Katherine Mansfield was an influential New Zealand-born British author and modernist short story writer She is widely regarded as one of the greatest short story writers of the 20th century. Her work is renowned for its psychological insight, intense emotion and vivid characters. Mansfield’s writing style was characterized by her use of symbolic language and literary techniques such as stream of consciousness, allowing readers to experience the inner life of her characters in narrative form.
Katherine Mansfield’s essays included a wide range of topics exploring modernist themes of identity, feminism, relationships, and the effects of social change. The five best examples of her essays are listed below.
1. “The Garden Party”: This essay tells the story of a young girl who is invited to a lavish garden party. The essay explores themes of privilege and the contrast between the wealthy and the poor through the characters’ reactions to the party.
2. “The Daughters of the Late Colonel”:The essay follows the narrator’s visit to a family of six sisters who are all struggling to cope with the death of their beloved father. The essay explores the complex relationship between the sisters and their individual responses to grief.
3. “Bliss”: This essay tells the story of a young woman who feels trapped in her marriage. The essay explores the theme of the danger of settling for less than one’s potential and the importance of living an authentic life.
4. “A Cup of Tea”: This essay tells the story of a wealthy woman who invites a young girl to her home and tries to buy her affections with money and gifts. The essay explores the power of money and the artificiality of social interactions.
5. “The Fly”: This essay tells the story of a businessman who becomes emotionally invested in the fate of a fly. The essay explores themes of death, grief, and morality.