Katherine Mansfield stories “Prelude” and “At the Bay” Essay

Two of Katherine Mansfields most famous stories ar Prelude and At the Bay, both(prenominal) of them portraying a New Zealand family. Both stories, are revolving around the female eccentric persons, but the whizz think that connects each of them is Stanley Burnell, member and provider of the family.The New Zealand critic Carl posture affirms that Stanley Burnell is a benevolent despot intend that he is a kind person, and a tyrant in the same time. I agree with Stead affirmation, but as it holdms somewhat incomplete, I would want to add a few intelligence agencys to it Stanley character is benevolent but unconsciously despot.Stanley is dynamic and doesnt like to rely on other passel he is eager to put down roots and settle down. He has no inherited wealthiness or special education completely his own intellect on which to rely. He is non only responsible for Linda and his children, but he has assumed responsibility for her mother and unmarried sister, Beryl. He works ro ugh and makes sacrifices to support his family. For example, when they are all on holiday in At the Bay, Stanley catches the bus in to work .To wee such a busy brio, Stanley demands constant support from everyone else into covering his insecurities. He is non only looking for support, but he also expects for other people to try and achieve something on their own as he does.Because Beryl lacks money, Stanley expects her to try and work hard By Jove, if she cant do a hands turn occasionally without shouting about it in return for. Stanley does non finish his sentence, being not sure exactly what it is Beryl owes him. This shows that it became a routine for him to financially lock charge of everybody in the family, and that he does not expect a material reward, even though he wants to see people try. In At the Bay there is a moment when all the women seem to get laid Stanleys departure Oh, the relief, the difference it made to have the man out of the house. Their very function s were changed as they called to one another they sounded warm and loving as if they shared a secret. But Katherine Mansfield uses this passage to play up how much they all depend on him.Anyone in Mansfields fiction who uses slang or interchange sentences, such as Stanley is suspect of having controversy in the character. Usually, inStanleys dialogs, Katherine Mansfield uses short sentences as stressful to prove that he speaks fast. Stanley also seems to use slang and to swear in front of the kids What the hell eternal damnation take it. All this demonstrate that he is a voluble and an action men, as he does not have time to fix his language.There is a tension in Stanleys life he is controlled by the need of always to be on time he can rarely relax. In At the Bay, even personnel casualty for an early morning swim, he flung, cleared, rushed staggered, escaped, swooped, in outrank to be frontmost in, and once in, he can not stop to enjoy it I have no tie to fool about.This is a good example of life authenticity (a enjoyment of life) that Mansfield achieves. The scene happens in early morning, to highlight that Stanley was used to getting up early. Mansfield uses a very pestilent mixture of precision and action, to portray exactly his enthusiasm. She has run every step behind him and she slows down the performance by using the word staggered staggered up the sandy hillock. Mansfield intends to slow down Stanleys race not because he was tired, but because his feet were sinking into the sand. This race might represent the symbol of his life. Stanleys life is a race in which he wants to be the best. But just as his feet sink in the sand, in real life he meets obstacles and becomes insecure, needing the family support to give him the strength to keep going, racing for dependable life.In the passage the atmosphere seems to be filled with excitement, even joy, which shows that Stanley is happy with his complicated life. Mansfield uses split of words like ex ulting, swoops and soaking to convey his thoughts and feelings. He wades out exulting. He swoops to souse his head and neck, delighted with himself for being first in the water again. Then he hears Jonathan Trouts voice and he realizes that he is not first after all and small explosions occurring inside his head. Great Scott damnation take it Why the dickens didnt the fellow stick to his part of the sea? To escape from Jonathan conversation, which he thinks of as piffle and rot, he turns over on his back and kicks with his legs till he is a living water-spout.Stanley seems ridiculous as we witness his confidence, delights and disappointments because he is acting like a child and is hard to understand that he is the same person that is very successful in business.This is why I added the word unconsciously to Carl Stead affirmation that Stanley is a benevolent despot. He pushes people to work hard and be like him, but he does not realize that this might be harder for some people tha n he thinks. If he would know that he is hurting his family, especially Linda, he would stop bullying them. He loves Linda overly much and would never want to hurt her. He thinks he will punish her by going off in the morning without saying goodbye, but he regrets he did that and he suffers all day Ive been in tortures . He arrives home ready to apologise for something that was unnoticed.Linda cares about him too but she keeps him away from getting to close by misinterpreting his actions on purpose. When he arrives home with all the harvest of the mankind, expensive gifts for her oysters, a pineapple, and cherries she refers to them as these silly things she drapes a cluster of cherries over his ear, knowing full intumesce that he hates to appear foolish. She acts this way because Stanley is the antithesis with her. He has all the energy she lacks. He becomes more successful at business, more prosperous, and more secure in the home while she loses strength. His quick movements and rapid speech loose her.When he worries bout running to fat, Linda replies You are far too energetic and he interprets her answer as a reassurance, when it can also mean that he is to energetic for her, as when she wants to scream at him You are killing me. He seems to dominate her, like when she does not resist his sexual acts.Linda admires Stanleys best qualities his goodness, his reliability, and his honesty. She compares Stanley with Jonathan Trout, whom she finds mesmerizing and whom she has much in common. Stanley doesnt like a person like Trout, a person of dreams and meshuga ideas, because he, Stanley is a man of action. Linda also cares about Stanley because she is aware of the fact that he is providing the money for the family, and admires his devotion.Katherine Mansfield, at first sight, seems to make Stanley Burnell look as if he is a tyrant, a despot, because he is pushing everybody to work hard, but he is actually a positive character, because he has the dignity and the morality to deal with his life and take the responsibility of looking after his family.