The Garden Party by Katherine Mansfield
"The Garden Party" by Katherine Mansfield is a short story that explores themes of class distinction, innocence, and the complexities of life and death. Set in a well-to-do family preparing for a lavish garden party, the narrative follows Laura Sheridan, the youngest daughter, as she navigates the contrasting worlds of her privileged upbringing and the tragic news of a neighboring family's loss. The story opens with a jubilant atmosphere as the Sheridans organize the event, yet this joy is soon overshadowed by the news of a man’s fatal accident in a working-class area nearby.
Laura’s initial reaction is one of empathy and a desire to cancel the party out of respect for the deceased, but she is overruled by her family, highlighting the absurdity of class distinctions that permeate their lives. The party proceeds, and although Laura initially grapples with her conscience, she becomes absorbed in the festivities. However, her encounter with the grieving widow and the sight of the dead man ultimately confronts her with the harsh realities of life and death, leading to a profound moment of introspection. Mansfield’s story poignantly captures the tension between social class and human experience, making it a compelling reflection on the complexities of societal norms and personal awakening.
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The Garden Party by Katherine Mansfield
First published: 1922
Type of plot: Psychological
Time of work: The early twentieth century
Locale: Unnamed city in New Zealand
Principal Characters:
Mrs. Sheridan , a well-to-do matronLaura Sheridan , her youngest daughterMeg Sheridan , her oldest daughterJose Sheridan , her second daughterLaurie Sheridan , her older sonWorkmen
The Story
A busy, happy mood prevails in the morning. The day, the lawns, and the gardens—particularly the roses—are perfect. During breakfast, Mrs. Sheridan asks her youngest daughter, Laura, to go outside and give directions to the men who will erect a canvas shelter for a garden party. Although Laura's little mission is successful, she questions herself several times. After rushing out, she feels awkward holding her bread-and-butter, and her formal "good morning" to the men sounds inappropriate. One of the men bluntly questions the location that Laura suggests for the marquee. Then she feels embarrassed for having mentioned that a band will play at the party. Happily, the assured manner of the tallest workman relaxes Laura; he speaks for the group and decides where the marquee should go. When he pinches a sprig of lavender and sniffs it, any concerns that Laura might have about her behavior vanish. In fact, she wishes that men of her own class were as nice as this man.
Laura understands that the awkwardness of this little encounter has resulted from "absurd class distinctions." As she watches the men work, she momentarily feels that she herself is "just like a work-girl." After she runs back into the house for a phone call, however, she forgets about the workmen as she savors all that she sees and hears. This time a florist interrupts her reverie; the frighteningly alive pink canna lilies that he delivers make Laura ecstatic. No sooner has she kissed her mother in gratitude than her sisters and little brother command her and her mother to come to the piano that they have just moved to listen to Laura's sister Meg sing "This Life Is Weary." Although the song laments life's burdens and the imminence of death, Meg wears a "brilliant, dreadfully unsympathetic smile."
Preparations for the party continue throughout the household. The cook requests flags to identify the kinds of sandwiches that she is readying. Another delivery man arrives with irresistible cream puffs—which Sadie, the family maid, insists that the children sample. As the children lick their sticky fingers, unpleasant news arrives: A man named Scott from a nearby poor neighborhood has just died in an accident. Like the Sheridans, his family has five children.
When Laura hears this news, she insists that the garden party should be canceled. However, her sister Jose argues with her. Laura appeals to their mother, but Mrs. Sheridan's first reaction to the tragedy is simply relief that the man did not die on their property. Mrs. Sheridan overcomes Laura's objections to continuing with the party by giving her a beautiful hat. Laura remains unsure about what she should do, but when she sees herself in her new hat, her astonishment quiets her objections about the party. By the time lunch is over and the guests arrive, Laura is content to be praised for her beauty, and she no longer mentions the accident.
The party is successful. Afterward, when Mr. Sheridan mentions Scott's fatal accident, his wife decides to send the leftover sandwiches to the man's grieving family. Laura delivers the basket, feeling painfully out of place in the poor neighborhood. She wants simply to leave the basket at the Scotts' house but instead is taken before the grieving widow. Confused and awkward, Laura tries to leave but accidentally walks into the room where the dead man lies.
The resulting encounter with the dead man confuses Laura even more. She finds the poor man's unmarred face to be "wonderful, beautiful" and "happy." Feeling compelled to cry, she asks him to forgive her hat. After departing unseen, she meets her older brother Laurie, who comforts her. She starts to say, "Isn't life . . . " but cannot finish.
Bibliography
Bell, Barbara Currier. "Non-Identical Twins: Nature in ‘The Garden Party' and ‘The Grave.'" The Comparatist 12 (May, 1988): 58-66. Examines the meaning of nature in both short stories. Provides insight into Mansfield's use of nature in most of her short fiction.
Boddy, Gillian. Katherine Mansfield: The Woman and the Writer. New York: Penguin Books, 1988. An extensive biography of Mansfield. Discusses her life in the context of her writings and experiences.
Daly, Saralyn R. Katherine Mansfield. New York: Twayne, 1965. Chapter 6 is the most useful in terms of understanding themes and meanings; however the entire book lends insight into Mansfield as a writer.
Kaplan, Sydney Janet. Katherine Mansfield and the Origins of Modernist Fiction. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press, 1991. Chapter 8 offers another tool for analysis of Mansfield's characters. Stresses that a feminist approach is applicable to the interpretation of her works.
Rohrberger, Mary. The Art of Katherine Mansfield. Ann Arbor, Mich.: University Microfilms International, 1977. Chapters 4, 5, and 6 are principally concerned with explaining the themes and techniques used in The Garden Party and Other Stories and other short stories. Extensive bibliographic notes and index.