A Cup of Tea by Katherine Mansfield is a short story that explores the theme of class consciousness and its effects on the characters and their relationships. The story is set in London in the 1920s, when social classes were rigidly defined and women’s rights were limited.
The story focuses on Rosemary Fell, a young upper-class woman who is bored and restless. She is not very beautiful, but she is rich, modern, well-read, and popular. She likes to buy things that she does not need, and she enjoys being flattered and admired by people of a lower class. She is married to Philip, who is also rich and snobbish, but more practical and cynical than her.
One day, Rosemary goes to an antique shop and sees a little box that costs twenty-eight guineas. She wants to buy it, but before she can, she is approached by Miss Smith, a poor young woman who asks her for the price of a cup of tea. Rosemary is surprised and intrigued by this encounter, and impulsively invites Miss Smith to her home for an adventure. She thinks that it will be fun and romantic to help a poor girl and that she will impress her friends with her generosity.
Miss Smith is a sincere and simple girl who is hungry and desperate. She does not want to go with Rosemary, but she has no choice. She feels uncomfortable and out of place in Rosemary’s luxurious home. She does not understand why Rosemary is being so nice to her, and she does not trust her.
Rosemary leaves Miss Smith in her bedroom to have tea, while she goes to tell Philip about her guest. Philip is shocked and annoyed by Rosemary’s whim and asks to see Miss Smith. When he sees her, he tells Rosemary that she is very pretty, which makes Rosemary instantly jealous and insecure. She decides to get rid of Miss Smith as soon as possible and gives her some money and clothes. She also tells her to never come back.
After Miss Smith leaves, Rosemary tries to make herself more attractive by doing her hair, darkening her eyes, and putting on her pearls. She also asks Philip for the money to buy the little box that she wanted. She ends the story by asking Philip if he thinks she is pretty.
Mansfield uses various techniques in the story to highlight the theme of class consciousness and to criticize Rosemary’s attitude and actions. She uses irony to show the absurdity of Rosemary’s generosity, such as when she says “How extraordinary! How could she have no money?” or when she tells Miss Smith “You’re not nearly so unhappy as you think”. She uses humour to mock Rosemary’s pretentiousness, such as when she says “I want to be nice to somebody” or when she compares herself to a “rich little girl in her nursery”. She uses imagery to contrast the appearance and situation of Rosemary and Miss Smith, such as when she describes Rosemary as “a charming little figure” with “a cloud of dark hair” and “a small sweet face”, while she describes Miss Smith as “a little battered creature” with “enormous eyes” and “reddened hands”.
The story also explores other themes such as feminism, jealousy, insecurity, materialism, and compassion. It shows how Rosemary’s feminism is shallow and selfish, as she only cares about her own pleasure and status. It shows how jealousy and insecurity make her change her mind about Miss Smith, who represents the real struggles of women in a patriarchal society. It shows how materialism makes her value things more than people, and how it prevents her from being happy or satisfied. It shows how compassion is rare and difficult in a society that divides people by class.
The story reveals the flaws and limitations of the upper-class society that Rosemary and Philip belong to. They are rich, but they are not happy or fulfilled. They are bored, restless, and insecure. They are superficial, materialistic, and snobbish. They are not capable of genuine love or compassion. They are trapped in their own world of illusions and prejudices.
The story suggests that money cannot buy happiness or fulfillment and that class differences create barriers and conflicts among people. It also suggests that feminism is not just a matter of having rights or privileges, but of having respect and solidarity for other women regardless of their social status or appearance.
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