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Katherine Mansfield
1. Characters
The characters in Katherine Mansfields The Doll House are the Burnell sisters, Isabel, Keiza and
Lottie, all of whom are of a wealthy family, and the Kelveys, Lil and Else who were of a low income family, with
a father that was nonexistent. Other minor characters include Mrs. Hay who gave the Burnell sisters the Doll
House and Aunt Beryl.
2. Setting
The Dolls House is set in New Zealand in the early 1900s, a time of great social injustice.
3. Conflicts:
There are many conflicts within the Dolls House. The first of which is the most obvious that exists between the
Burnell sisters, specifically Keiza and whether or not she should invite the Kelveys to look at the doll house.
Another conflict that exists is the conflict between The Kelveys and their classmates, in how they are always
being picked on and the constant struggle of the Kelveys to somehow let it go. Both of these conflicts would be
man vs. man but there does exist a conflict in the form of man vs nature. This is made evident when the reader
sees how the Kelveys are so close and help one another through difficult times despite what early 20 th century
New Zealand social class may tell them about their insufficiency.
4. Plot
The Doll's House is a short story by Katherine Mansfield, written in the year 1922. The story reveals
the extent to which class consciousness has wreaked havoc in the social set up, so much so that the other
children are discouraged from talking to the children from the lowest of the social classes. The story traces the
problem of class consciousness through the character of Kezia, and her journey from innocence to the
symbolic world of experience.The Burnell children receive a dolls house from Mrs Hay, who had come to stay
with them. The children were so excited about the dolls house, and they decide to show it off to their school
friends. With the arrival of the doll's house, the Burnell children get so excited and greatly attracted to it. While
the two older children admire the red carpet, the red chairs, and the gold frames of this richly decorated
house,Kezia, the youngest of the girls, takes an interest in the rather simple lamp.In school, during playtime,
Isabel, the eldest of the Burnell children, was surrounded. The girls of her class nearly fought to be her special
friend. All the girls, giggling together, pressed up close to have a look at the dolls house, which was the
cynosure of all eyes now. The only two who stayed outside the ring were the little Kelveys. Many of the
children, including the Burnells, were not allowed to speak to them. The Kelveys were shunned by everybody.
When Kezia asks her mother, "Can't I ask the Kelveys just once?" To which, the response is, "Certainly not,
Kezia!The fact that even the teacher had a special voice for them, and a special smile for the other children
speaks to the discreet (or rather distinct) ways in which class consciousness is practised even by teachers
themselves, in maintaining the social hierarchy.Kezia took a great liking for the undecorated lamp. While the
others seem to be interested in the gaudy decorations that adorn the house, for Kezia, the lamp was perfect.
It was so real. When Isabel, the bossy eldest sister went on describing the various features of the dolls
house, Kezia broke in and said, Youve forgotten the lamp, Isabel! The lamps best of all cried Kezia. But
nobody paid attention. The lamp here symbolises the working class. These lamps are the sacrificial lights in
the altar of the wealthy capitalists. According to Marx, these working classes or proletariat are individuals who
sell their labour power for wages and who do not own the means of production. He argued that they were
responsible for creating the wealth of a society, but ironically, are treated with contempt and disdain by society.
Kezia decides to make friends with the Kelveys because she has not been so far indoctrinated with the class
consciousness which seem to have corrupted her older sisters. Mansfield beautifully interweaves the
contradicting forces of Kezia's innocence with the bigoted views of those who live in the world of
experience. While the others keep reminding her of her high class status, Kezia insists on her thoughts of
equality to the prejudiced views of the members of her social class. By doing so, she is metaphorically, trying to
break the social hierarchy of class inequalities.
Mansfield brings out the bitter truth that the discrimination between the wealthy haves and the underprivileged
have nots was based solely on wealth and class. The fact that the line had to be drawn somewhere speaks
volumes to the social hierarchy prevalent in society. At the end of the story, Aunt Beryl shouts at Kezia, How
dare you ask the little Kelveys into the courtyard? in her furious voice, adding, Run away, children, run away
at once. And dont come back again! Burning with shame, shrinking together, the Kelvey sisters huddled
through the big courtyard and squeezed through the white gate.
Through the portrayal of the predicament of the Kelveys, Mansfield brings out the class consciousness that
was faithfully handed down by one generation to another, from parents to children and vice versa. Moreover,
through the deft portrayal of the character of Kezia, Mansfield tries to challenge the existing social class
consciousness which was wreaking havoc on the social fabric.
5. Theme
Mansfield's main theme in "The Doll's House" is the injustices and cruelty associated with class
distinctions. Set in colonial New Zealand, Mansfield shows that differences set along class lines are rigidly
adhered to. She also shows that those in a higher class take an almost perverse pleasure in being cruel to
those of lower classes.
Along with these ideas, Mansfield does show that there is some hope because the classes are forced to deal
with each other in everyday situations. This is shown through the character of Kezia and the lamp.
noticing all the other people who are also waiting for the train. He asks the girl whether she feels better. She
says she feels fine and that there is nothing wrong with her.
4. Theme
Talking versus Communicating
Although Hills Like White Elephants is primarily a conversation between the American man and his
girlfriend, neither of the speakers truly communicates with the other, highlighting the rift between the two. Both
talk, but neither listens or understands the others point of view. Frustrated and placating, the American man
will say almost anything to convince his girlfriend to have the operation, which, although never mentioned by
name, is understood to be an abortion. He tells her he loves her, for example, and that everything between
them will go back to the way it used to be. The girl, meanwhile, waffles indecisively, at one point conceding that
shell have the abortion just to shut him up. When the man still persists, she finally begs him to please, please,
please, please, please, please stop talking, realizing the futility of their conversation. In fact, the girls
nickname, Jig, subtly indicates that the two characters merely dance around each other and the issue at hand
without ever saying anything meaningful. The girls inability to speak Spanish with the bartender, moreover, not
only illustrates her dependence on the American but also the difficulty she has expressing herself to others.
5. Conflict
One of the most basic conflicts present in the Hemingway short story is how two people balance the
demands of their own needs with the realities of their relationship. I think that Hemingway draws out a
situation that is gender driven in that the man and the woman hold a difference of opinion about both the
pregnancy and their own relationship. Yet, there is a larger conflict present in terms of how a relationship can
make demands on personal freedom. Both characters struggle with the reality of the shared relationship, but
also with the basic idea of how their own individual freedom is exacted by the constraints of their relationship.
Jig constantly finds her own voice is subjugated by the realities of their "happiness." The idea of what will be
best for their relationship must drive what happens to both of them. The American keeps on saying to Jig that
whatever "she" wants is fine. Yet, in the end, the reality is that while their own freedom and independence is
present, both understand their relationship is there and demands their attention. The interesting thing is that
Jig seems resigned to the fact that the relationship will swallow her own freedom and she accepts this at the
end, while studying the hills ahead of her.