At the Bay by Katherine Mansfield
"At the Bay" by Katherine Mansfield is a short story that explores the intricacies of a single day in the lives of the Burnell family living in Crescent Bay. Structured around the passage of time, the narrative begins at sunrise and concludes at sunset, capturing the mundane yet symbolic activities of the characters. The story intricately details the household routines and interactions among family members and guests, revealing underlying tensions and desires, particularly through the character of Beryl. Beryl's experiences reflect her struggles for independence and identity, as she grapples with familial expectations and her aspirations for personal fulfillment. The text delves into themes of femininity, societal roles, and the search for connection, highlighting the collective identity of women through their interconnected experiences. Mansfield’s rich storytelling emphasizes the emotional landscape of her characters while maintaining a focus on the everyday realities of life. Overall, "At the Bay" presents a poignant examination of domestic life, marked by moments of quiet reflection and complex interactions.
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At the Bay by Katherine Mansfield
First published: 1922
Type of plot: Domestic realism
Time of work: The early twentieth century
Locale: New Zealand
Principal Characters:
Linda Burnell , a woman who embodies a female mystiqueStanley Burnell , her husbandIsabel , their oldest daughterKezia , their middle daughter, much like her mother in temperamentLottie , their youngest daughterMrs. Fairchild , Linda's beloved mother, the stabilizing female force in the householdBeryl fairchild , Linda's unmarried younger sisterAlice , the servant girl
The Story
Although written four years later, "At the Bay" was conceived as a continuation of "Prelude." Like the earlier story, "At the Bay" is organized around time in all of its various aspects, the design of the story functioning symbolically as part of the overall meaning that derives from the integration of themes. The story begins at the moment the sun rises over Crescent Bay and concludes on the evening of the same day.
The meticulous record of that day in terms of time and the household routines of the Burnell family provides a summary of the action of the story, the careful delineation of sequential time causing plot to become symbolic action. Stanley, the first to arise, goes to the beach to swim in the bay, but he finds his brother-in-law, Jonathan Trout, there before him. After his swim, Stanley returns to the cottage and dresses while breakfast is being prepared by Beryl and Mrs. Fairchild. Stanley allows twenty-five minutes to have breakfast with them and the children. Linda remains in bed. After much frenzied activity, Stanley leaves for work, and the children are sent out to play. The women relax with another cup of tea. At exactly eleven o'clock, they all go to the beach—except Linda, who sits in the garden while the new baby sleeps. The children play at the beach with their cousins, Rags and Pip, and Beryl, despite her mother's disapproval, leaves the family group to swim with Mrs. Harry Kember.
After lunch, Mrs. Fairchild and the children take an afternoon rest. Beryl washes her hair and then goes out to play bridge with Mrs. Kember. Alice, the servant girl, has the afternoon off and goes into town to visit with Mrs. Stubbs. After tea, the children go out to play in the garden, while Mrs. Fairchild gives the baby his bath. Linda walks in the garden until sunset, when Jonathan comes to take the boys home, and Stanley returns from the city. After dinner the day has ended for everyone except Beryl, who, late at night, after everyone is asleep, walks with Mr. Kember in the garden.
Although in both "Prelude" and "At the Bay" it is difficult to name a protagonist (all the female characters seem to merge into a collective identity, with each single character suggesting an aspect of the female psyche), if it is necessary to name a protagonist, it is arguable that in "At the Bay" Beryl emerges as the principal figure. For Beryl, the day is one of disquieting discovery and frustrated attempts to find a life and a lover of her own.
Early, at breakfast, Stanley is aware that something is wrong with Beryl. She is unmindful of him and cross with Kezia. Her mood changes when she stops the coach and has the chance to talk and laugh with one of the passengers. She is happy to have Stanley leave, to be free from his demands and authority. At the beach, Beryl disregards her mother's wishes and moves beyond the family circle to join Mrs. Harry Kember. Fascinated by what she sees as masculine qualities in Mrs. Kember, Beryl becomes shy and reckless. Defiant of the other women on the beach, she undresses boldly and goes into the water with Mrs. Kember. For Beryl, Mrs. Kember's face in her black bathing cap as it emerges from the water is an image of Satan, constantly shifting form in a manner that is for Beryl both horrible and fascinating.
Later that night in her bedroom, Beryl recalls the day and in her imagination puts Mrs. Kember's compliments on the lips of a lover. In the midst of Beryl's fantasy, a real man appears, Harry Kember. When he calls to her, Beryl goes out to him, but she is not prepared for his aggressiveness, and she runs inside. Kember is a horrible caricature of a fantasy lover; the episode seems like a dark and disturbing dream.