Symbolism in Miss Brill

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    Katherine Mansfield is a great writer who has written many short stories. Miss Brill is one of the short stories written by her.

    The story is a narration about a woman that lives alone and talks to her "fur coat" (Mansfield 1). She also goes every Sunday to Jardins Publiques park and sits on the same seat. When she is in the park, she eavesdrops and wills to know everything about other people's lives. Miss Brill imagines herself being in a play and she is on stage, with the band performing in the park, while the other people in the park are her audience. Miss Brill is used to buy a slice of honey-cake on her way home to make her feel better. Although she likes buying this cake, she does not buy it one time since she hears a boy and a girl criticizing her. She feels so desperate and just goes to her "little dark room" (Mansfield 4). When Miss Brill puts her fur coat back in the box then closes the lid, she hears it crying.

    Symbolism is a main tool to fully understand the story and feel the deep emotions. Mansfield loaded the story with many symbols. To begin with, the fur coat is a symbol of Miss Brill herself. She touches the coat and addresses it saying "Dear little thing!" (Mansfield 1). A non living thing can not be "dear", but it seems that she feels sorry for herself too because of being lonely. Morever, she hears it crying after putting it in the box so, it should be her soul that cries not the coat.Then, the play she imagines symbolizes the life she wants. Miss Brill wants people around her and needs everyone to recognize her, so she can fill the emptiness in her heart. Another important symbol in the story is the "little dark room"(Mansfield 4). It is stated in the story that it is like a cupboard. This symbolizes the dark, dull life that Miss Brill lives.

     In conclusion, the story is a masterpiece that shows the life of a lonely person in such a detailed way.


                                    Works Cited 

“Miss Brill by Katherine Mansfield.” HCCS Learning Web,  https://learning.hccs.edu/faculty/pamela.golden/engl0419-12165-0410-12134-0423-12178/readings/miss-brill-by-katherine-mansfield/view. Accessed 27 November 2021.


 



Comments

  1. Nour HamedNovember 27, 2021 at 5:34 PM

    Miss Brill is a short story that portrays life after getting old. Solitude and loneliness are prominent themes provided my Mansfield. Furthermore, the ending is ironic; I didn’t expect Miss Brill to cry when she reaches her home. I indeed sympathize with her and hope that I never become as lonely as she is.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mariam Mohamed HosnyNovember 27, 2021 at 5:51 PM

      I totally agree. One should try to avoid loneliness to not be pulled in that deep, dark sadness.

      Delete
  2. Salma YaserNovember 27, 2021 at 5:40 PM

    The way Miss Brill consistently relates to her surroundings highlights her isolation and the sadness caused by it. Isolation does affect a person's psyche and emotions, and I guess this is why Miss Brill finds joy in living her life through the experiences of others.

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    Replies
    1. Mariam Mohamed HosnyNovember 27, 2021 at 5:57 PM

      Yes, she lives other's lives as a desperate attempt to feel happy and content.

      Delete
  3. Sarah HagarNovember 27, 2021 at 5:45 PM

    You do not know to what extent I like Mansfield’s stories; she usually amazes and impresses me. This story, specifically, is filled with many symbols, so it really has different interpretations, but your interpretation is really interesting.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Salma MustafaDecember 10, 2021 at 10:54 AM

    What a good interpretation! I really like all her works and this short story specifically. I do not understand Miss Brill’s character yet, but I sympathize with her, especially when she gets back home without buying the honey cake.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mariam Mohamed HosnyDecember 10, 2021 at 12:24 PM

      Mansfield's works are actually great. Regarding Miss Brill's character, I think she is just lonely so, she acts in a strange manner. The mysterious thing is how and why she has got so lonely. Whatever the answer is, she actually worths sympathy.

      Delete

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