Dealing with Social Ostracism in ‘The Doll’s House' by Katherine Mansfield

Anyone who lived through high school gym class knows the desperation of being picked last for the sports team. The same hurt feelings bubble up when you are excluded from lunch with co-workers, fail to land the job interviewed for or are dumped by a romantic partner. Within a society, social classes are unavoidable. In the short story ‘The Doll’s House’, the author, Katherine Mansfield examines the difficulties dealing with class-consciousness and social ostracism in this society, also the influence on Isabel by Aunt Beryl. Mansfield uses various language techniques to intensify the message, class prejudice corrupts innocence and egalitarian attitude.

Social groups have long been a part of human history. Categorizing people into "us" and "them" helped humans develop tribes, clans, and other early social structures.There has been a constant struggle between the upper and lower class citizens throughout the unfolding of human history. In the short story ‘ The Doll’s House’, Mansfield, the author expresses strong sympathy for the working class and the poor, forcefully condemns both upper-class exploitation and arrogance.Mansfield uses symbolization and the descriptive language to intensify the message, class prejudice corrupts innocence and the egalitarian attitude. The story takes place within a rural setting in the nineteenth century and at a time when class differences were much more pronounced than today . In the story, Burell's doll house represents the upper class society and symbolizes a separate part of society. Mansfield describes the doll’s house as luxurious and spectacular. The description of the doll’s house, ‘There were pictures on the walls, painted on the paper, with gold frames complete. Red carpet covered all th...

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... rising inflation rate, injustice (because of status), expensive schooling has pushed many individuals as well as families down from a higher level to a lower one. “Justice delayed is justice denied” and our law enforcement organizations are strictly following this very famous quote which has created another social class/ group of those who can afford justice and those who cannot. Economic fluctuations including 0-4% inflation rate in developed countries and up to 5% to 20%in developing countries, falling exchange value of currencies and sky touching prices of goods and services has compelled millions of people to the brink of poverty and destitution. Mere attention is given to those who form the major part of our country’s population and this is causing severe distress and pain for the labor class as well as the middle class to breathe in such aura of restlessness.