Visual of a Women, from Katherine Mansfield’s Point of View
J’Harri Garrett
Dr. Trudier Harris
Section 249-003
30 October 2012
Visual of a Women, from Katherine Mansfield’s Point of View
Obtuse, emotional, imaginative and lost are some of the characteristics Katherine Mansfield uses to portray her female characters. Even though she always goes against the current of life she never really finds herself and this insecurity she expresses in her works. In her short stories, “Miss Brill”, “The Daughters of the Late Colonel”, and “The Garden Party”, Katherine really shows how she thought of women by stating their place in society, emphasizing their personalities, and relationships with the opposite sex.
Katherine Mansfield originally known as Kathleen Mansfield Beauchamp, was born on October 14, 1888, in Wellington, New Zealand, to Harold Beauchamp and Annie Burnell Dyer. Harold was a banker and Annie was a stay at home wife. Born to a wealthy and prestigious family, Mansfield was expected to grow up to marry a suitable man and live the life of a well-bred woman. However, that is not the plan Mansfield had for herself; she was very adventurous and rebellious. She grew up inspired to be a writer and was educated in London. She studied music and wrote for a school newspaper, while studying the works of early twentieth century writers. Mansfield was more focused in the progress of her writing than fitting into the ideal image of a woman of her society. In 1907, she began writing short stories for an Australian magazine for a short period of time. After this she returned to London and got pregnant from an affair with Garnett Trowell, a musician. Soon after, she wed George Bowden, who she had only met three weeks before and left before the wedding night was over. Mansfield wore black to her wedding in opposition to the traditional white dress. Mansfield’s mother found out about her open affairs with both men and women, she sent her to a German spa. She did this in hopes of purifying the lifestyle and way of writing
Dr. Trudier Harris
Section 249-003
30 October 2012
Visual of a Women, from Katherine Mansfield’s Point of View
Obtuse, emotional, imaginative and lost are some of the characteristics Katherine Mansfield uses to portray her female characters. Even though she always goes against the current of life she never really finds herself and this insecurity she expresses in her works. In her short stories, “Miss Brill”, “The Daughters of the Late Colonel”, and “The Garden Party”, Katherine really shows how she thought of women by stating their place in society, emphasizing their personalities, and relationships with the opposite sex.
Katherine Mansfield originally known as Kathleen Mansfield Beauchamp, was born on October 14, 1888, in Wellington, New Zealand, to Harold Beauchamp and Annie Burnell Dyer. Harold was a banker and Annie was a stay at home wife. Born to a wealthy and prestigious family, Mansfield was expected to grow up to marry a suitable man and live the life of a well-bred woman. However, that is not the plan Mansfield had for herself; she was very adventurous and rebellious. She grew up inspired to be a writer and was educated in London. She studied music and wrote for a school newspaper, while studying the works of early twentieth century writers. Mansfield was more focused in the progress of her writing than fitting into the ideal image of a woman of her society. In 1907, she began writing short stories for an Australian magazine for a short period of time. After this she returned to London and got pregnant from an affair with Garnett Trowell, a musician. Soon after, she wed George Bowden, who she had only met three weeks before and left before the wedding night was over. Mansfield wore black to her wedding in opposition to the traditional white dress. Mansfield’s mother found out about her open affairs with both men and women, she sent her to a German spa. She did this in hopes of purifying the lifestyle and way of writing
Cited: Jones, Kathleen. “Katherine Mansfield.” http://www.katherinemansfield.net/life/briefbio7.htm Mansfield, Katherine. “Miss Brill.” http://www.readbookonline.net/readOnLine/1349/ Mansfield, Katherine. “The Daughters of the Late Colonel.” http://readbookonline.net/readOnLine/1356/ Mansfield, Katherine. “The Garden Party.” http://www.readbookonline.net/readOnLine/1355/