Cloud Judgement In Miss Brill

In a world where showing a bit too much shoulder was forbidden, came Susan Glaspell. Glaspell was an American playwright, born in the cruel times of oppression. This influenced women’s opinions on certain subjects which caused them to be silenced by fear of rejection from society. “A Jury of Her Peers” was based on an era where women felt as though it was unreasonable to speak up if they felt it was not absolutely dire. Harboring these pent up feelings could cause a person to act antagonistic. Minnie Wright was an example of this. She killed her husband and was subjected to the judgement of her peers. As the group investigated Mr. Wright’s death, there were two stories unraveling. The in depth explanation that the women figured out and the simplistic version the men had seemed to pick up (Glaspell). People would benefit from reading this story to begin to understand the struggle of what this and other women had gone through. Penn Manor American Literature students would benefit from having Susan Glaspell’s story “A Jury of Her Peers” in their curriculum because of how she expressed feminism through her writing at a time when it was new and discouraged; her ability to emphasize the themes with her settings and characters; and her literature that follows a protagonist that navigates through a sexist world.

The judgmental theme is introduced at the beginning by narrator with her description of Clarence Hervey. The narrator is unaware of how equal she is to Clarence Hervey, such as being educated. She seems to judge Hervey so much that that the authors comes off as jealous. The narrator is jealous of Hervey’s comfortableness to his role in society. Clarence Hervey knows what he is doing, he knows his charade, whereas the narrator portrays Hervey to be so insecure, the narrator is actually the insecure one. In the passage, each character judges each other. It begins primarily with the narrator who explains that Hervey is ignorant because of his decisions. It continues with Hervey who presents that he hates Mrs. Stanhope, because he believes that her job is to force people who don’t belong together, to be together. But what Hervey doesn’t understand is the fact that, his affection towards Belinda isn’t “true love” either. Clarence Hervey’s love for Belinda is unrealistic. Where Hervey doesn’t believe in Mrs. Stanhope’s “match-making”, but he would ooze at Belinda’s word, look, and motion. Through the use of the narration of Clarence Hervey, the narrator portrays Hervey as someone who is unrealistic and impractical. Whereas this would not only describe Hervey, but also would expose the true personality of the narrator as well. The judgmental identity that the narrator possesses, develops through Clarence Hervey’s

Flannery O’Connor introduces her reader’s too unique short stories. They are “Good Country People” and “A Good Man is Hard to Find”, having too similar characters in different setting, but with the same symbolic meaning. The comparison between Hugla from “Good Country People” to the grandmother in “A Good Man Is Hard to find” is interesting, because they both suffer the same fate. In every short story O’Connor has created a intellectual individual who comes to a realization that their beliefs in there ability to control their lives and the lives of other are false. They enviably become the vulnerable, whereas they assumed it would be different. O’Connor has placed two misguide characters, that deem themselves to be manipulative and compulsive. At the end up of each short story they become vulnerable. Hugla from “Good Country People” and the grandmother from “A Good

In order to bring us closer to Miss Brill, Mansfield uses the technique of showing, by

On May 17, 2017, a man named Arthur got into a fight with his boyfriend who later decided to press charges. If he pleaded guilty during the first trial, Arthur would get three years of probation with a criminal record, but he could keep his jobs. If he pleaded not guilty, he would receive 30 days in jail before the second trial, but he would likely lose his jobs (Ralphling 1). While this is a terrible situation for Arthur, it’s difficult to feel the how his decision would affect all involved without a deeper understanding of their points of view. Given equally difficult opportunities to admit their mistakes and choices, the protagonists from The Scarlet Letter and The Other Wes Moore endured long periods of internal conflict as they struggled to correct or accept the mistakes that were direct consequences of their actions. The calculated use of diction and tone by both authors allowed the theme of these novels to actually feel real compared to Arthur’s case. The theme acceptance of mistakes is carefully crafted in each novel through the strong usage of diction and tone.

Clothing in the 1930s was very particular, especially for ladies. Women wore form fitting but modest clothing to help draw attention from possible employers and others: “The clothes were modest, mid-calf length… making women ideal silhouettes” (Sessions). These clothes kept women covered. Clothes focused more on making women ideal than real, and thus women who dressed “smart” or wore certain clothes were more likely to be given a better position. In addition, women, specifically African American women, were expected to look their absolute best no matter the conditions they were working in; “Tight budgets were no excuse…. was a woman’s duty to look smart” (Martlin). A woman’s duty was to look smart, key emphasis on “look”. Society didn’t care if women were actually smart, only if they looked it. If women didn’t look smart, dress worthy or not, their job was immediately seen as beneath others. According to Hurston, “The other women had on percale and calico” (Hurston, 39). These are types of handmade clothes. So therefore, Janie wore the wine-colored store-bought dress because no one could look better than the mayor’s wife. Tony Taylor describes her when he says, “She couldn’t look … no nobler if she wuz de queen uh England” (Hurston, 39). This demonstrates her status in relation to her appearance. As a final point, clothing seemed to control a woman’s social life and expectations. Martlin stated

“A Jury of Her Peers” is a short story written by Susan Glaspell in 1917 illustrates early feminist literature. The two female characters, Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale, is able to solve the mystery of who the murderer of John Wright while their male counterparts could not. This short story had been adapted from Glaspell’s one-act play Trifles written the previous year. The play consists of the same characters and plotline as the story. In both works, Glaspell depicts how the men, Sheriff Peters and Mr. Hale, disregard the most important area in the house, the kitchen, when it comes to their investigation. In the end, the women are the ones who find clues that lead to the conclusion of Minnie Wright, John Wright’s wife, is the one who murdered him. Both of Glaspell’s female characters illustrate the ability to step into a male dominated profession by taking on the role of detective. According to Critical Theory Today: A User-Friendly Guide, written by Lois Tyson, a reader-response critique “focuses on readers’ response to literary texts” and it’s a diverse area (169). Through a reader-response criticism from a feminist lens, we are able to analyze how “A Jury of Her Peers” and Trifles depict how a patriarchal society oppresses women in the early twentieth century, gender stereotypes confined both men and women and the emergence of the New Woman is illustrated.

John Updike is viewed by his readers as a progressive voice in his work that promotes feminist issues. He makes these issues stand out more evidently, rather than hidden, in order for the reader to realize how women are viewed in society. From reading Updike’s A&P, the story sends the message to readers of genders working together to strive for equality. If readers do not carefully and actively read A&P they may miss key messages about the power men hold over women, not just in society but in literature as well. Even though Updike’s A&P seems to be a story about a teenager finally standing up to his boss and quitting the job he hates, the tone used reveals the hidden message on how women are in a male-oriented world. The relationship between both men are women are shown as unequals, men on the top and women always below them, Updike makes sure to open up the reader 's eyes in realizing the way females are being treated unfairly.

Iconic literary works often share common grounds that can be detected by readers and literary critics. Such similarities can be discerned from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. These classic novels can be effectively juxtaposed in regards to their portrayal of the role of women, the cruciality of setting, and the display of the issues of the eras.

William Gay’s short story, “The Paperhanger” does an excellent job illustrating the theme that, “You can’t judge a book by its cover.” Today’s society is so focused on outward appearances, that they tend to forget this popular idiom. This expression can be interpreted in many ways, both literally, and abstractly. While a book may appear fun and adventurous on the outside cover, the inside context may lack excitement and adventure. On the other hand, those that look sweet and innocent on the outside may be manipulative and evil at the core. Moreover, those that seem rough around the edges may be the sweetest, most kindhearted individuals on the inside. The main character in “The Paperhanger” is a great example of a man whose outward appearances and actions do not match his inner personality traits. While the paperhanger appears honorable to the outside world, deep down he is devious and spiteful.

As in the case of most, if not all, good allegorical stories, the primary impact of the tale is strongly influenced by the author’s detailed characterization of the setting, as well as the characters’ feelings and passions. Certainly such is the case in Susan Glaspell’s story “A Jury of Her Peers”. Here the reader sees a richness of characterization and setting that is elusive at first reading, but becomes clearer as the story evolves. In the final analysis, it becomes clear just who the jury is and the outcome of their collective verdict. It is by the use of allegorical and metaphorical rhetoric that the tension of the story is maintained so very well.

In “Miss Brill,” Katherine Mansfield utilizes Miss Brill’s thoughts and actions and the surroundings to characterize Miss Brill as a lonely character. Mansfield immediately introduces Miss Brill with a very odd scene that shows her conversation with the fur coat. This quickly and effectively establishes the type of person Miss Brill is. As a result, Mansfield suggests that Miss Brill is a lonely and an “abnormal” person to illustrate to the audience how society treats those who are not considered “normal” through the later actions of a young couple.

Allen, Austen mocks the expected appearance of women in society. Mrs. Allen though kind, never has anything to talk about other than gowns or fashion. For example, when Catherine is in serious need of guidance after missing a formal engagement with the Tilneys, the only advice Mrs. Allen is able to offer Catherine in her time of need is “Go by all means my dear; only put on a white gown; Miss Tilney always wears white” (Austen 61). Mrs. Allen’s care for appearance is further exemplified when Catherine is getting important advice from Mr. Allen about riding around in open carriages with different men. Mr. Allen sees it “Is not right”, while Mrs. Allen’s only objection to the subject is “Open carriages are nasty things, a clean gown is not five minutes wear in them (Austen 71).

Shenli Song College of Foreign Languages, Zhejiang Gongshang University Office of Foreign Language College at Zhejiang Gongshang University Xia Sha City-University-Town, Hangzhou 310018, Zhejiang, China E-mail: windyforever@gmail.com Abstract Katherine Mansfield, remembered as one of the finest writers of English short stories, enjoys enduring fame and a somewhat awesome literary status with her short stories, Miss Brill as one of her representative pieces. The interest of our Chinese critics, in general, locates more in the modernist techniques and devices she employs to present the inner world of the characters in her stories,

In Gertrude Atherton’s Black Oxen, a man named Clavering falls in love with a woman who is not what she appears to be. When Clavering first sees Madame Zattiany, he views her as an object. He refers to her as “it” rather than “she” when he describes her at the beginning of the book. He states that, “in spite of its smooth white skin and rounded contours above an undamaged throat, it was, subtly, not a young face” (Atherton, page 45). Atherton is using Clavering as a vehicle to argue that men tend to see women as objects. It is easier to defend injustice if one can dehumanize the opposing side. It seems as if he is taking stock of her features, as if she were a cow being sold at a market, Clavering is observing her in the hopes of later devouring her. Clavering sees her and knows she is different because she draws attention to herself, she doesn’t just sit in silence. She simply isn’t behaving as Clavering believes a woman should. There is an uncertainty that comes when Clavering sees Mary disregarding the manners of the time. Then he observes her in great detail. His inspection reveals just how superficial Clavering is. He examines her so thoroughly, as if she was a prized mare at auction: “ her forehead was perhaps too high, but it was full, and thick hair was brushed back from a sharp point. Her eyebrows, thank Heaven, were many shades darker than her hair” (Atherton, pages 44-45). It is through these observations that Atherton emphasizes men’s obsession with the