The Dolls's House Author: Katherine Mansfield
Katherine Mansfield was a famous New Zealand-born writer who is famous for her modernist short stories. Mansfield was born on October 14, 1888, in Wellington, New Zealand and moved to England in 1903 to start her writing career. Her work is usually described by its psychological depth, innovative narrative techniques, and the exploration of the inner lives of her characters. Mansfield's stories usually deal with social class, gender roles, and the complexities of human relationships. She died at the age of 34 in 1923 but left a lasting impression on the world of literature with her unique way of telling stories.
The Dolls's House Summary
"The Doll's House" is a fascinating short story penned by Katherine Mansfield. The novel is based in New Zealand and the story is about the Burnell sisters—Kezia, Isabel, and Lottie—who get a beautiful doll's house as a gift from their wealthy aunt, Mrs. Hay. This doll's house turns into a sign of social status and privilege, thus revealing the cruel realities of social hierarchy and discrimination.
The Burnell sisters are the envy of their classmates because of their new doll's house. The house is intricately designed and has small furniture and accessories, which makes it a desired item. Nevertheless, their happiness is soon replaced by their mother's dislike of the present. Mrs Burnell thinks that the doll's house is too lavish and will cause jealousy among the other children in the neighbourhood.
Although their mother is worried, the sisters still manage to show their doll's house to their classmates with pride. The other children are amazed by its beauty and complexity, but the Kelvey sisters—Lil and Else—are left out of the excitement. The Kelvey sisters are from a lower social class and their poverty does not allow them to afford such luxuries.
Kezia, the youngest of the Burnell sisters, is sad for the Kelvey sisters and thus decides to invite them to see the doll's house. Kezia's kind heart and her concern for the underprivileged make her to go against her mother's will. The Kelvey sisters are overjoyed to see the doll's house up close, but their happiness is cut short when Aunt Beryl, another relative of the Burnells, finds them and scolds them for being in such a high-class place.
The incident reveals the social divisions that are present in the community. Although the Burnell sisters are praised for their doll's house, the Kelvey sisters are looked down upon because of their lower social status. Nevertheless, Kezia does not let the social norms stop her from being friends with the Kelvey sisters.
Over the years, the Burnell sisters' interest in the doll's house diminishes, and it transforms into a mere decoration in their home. On the other hand, the Kelvey sisters turn into outcasts in the community because of their connection with the Burnells. At the end of the story, Kezia, filled with guilt, gives the Kelvey sisters a look at the little lamp in the doll's house, which they had never seen before. This gesture of kindness creates a ray of hope and humanity in an otherwise gloomy story.
"The Doll's House" is a touching examination of the social inequality and the power structures that are present in the communities. Mansfield skillfully shows the innocence of children in their conception of social divisions and underlines the significance of empathy and compassion in overcoming these barriers.
In this story, Mansfield uses his skills to create a narrative that confronts the social norms and makes the readers think about the unfairness of social hierarchies. Burnell and Kelvey's sisters show the bad effects of discrimination and the possibility of compassion and understanding to overcome the barriers.
The Dolls's House Conclusion
"The Doll's House" is a never-fading story that still touches the hearts of readers, making them think about the complexities of human relationships and the effect of class divisions on the whole society.
