[...] Besides, they are in a conflict between a commitment to love and their vivid
interest in art. In other stories, such as “The Singing Lesson” (1920/22), “Poison” (1920/24) and
“Mr. and Mrs. Dove” (1921/1922) Katherine Mansfield focuses on a more romantic notion of
love, presenting both male and female characters experiencing the change between emotional
nearness and distance, between the hopes and anxieties of their dreams. Her short stories that are
set in Bavaria, such as “A Birthday” (1911), “Frau Brechenmacher Attends a Wedding” (1910)
and “The Child-Who-Was-Tired” (1910), deal with marital love and lack this romantic mood. In
a rather satirical style she displays an obviously feminist position as she criticizes male
dominance and the exploitation of women in marital relationships. After Mansfield married John
Middleton Murry in 1918, she writes stories which present her view of marriage – as it appears
in “Bliss” (1918), “The Stranger” (1920), Marriage à la Mode” (1921), “The Man Without a
Temperament” (1920) and “At the Bay” (1921). These narratives are mainly concerned with the
illustration of intimacy and alienation as well as with independence and constraint in marital
relations.
The following discourse is concerned with the male protagonists in Katherine
Mansfield’s short stories “The Stranger”, “At the Bay” and “A Birthday”. It emphasizes intimacy
and alienation in marital partnerships as chief characteristics in these short stories. All three
stories, either set in Europe or New Zealand, present married couples at a certain stage of human
life in unlike contexts. As this discourse is going to reveal each of the three marriages is torn
between intimacy and alienation. It emphasizes on the male protagonists and their marital
relationship, but necessarily also includes a characterisation of their wives. The three chosen
short stories are perfect examples for such an analysis as their married couples have basic
elements in common, such as age, social status, family situation and the acceptance of traditional
gender-specific role models. Thus their personalities and emotional conflicts to which this
discourse directs its principal attention are not essentially distinguished by these aspects.
1 The following paragraph is based on: Dada-Büchel, Marianne. Katherine Mansfield’s Dual Vision: Concepts of
Duality and Unity in Her Fictional Work. Andreas Fischer (Hrsg.). Thübingen: francke verlag, 1995. p. 127-128.
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. 1 John and Janey Hammond in „The Stranger“
II. 2 Stanley and Linda Burnell in “At the Bay”
II. 3 Andreas and Anna Binzer in “A Birthday”
III. Conclusion
Objectives and Themes
This academic paper examines the depiction of male protagonists and their marital situations in selected short stories by Katherine Mansfield, focusing on the underlying tensions between intimacy and alienation within these relationships.
- Analysis of male-female relationship dynamics in Mansfield's narratives.
- Exploration of the psychological and emotional states of married couples.
- Investigation into how gender-specific role models influence marital communication.
- Comparative analysis of the male characters in "The Stranger," "At the Bay," and "A Birthday."
- Evaluation of the impact of traditional domestic structures on partner alienation.
Excerpt from the Book
II. 1 John and Janey Hammond in “The Stranger”
Mansfield’s short story “The Stranger” is based on an experience of her parents. The story depicts the reunion of a couple after a ten-month separation. This reunion can be related to the meeting of Mansfield’s parents Mr. and Mrs. Beauchamp at Hobart Tasmania, in 1909, when Mrs. Beauchamp returned after visiting her daughter Katherine in England. In fact there was a passenger on board of this ship who fell ill during the journey and eventually died in her arms. The narrative opens with a character portrayal of the protagonist, John Hammond, a self-centred, middle-aged businessman.
In front of the crowd a strong looking, middle-aged man, dressed very well, very snugly in a grey overcoat, grey silk scarf, thick gloves and dark felt hat, marched up and down twirling his folded umbrella. He seemed to be the leader of the little crowd on the wharf and at the same time to keep them together. He was something between the sheep-dog and the shepherd.
This quotation includes many attributes and associations that are conventionally linked to maleness. The sheep-dog and shepherd metaphor symbolizes the man’s guiding and leading as well as his protective and safe-guarding role. The quotation above also shows that John’s movements imply associations linked to masculinity and self-confidence. Mr. Hammond is a wealthy, successful, self-important and pompous man and an extrovert, out-going and communicative character as one can for instance see in his behaviour in the hotel bar the day before his wife’s arrival: “the music he’d praised so highly, applauded so loudly last night!” (p. 359).
Summary of Chapters
I. Introduction: This chapter introduces Katherine Mansfield's career focus on marriage and male-female relationships, outlining the research aim of analyzing intimacy and alienation through the lens of male protagonists.
II. 1 John and Janey Hammond in „The Stranger“: This section explores how John Hammond’s insecurity and jealousy manifest in his marital relationship, contrasting his surface masculinity with an underlying fear of losing his wife.
II. 2 Stanley and Linda Burnell in “At the Bay”: This chapter analyzes the complex power dynamic between the domineering Stanley and the philosophical Linda, highlighting their struggles with social roles and communication.
II. 3 Andreas and Anna Binzer in “A Birthday”: The analysis covers Andreas Binzer’s self-centeredness and lack of empathy during his wife’s childbirth, illustrating the alienation caused by rigid adherence to traditional gender roles.
III. Conclusion: This final chapter synthesizes the findings, confirming that the three stories portray marriages fundamentally caught between the surface of harmonious family life and an underlying, pervasive emotional isolation.
Keywords
Katherine Mansfield, Short Stories, Marital Relationships, Alienation, Intimacy, Gender Roles, Male Protagonists, Psychological Analysis, The Stranger, At the Bay, A Birthday, Domesticity, Communication, Emotional Distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this paper?
The paper focuses on the depiction of male protagonists and their marital experiences within three specific short stories by Katherine Mansfield, specifically exploring the themes of intimacy versus alienation.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The paper covers human relationship dynamics, gender-specific role models, the clash between private and public selves, and the impact of domestic obligations on marital satisfaction.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to reveal how these three marriages, despite their different contexts, are inherently torn between the desire for intimate connection and the reality of emotional isolation.
Which scientific method is utilized?
The author employs a literary and textual analysis method, examining character portrayals, metaphors, and narrative perspectives to deduce psychological and social themes within the stories.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body provides deep textual analysis of the characters John Hammond, Stanley Burnell, and Andreas Binzer, evaluating their behaviors, insecurities, and how their interactions with their wives expose their underlying psychological states.
Which keywords define this work?
Key terms include marital relationships, alienation, intimacy, gender roles, and Katherine Mansfield's literary techniques.
How does the author interpret the bird metaphor in "The Stranger"?
The author argues that the bird metaphor illustrates John Hammond’s desperate longing for fulfillment and his subconscious fear that his wife, Janey, is elusive and likely to "fly away," representing his inability to truly possess her.
What role does the sun symbolism play in the analysis of "At the Bay"?
The sun is interpreted as a symbol of forceful masculinity and sexual energy; Linda’s avoidance of the sun and preference for the shade signifies her rejection of traditional motherly roles and her husband’s marital demands.
- Quote paper
- Viktor Höhn (Author), 2003, Male protagonists and their marital situation in Katherine Mansfield's short stories 'The Stranger', 'At The Bay' and 'A Birthday', Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/23378
