Many of Katherine Mansfield’s stories deal with relationship, friendship, marriage and family life. The male-female relationship always plays a major role in her stories and is an ever returning motif throughout her works. Nevertheless, the ways they are presented are always different but the same. The settings and the plot usually differ, bur the problems of male-female relationship, such as the dominating male character always return. Her own personal experience in her family background might be one reason for it.
Nevertheless, she did not always focus on relationship problems, she could also write perfectly about romances and romantic relationships, as in The Singing Lesson, Poison or Mr. and Mrs. Dove. This might have portrayed her own longing for a romance.
The focus of the following discourse is set on the unhappy relationships she portrayed in her works. It deals not only with the relationship itself, but also with the male characters and how they change or do not change throughout the story. The stories chosen are A Birthday and The Stranger. The reason for only choosing two is the limited space for the discourse, which makes it impossible to include a third story. At the Bay, for instance, would have been another perfect example for this issue. All of them represent alienation in a relationship and portray different reasons for this to happen. In order to characterize the relationship, not only the male protagonists will be highlighted, but also the female characters of the stories.
At the end the differences and similarities between the male protagonists and their relationship will be shown and worked out. The fact that this will be an own passage in the discourse will make the conclusion rather short, since the comparison of the two characters and their relationship also summarizes the discourse.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. Introduction
- 2. The Stranger
- 2.1 John Hammond
- 2.2 The relationship between John Hammond and his wife Janey
- 2.2.1 Janey
- 2.2.2 The relationship
- 3. A Birthday
- 3.1 Andreas Binzer
- 3.2 The relationship between Andreas Binzer and his wife Anna
- 3.2.1 Anna
- 3.2.2 The relationship
- 4. Comparison between the two male protagonists and their relationships
- 5. Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This discourse analyzes unhappy relationships portrayed in Katherine Mansfield's short stories, focusing on "The Stranger" and "A Birthday." It examines the male protagonists' roles and how their actions contribute to the relational alienation depicted. The analysis considers both the male and female characters to comprehensively characterize the relationships.
- Male-female relationships in Katherine Mansfield's works
- The role of the male protagonist in creating relational conflict
- Contrasting portrayals of male and female characters within the relationships
- Analysis of outward appearances versus inner realities of characters
- Comparison of relationships across different stories
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the discourse by highlighting Katherine Mansfield's recurring theme of male-female relationships in her short stories. It notes the variations in her depictions, ranging from unhappy relationships to romantic ones, suggesting possible connections to her personal experiences. The chapter then narrows the focus to two stories, "The Stranger" and "A Birthday," chosen due to space constraints, and it explicitly states the aim to analyze not only the relationships themselves but also the contributing roles of the male protagonists and how these characters evolve or remain static throughout the narrative. The chapter concludes by outlining the methodology, emphasizing a comparative analysis of the male protagonists and their respective relationships, which will serve as a basis for a concise conclusion.
2. The Stranger: This chapter delves into Katherine Mansfield's "The Stranger," establishing a connection between the story's plot and Mansfield's mother's real-life experience of a long sea voyage. The chapter notes the paradoxical narrative style: a leisurely pace despite the underlying theme of impatience. The analysis focuses on the male protagonist, John Hammond, using his perspective as a lens to examine the dynamics of the relationship. The chapter begins with a detailed description of John Hammond's outward appearance, suggesting an attempt to portray a strong and successful persona. However, this is contrasted with his inner nervousness and impatience, highlighting a divergence between appearance and reality. This section also briefly introduces Janey, highlighting her popularity and calm demeanor, setting up a contrast with her husband's behavior.
3. A Birthday: (Note: This section is missing from the provided text, and therefore, a summary cannot be generated.)
4. Comparison between the two male protagonists and their relationships: (Note: This section is missing from the provided text, and therefore, a summary cannot be generated.)
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Katherine Mansfield, male-female relationships, short stories, "The Stranger," "A Birthday," character analysis, relational alienation, masculine point of view, narrative style, inner vs. outward appearance.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Katherine Mansfield's Short Stories
What is the focus of this academic analysis?
This analysis focuses on unhappy relationships portrayed in Katherine Mansfield's short stories, specifically "The Stranger" and "A Birthday." It examines the male protagonists' roles in contributing to relational alienation and compares their relationships.
What are the key themes explored in the analysis?
Key themes include male-female relationships in Mansfield's work, the role of the male protagonist in creating relational conflict, contrasting portrayals of male and female characters, the discrepancy between outward appearances and inner realities, and a comparison of relationships across different stories.
Which stories are analyzed in detail?
The analysis primarily focuses on two short stories by Katherine Mansfield: "The Stranger" and "A Birthday." The choice is attributed to space constraints.
What is the methodology of the analysis?
The analysis employs a comparative approach, examining the male protagonists in both stories and their respective relationships to draw conclusions. It also analyzes the narrative style and character development to understand the dynamics of the relationships.
What aspects of "The Stranger" are discussed?
The analysis of "The Stranger" examines the male protagonist, John Hammond, his outward persona versus his inner anxieties, and the contrasting portrayal of his wife, Janey. It also connects the story's plot to Mansfield's mother's life experience.
What information is missing from the provided text?
The provided text lacks detailed summaries of chapters 3 ("A Birthday") and 4 ("Comparison between the two male protagonists and their relationships"). Therefore, a comprehensive summary of those chapters cannot be generated.
What keywords are associated with this analysis?
Keywords include Katherine Mansfield, male-female relationships, short stories, "The Stranger," "A Birthday," character analysis, relational alienation, masculine point of view, narrative style, and inner vs. outward appearance.
What is the overall objective of the analysis?
The analysis aims to comprehensively characterize the unhappy relationships in Mansfield's stories by analyzing the male protagonists' contributions to the relational conflicts and comparing these dynamics across the selected stories. It explores how Mansfield portrays the inner and outer lives of her characters to illuminate these relationships.
What is included in the provided language preview?
The preview includes the title, table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries (where available), and keywords. It offers a structured overview of the analysis.
- Quote paper
- Heinrich Mario Nink (Author), 2008, Male protagonists and their marital situation portrayed in Katherine Mansfield’s “The Stranger” and “A Birthday”, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/125775
