Miss Brill Analysis

Near the beginning of the story, the grandmother heads toward the car with “a navy blue straw hat with a bunch of white violets on the brim and a navy blue dress” (O’Connor 501). The description of her outfit allows the reader to understand that she holds herself to a certain standard compared to the rest of her family. This same idea of holding oneself to a standard can also be found in Mitchell Owen’s article “The Function of Signature in ‘A Good Man Is Hard to Find’” stating that the grandmother is “very conscious throughout the story of what people are wearing, because to her it is through such things as clothing that one can externally reflect internal worth, even when worth is otherwise obscured by surrounding conditions” (Owens 102). When comparing the standards of Misfit to the grandmother, it becomes obvious that he the does not hold the same standards as her with “his hair just beginning to gray and [wearing] silver-rimmed spectacles that gave him a scholarly look. He [also] had on blue jeans that were too tight for him and was holding a black hat and gun” (O’Connor 507). The Misfit’s opposite choice in appearance in comparison to the grandmother helps establish how others view him, even though he does not care about how others view him. As the family’s road trip progressed, June Star, the daughter, noticed an African-American child standing on a house porch while seated in the back row. Questioning why the boy was wearing no “britches”, the grandmother explains to her that “little niggers in the country don’t have things like we do” (O’Connor 503). This racist statement and mockery towards the child’s impoverishment shows the reader that she too is not as well mannered as she perceives herself to be, proving that she does not uphold her moral standards. In Alex Link’s article “Means, Meaning, and Mediated Space in ‘A Good Man Is Hard to Find’” he shares the same view

She is dressed very wealthy, has expensive jewelry, drinks alcohol, and has a bob cut. These were the qualities of the new woman compared to the previous traditional woman’s beliefs and ways of life. James Braddock’s luxury lifestyle, including his family, home, and wealth, represents the 1920’s atmosphere of growth and the booming time that was soon to vanish from the Great Depression.

Children’s literature can take many forms, from far-fetching science fiction to spell binding who-done-it mysteries. One of the most popular ideas presented in these various forms is that of escapism. The characters in these stories explore quite complex social issues in ways that are less confrontational then realism. One might

In the story "Miss Brill," an old, lonely lady spends her Sunday observing people in a park. Although ignored by everyone around her, Miss Brill manages to convince herself that she is really an integral part of the scene and would be missed if she weren't there. Her illusion is shattered by a chance remark at the end of the story, and she returns home, clearly devastated by her new understanding of her place in life. What this story is trying to illustrate is that sometimes people can be happy through living in an illusion. However, this kind of happiness is fragile and can be easily destroyed.

Furthermore, McEwan uses symbols alongside, motifs such as the Trials of Arabella in order to explain Briony’s mindset as a child. This suggest and supports the idea that Briony being young is unable to fully grasp and understand her surroundings.

As a little girl, I saw the world in the best light simply because innocence clouded my judgement. As a child, I was innocent of mortality, as a teen hope, and as a young adult love. However, later on that innocence took on the role of ignorance. Not in the

In “Miss Brill,” Katherine Mansfield uses indirect characterization to demonstrate how loneliness can distort a person’s perception of the world and leave one vulnerable when confronting the truth.

Katherine Mansfield's "Miss Brill" is a woman self-contained, not pessimistic but settled, content. She is not a victim of her circumstances, but the satisfied creator of them. You could say she has her ducks lined up the way she wants them. Through the character of Miss Brill, Katherine Mansfield reveals a woman who has the ability to enjoy a simple world of her own elaborate creation.

In Harper Lee’s 1960 novel To Kill a Mockingbird, Lee reveals Miss Maudie’s tender tone toward Scout through her use of detail. One instance in which Miss Maudie’s tender tone is revealed through Lee’s careful use of detail is after Maudie’s house burns down. Scout is clearly troubled because of the fire and is curious as to why Maudie is not the least bit fazed. Scout expresses her concerns about the damage and inquires what Miss Maudie will do about it. Miss Maudie responds by stating, “Don’t you worry about me Jean Louise Finch. There are many ways of doing things you don’t know about” (73). In this situation, Miss Maudie attempts to rid Scout of her anxieties as she knows having Scout agonize over the problem will do no good. She is aware that Scout is already exceptionally distraught by the imminent trial, and considering this, Maudie decides not to lay another burden onto Scout. She instead lists the positive effects of the fire to improve Scout’s state of mind, and make her feel at ease about the whole situation. More than anything, Miss Maudie wants Scout to know that there is no reason to fret about anything else than she already has on her plate. She wants the best for Scout and for her to enjoy a life that is not plagued by the problems of the adult-world. Miss Maudie’s consideration and selflessness show her tender tone toward Scout. Another time in which Lee’s use of detail illustrates Miss Maudie’s tender tone toward Scout is at the town ladies’ meeting. Scout,

She meets Miss Temple, her teacher who turns into one of her first true friends. Jane describes how she feels around her teacher as, “...I derived a child’s pleasure from the contemplation of her face, her dress, her one or two ornaments, her white forehead, her clustered and shining curls, and beaming dark eyes… (Bronte 133)” Jane emphasizes the color of Miss Temple’s forehead to show that she is innocent too. She also does not know much about the world, but yet she is teaching children what they need to know to be educated for their adult lives. Having a role model figure like Miss Temple allows Jane to look up to a woman who has managed to achieve her goals and maintain her innocence. In addition to this, the use of white also highlights this first friendship as a beginning for Jane and the theme of innocence. A new chapter of life starts as Jane meets people who will treat her as she deserves to be treated. However, Jane still longs for the good parts of life before Lowood, “That night, on going to bed, I forgot to prepare in imagination the Barmecide supper of hot roast potatoes, or white bread and new milk, with which I was wont to amuse my inward cravings… (Bronte 109).” Jane does not want to go back to Gateshead, but desires the

McEwan effectively shows that “She would.simply wait on the bridge,calm and obstinate, until events, real events, not her own fantasies, rose to her challenge, and dispelled her insignificance.” (77) Though it is not possible to see the world in a subjective way through Briony’s contemplation, Briony as an author is confused between what is true and what is not.Through the juxtaposition of Briony’s false perceptions, McEwan is able to showcase the importance that perception has on the understanding of the truth.

Analysis of the Point of View in “Miss Brill” Katherine Mansfield’s short story, Miss Brill, is a well-written story of an elderly, unmarried woman in Europe. In Miss Brill, Katherine Mansfield uses stream-of-consciousness point of view to show alienation and loneliness, appearances and reality, and Miss Brill’s perceptions as she attempts to make herself fit in with the park goers. Miss Brill is an older lady who makes a living teaching English to school children and reading newspapers to an “old invalid gentleman” (Wilson 2: 139). Her joy in life comes in her visits to the park on Sunday where she is notorious for “sitting in on other people’s lives” (Wilson 2: 140). It is there that her ritualistic, monotonous journey that Miss Brill refers to as a “play” takes place.

Burney seems to be criticizing the double standard treatment of people who lacks "class" and those who has high status. She disapproves the conduct of people in the novel who have the characteristic that appears to be "changing with the tide." Mrs. Beaumont's character is satirically described as the "absolute Court Calendar bigot." (pg. 284) Her idea of class is illustrated by her belief that birth is virtue. Her previous association with Evelina let her to believe that Evelina is a woman of quality. However, she is soon disappointed to find out that Evelina is a "mere country gentlewoman"(pg284). Similarly, Lady Louisa and many other social elites who reside under the

that [Gradgrind] has missed or forgotten” (152). In her essay “The Literary Imagination in Public

“I doubt the imagination can be suppressed. If you truly eradicated it in a child, he would grow up to be an eggplant” (Le Guin, “The Language of the Night”). Imagination runs free and madcap in the minds of our youth. Adolescence is comparable with recklessness and creativity. Adolescence is the experimental period of our lives. Imagination of the young mind drives creativity; creativity turns simple ideas into a whirlwind of endless possibilities. Possibilities open the ponderous doors of opportunity and conviction.