The Doll's House Short Story By Katherine Mansfield
When it comes to short stories, Katherine Mansfield is one of the most renowned writers of the genre. Her stories are known for their sharp observation, subtle irony, and a keen sense of human emotions. Among her many works, "The Doll's House" is a masterpiece that captures the essence of childhood innocence, social class, and the cruelty of human nature. In this article, we will discuss this short story in detail and explore its themes, characters, and literary techniques.
Summary of the Story
"The Doll's House" is a story about the Burnell family, who are part of the upper-middle-class society in New Zealand. The story begins with the arrival of a beautiful doll's house, which the Burnell sisters receive as a gift from their Aunt Beryl. The doll's house is exquisitely crafted, and it becomes the talk of the town among the Burnell sisters' schoolmates.
The story revolves around the Burnell sisters' attempts to show off their doll's house to their schoolmates, particularly the Kelveys, who come from a lower-class background. However, the Burnells' mother forbids her daughters from associating with the Kelveys, as they are considered socially inferior.
The story takes a tragic turn when the Kelveys finally get a chance to see the doll's house, but their joy is short-lived when they are asked to leave by the Burnell sisters' schoolmates. The Kelveys' humiliation and the Burnells' callousness towards them highlights the class divide in society and the cruelty of human nature.
Themes
The themes of "The Doll's House" include:
- Social Class: The story highlights the class divide in society and how it affects people's lives. The Burnells are part of the upper-middle-class society, while the Kelveys belong to the lower class. The story shows how the Burnells' social status influences their behavior towards the Kelveys, and how the Kelveys are excluded from the Burnells' world.
- Childhood Innocence: The story portrays the innocence and curiosity of children and how they are influenced by their surroundings. The Burnell sisters are fascinated by the doll's house, and it becomes the center of their world. However, their innocence is shattered when they learn about the Kelveys' social status and the cruelty of their classmates towards them.
- Cruelty: The story depicts the cruelty of human nature and how people can be callous towards others who are different from them. The Burnells' treatment of the Kelveys and their exclusion from the doll's house highlights the cruelty of social discrimination and how it affects people's lives.
Characters
The main characters in "The Doll's House" include:
- The Burnell Sisters: Isabel, Lottie, and Kezia are the Burnell sisters who receive the doll's house as a gift from their Aunt Beryl. They are fascinated by the doll's house and spend most of their time playing with it. However, their innocence is shattered when they learn about the Kelveys' social status and the cruelty of their classmates towards them.
- The Kelveys: Lil Kelvey and Else Kelvey are the daughters of a washerwoman who come from a lower-class background. They are excluded from the Burnells' world due to their social status, and their humiliation at the hands of the Burnells' classmates highlights the cruelty of social discrimination.
- Aunt Beryl: Aunt Beryl is the Burnells' aunt who gives them the doll's house as a gift. She is a kind-hearted woman who is not bound by the social class divide and treats the Kelveys with kindness and compassion.
Literary Techniques
The literary techniques used in "The Doll's House" include:
- Irony: The story uses irony to highlight the contrast between the Burnells' privileged life and the Kelveys' poverty. The doll's house, which is meant to be a symbol of wealth and luxury, becomes a source of misery for the Kelveys.
- Symbolism: The doll's house is a symbol of social status and class divide in society. It represents the Burnells' privileged life and their exclusion of the Kelveys from their world. The broken lamp in the doll's house is a symbol of the Kelveys' shattered dreams and hopes.
- Point of View: The story is narrated from a third-person omniscient point of view, which allows the reader to understand the thoughts and feelings of the characters. The point of view also highlights the class divide in society and the different perspectives of the characters.
Conclusion
"The Doll's House" is a powerful short story that explores the themes of social class, childhood innocence, and the cruelty of human nature. Katherine Mansfield's sharp observation and subtle irony make this story a masterpiece of the genre. The story's characters and literary techniques highlight the class divide in society and the impact it has on people's lives. "The Doll's House" is a timeless classic that continues to captivate readers to this day.