THE DOLL’S HOUSE - Short Story
-BY Katherine Mansfield
SUMMARY
“The Doll’s House” is a short story
written by Katherine Mansfield, a famous writer from New Zealand. In this story,
Katherine shows the unfair practice of class distinction in society. This story
depicts the distinction between the rich and the poor based on prejudice in the
society.
Burnells are
a rich family. A Doll’s house arrives at the Burnell home as a gift from Mrs.
Hay. The
doll's house is large, elaborate, and smells strongly of its fresh,
spinach-green paint. It has delicately decorated rooms. The Burnell’s three
daughters – Isabel, Lottie, and Kezia liked the house very much. Particularly
Kezia, the youngest Burnell, liked a little amber lamp with a white globe that
appears to be filled with oil.
At
school, the Burnells boast about their dollhouse to the other girls. They
invited other girls one by one to see the doll’s house. All the girls felt
amazed seeing the doll’s house. But the
two Kelvey sisters – Lil and Else were not invited as they belong to poor
family. Their mother is a washer woman and father is a jail bird. They are also
eager to watch the doll’s house.
One
evening, Kezia sees the two Kelvey sisters going near their house. She invites
them to see the doll’s house. The two girls hesitantly entered into the court
yard. They were amazed to see the beautiful doll’s house. But, then Kezia’s
aunt Beryl comes and scolds Kezia for allowing the poor girls. She shoos them
away as if they are animals. But, Else happily tells her sister that she had
seen the lamp in the house.
Thus, the story basically
gives us deep insight into the manners and behaviors of the aristocratic
families. Here the writer ridicules the negative philosophy of social
discrimination caused by uneven division of wealth. The story beautifully
brings out the emotional relationship between the three sisters and their
friends. Moreover, it conveys an idea that parents attitude influence their
children and deprive them of their natural goodness. In short in life-like
manner Katherine tells us the hidden vices people belonging to higher society.
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References
used: Internet resources and English Praxis textbooks by APSCHE
Noojilla
Srinivas, Ph: 7981862200; email: noojillasrinivas@gmail.com
Lecturer
in English
Govt.
Degree College, Alamuru, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema Dist., Andhra Pradesh
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