The Garden Party - Analysis PDF

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The Garden Party Katherine Mansfield 1922

Mansfield was particularly influenced by the plays of Anton Chekhov, whose works were published in Russia in the late nineteenth century. As a result, her stories often reflect less interest in plot and narrative and more interest in characters and their relationship to each other. Main Character descriptions (1-2 paras) Describe values, relationships, basic info Mother: connected to traditional ways Laura: protagonist, artistic - Transitioning from girl to woman in her habits, mannerisms, thinking, and responsibilities Laurie: son, brother to Laura Workman: - Enjoys the simple things in life - More carefree Sadie: servant Hans, Meg: siblings of Laura and Laurie Godber: delivery man - Informs of workman’s death Jose: sibling - Influenced by societal expectations, like mother Plot Summary (1-2 paras) What happens to whom and why? Laura’s mother puts her in charge of arranging the marquee for the garden party that evening. She converses with a workman about the placement. Through her conversations with the workmen and her observations of them, she realizes that she would be more happy and comfortable spending time with people like them than her own society. While making

arrangements for the evening, Laura and Jose are informed that a workman has died. Laura immediately wants to cancel the garden party but Jose believes her to be extravagant for saying so. When Laura informs Mrs. Sheridan of the accident, she is more concerned about the inconvenience to her guests than the mourning family. After the party, Mrs. Sheridan has the idea to bring some of the leftovers to the family, but Laura wonders how this gesture will be received. Without changing out of her party clothes, Laura delivers the basket of food. She feels self-conscious as people watch her pass and enter the house. Upon viewing the deceased man, she apologizes for her hat to him and quickly leaves the house. Laurie, who came to find her, embraces her but does not grasp the significance of the death. Setting (1-2 paras) Location, locations of particular significance to the protagonist. Describe the social conditions. Sheridan family estate Laura has grown up in a wealthy family accustomed to a certain way of life. Poverty and a very different way of life live just down the road. Laura becomes caught between the two realities.

Describe the narrator & POV. Might this limit the perspective of the events in the story? How much knowledge does the narrator provide? Third person: describes actions of all characters and the thoughts of Laura and Mrs. Sheridan Narrator describes events and environments, limited thoughts Theme: High society vs low society/classes Questions: Provide two or three important characteristics of Mrs. Sheridan, and explain what might account for them. - Traditional: desires to meet societal customs and expectations handed down through status and position - Proud: wants to please and impress her guests, takes charge from the children to make sure things are done right Briefly explain how the hat becomes a symbol throughout the short story. - The hat is a symbol of Laura’s place in high society as she is becoming a beautiful young woman. She feels proud of her appearance at the party but self-conscious on the poverty-stricken street and in the dead man’s house.

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She apologizes for the hat: symbolically apologizing for the frivolities valued in her world and society that contrast the needs and humble lives of the working class

Provide two examples of imagery from the world of the Sheridans and the world of the poor workman, and explain their significance.

And they were so lovely, with their broad, gleaming leaves, and their clusters of yellow fruit. They were like trees you imagined growing on a desert island, proud, solitary, lifting their leaves and fruits to the sun in a kind of silent splendour. They were the greatest possible eyesore, and they had no right to be in that neighbourhood at all. They were little mean dwellings painted a chocolate brown. In the garden patches there was nothing but cabbage stalks, sick hens and tomato cans. The very smoke coming out of their chimneys was poverty-stricken. Little rags and shreds of smoke, so unlike the great silvery plumes that uncurled from the Sheridans' chimneys. Washerwomen lived in the lane and sweeps and a cobbler, and a man whose house-front was studded all over with minute bird-cages. And it seemed to her that kisses, voices, tinkling spoons, laughter, the smell of crushed grass were somehow inside her. The lane began, smoky and dark. Women in shawls and men's tweed caps hurried by. Men hung over the palings; the children played in the doorways. A low hum came from the mean little cottages. In some of them there was a flicker of light, and a shadow, crab-like, moved across the window. -

Contrast the vast differences between classes: frivolity and indulgence against the harsh realities of life

Provide two similarities in setting between “Beyond the Bayou” and “The Garden Party.” -

Large gap between class distinctions Depict the protagonist physically crossing from one class to another Take place on a large family estate...