Analysis of a Passage in Mansfield's The Garden Party

642 Words2 Pages

The passage portrays a power struggle in Laura’s upbringing and a young girl's attempt to establish her own identity. Laura is a caring and sensitive young person who struggles with her own and her family's perceptions of class difference. It is evident that Laura is self-consciousness regarding her own youth and inexperience with her encounter with the workmen, it brings a sense as that she has no or little control of the situation in the passage, soon loses her composure and the workmen become frustrated. The very first sentence, Laura, in her dealings with the workman, she attempts to play the role of her mother, the adult, thinking to herself, whether it is appropriate to address a women or a girl of Laura’s upbringing in that manner “Laura’s upbringing made her wonder for a moment whether it was quite respectful of a workman to talk to her of bang slap in the eye”. For Laura that has been imitating her mothers traits she feels disrespected, for her mother would never allow a workman to speak to her in that manner. Laura then recommends a corner of the tennis court. Although a...

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