depiction is used to describe Rosemary's hat as small and delicate, hanging from a branch. This imagery emphasizes her importance. In the text, Rosemary is consistently shown to primarily take on the role of "the actor," while others are depicted as recipients or beneficiaries of her desires. This implies that she holds authority and has the power to influence others.
“I only want to make you warm...” - This time, Miss Smith desires someone to do something good for her. However, Rosemary is the one who fulfills this desire and demonstrates her power over Miss Smith by treating her as
a helpless creature in need of pity and care. "Come and sit down," Rosemary exclaimed, pulling her large chair closer to the fire, "in this comfortable chair." This circumstance with Rosemary being the one taking action implies her luxurious and comfortable lifestyle. "And 'there!' cried Rosemary again, as they entered her beautiful spacious bedroom with drawn curtains, a roaring fire illuminating her exquisite lacquer furniture, gold cushions, and primrose and blue rugs."
"She turned impulsively. She is accustomed to expressing herself freely in society, thanks to her wealth. Observing how she perceives the world around her, we understand that she openly discusses her preferences and dislikes and freely expresses her ideas. Many verbs describing her perception and emotions are evident in her statements such as 'Yes, she liked it very much' and 'she loved it.'
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