In Katherine Mansfield's "Miss Brill", the story is set in a town in France near the "Sardines Appliques" or the Public Gardens. Miss Brill, an older English teacher, listens to conversations to ease her own feelings of emptiness and loneliness. She especially enjoys going to the gardens on Sundays where there is a live band playing and usually more people present. On this particular Sunday, she is particularly pleased because it is busier than usual. There are more people out this afternoon compared to last Sunday, and the band sounds louder and more cheerful. This change is attributed to the start of the Season. Although the band performs every Sunday throughout the year, it does not feel quite the same outside of the Season (135). The woman wearing an ermine toque holds importance for Miss Brill as she can relate t
...o her. Despite Miss Brill's friendly approach, a gentleman dressed in grey treats this woman rudely and leaves her standing alone. "The day was so delightful - didn't he agree? And wouldn't he, perhaps?... But he shook his head, lit a cigarette, blew smoke into her face, and even while she was still speaking and laughing, threw away the match and walked away" (136).Despite not fully comprehending the meaning of this "performance," I believe Miss Brill sympathized with the woman donning an ermine toque. Initially, Miss Brill is filled with delight as she eagerly anticipates her visit to the Public Gardens, where she can observe and partake in the lively occurrences of others. However, as the narrative progresses, her happiness transforms into profound sorrow when she realizes that she has been deceiving herself all along.
This realization brings about a significant change in Miss Brill's character as she begins to perceive herself differently and discovers her true identity. The fur, which held immense value for her, becomes a subject of mockery, particularly by a boy and girl who find it amusing. The closing statement implies that Miss Brill viewed the fur as more than just an object; it was something with whom she could engage in conversation. As she carefully places the fur inside a box, she imagines hearing its cries. Eventually, Miss Brill acknowledges that her seclusion has rendered her enigmatic to society. Despite enduring suffering, even when storing away the fur, its crying sounds still reverberate in her ears.
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