"The Stranger" by Katherine Mansfield is a short story that explores themes of identity, isolation, and the complexities of human relationships. The protagonist, Mrs. Brill, is a middle-aged woman who feels disconnected from the world around her. She spends her days observing the people in her community, but she doesn't really feel like she belongs.
One day, while she is out walking in the park, Mrs. Brill encounters a young couple who seem to be completely lost in their own world. The man, whom Mrs. Brill refers to as "the stranger," seems aloof and indifferent to her presence, while the woman seems deeply troubled. Mrs. Brill is fascinated by the couple and tries to engage them in conversation, but they are not interested in talking to her.
As Mrs. Brill continues to watch the couple, she begins to feel a sense of longing and sadness. She realizes that she has been living a solitary, isolated life and that she has been missing out on meaningful human connections. The stranger and his companion represent everything that Mrs. Brill has been missing in her life, and she longs to be a part of their world.
However, Mrs. Brill also recognizes the difficulties and complexities of human relationships. She knows that she cannot simply insert herself into the lives of the stranger and his companion, and she realizes that their relationship is not as perfect as it seems on the surface. The woman is unhappy and the man is indifferent, and Mrs. Brill realizes that she cannot simply assume that their lives are better than her own.
In the end, Mrs. Brill is left with a sense of sadness and regret, but also with a newfound appreciation for the value of human connection. She realizes that she has been living a superficial and isolated life, and she resolves to make an effort to connect with others in a deeper, more meaningful way.
Overall, "The Stranger" by Katherine Mansfield is a thought-provoking and poignant exploration of the complexities of human relationships and the importance of connection. Through the character of Mrs. Brill, the story illustrates the dangers of living a solitary, isolated life and the need to seek out and cultivate meaningful connections with others.
The Stranger
Hammond never noticed what his wife had on. The women he leaves are happy that he is gone, especially Linda, his strangely passive wife, who still loves him but dislikes their children, including a new baby boy. A woman of reproductive age risks much in an era lacking reliable birth control, let alone social welfare payments for unwed mothers. Or could it be the husband? But her words, so light, so soft, so chill, seemed to hover in the air, to rain into his breast like snow. Janey asked if he would go downstairs and get room service so they might have tea but again Mr.
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At that moment old Captain Johnson, the harbour-master, came striding down the wharf, a leather portfolio under his arm. If a story appears to point in many directions, not all of which are logically consistent, that is the way Mansfield feels the whole truth is most honestly communicated. Katherine Mansfield: A Critical Study. Right from the beginning, it is clear that he is either in love or, alternately, obsessed. He put his face into her bosom and his arms enfolded her. They had met aboard the ship, he was a first class passenger and had been ill for sometime but he had seemed so much better until today. Would he ever know? The citation above will include either 2 or 3 dates.
The Stranger by Katherine Mansfield
Readers may guess that their next meeting will be no more satisfying than their last. In such a story, the author managed to explore so many themes which was fascinating to me. Here, change has moved him from a central character in the business to someone edged off to the sidelines at home. There is no plot revelation of the kind that would tie up The true revelation comes for the reader. Brandishing his umbrella he a cut a path to the ship and saw it was Janey and she was waving her handkerchief at him. How can they hold a garden party, with music and guests and laughter, when a family nearby are in mourning for the death of their husband and father? Her exact meanings are not so easily pinned down, for her tone is complex: She mixes witty satire and shattering emotional reversals. Yet, in any age, her stories would be remarkable for their precise and evocative descriptions, their convincing dialogue, their economy and wit, and their dazzling insights into the shifting emotions of their characters.
Analysis of Katherine Mansfieldâs Stories
Her mother exemplifies this, with the way she makes snap decisions and bosses around the servants. In reality when a woman married her freedom was somewhat curtailed in line with what was accepted by society. Alpers draws on years of research and includes interviews with people who knew Mansfield, such as Murry and Ida Baker, and their comments on his earlier book, Katherine Mansfield: A Biography 1953. Critics are divided about this story, but what is clear is that its ambiguities raise a host of issues for consideration. Well, we can't blame him. Scriverò un'eresia, ma ho come l'impressione che l'autrice abbia affibbiato al signor Hammond una personalità , un sentire un tantino femminile.
