“A Cup of Tea” is a short story by Katherine Mansfield, a prominent New Zealand writer of the 20th century. The story explores the themes of class, gender, and human nature through the encounter between Rosemary Fell, a wealthy and modern young woman, and Miss Smith, a poor and hungry girl whom Rosemary invites to her home for tea. Mansfield uses irony, symbolism, and characterization to reveal the hypocrisy and selfishness of Rosemary and her husband Philip.
One of the literary devices that Mansfield uses to portray Rosemary’s character is irony. The irony is when there is a contrast between what is expected and what actually happens or what is said and what is meant. For instance, when Rosemary meets Miss Smith in the street, she thinks to herself: “How extraordinary! How thrilling! What an adventure!” (Mansfield 2). This shows that Rosemary is bored with her privileged life and seeks excitement in helping a poor girl. However, this also reveals her condescending attitude towards Miss Smith, whom she treats as an object of curiosity rather than a human being. She does not care about Miss Smith’s feelings or needs; she only wants to have fun and feel good about herself.
Another literary device that Mansfield uses to convey the theme of class difference is symbolism. Symbolism is when an object, person, or event represents something else that has a deeper meaning or significance. For example, the cup of tea that Rosemary offers to Miss Smith symbolizes not only hospitality but also charity and pity. Rosemary thinks that by giving Miss Smith a cup of tea, she is doing her a great favor and showing her kindness. However, she does not realize that Miss Smith does not want her charity or pity; she wants respect and dignity. Miss Smith refuses to drink the tea and says: "I can't drink it - really I can't" (Mansfield 4). This shows that Miss Smith has more pride and self-respect than Rosemary thinks and that she does not want to be indebted to her.
A third literary device that Mansfield uses to illustrate the relationship between Rosemary and Philip is characterization. Characterization is when an author describes or shows the personality, appearance, actions, thoughts, or feelings of a character. For example, Mansfield describes Philip as "a very big man with a very small voice" (Mansfield 5). This suggests that Philip is insecure and weak despite his physical size and social status. He also acts in a manipulative and controlling way towards Rosemary. He tells her to send Miss Smith away because he does not want her to interfere with their dinner plans. He also flatters Rosemary by saying: "You're so lovely - you're so much too lovely" (Mansfield 6). This shows that he does not appreciate Rosemary for who she is; he only cares about her beauty and how it reflects on him.
> In conclusion, “A Cup of Tea” is a story that exposes the flaws and limitations of upper-class society in the early 20th century. Mansfield uses irony, symbolism, and characterization to show how Rosemary and Philip are selfish, superficial, and insecure people who exploit and manipulate others for their own benefit. The story also suggests that true happiness and fulfillment cannot be found in material possessions or social status but in genuine human relationships and compassion. This story as a critique of the social inequalities and moral corruption that still exist in our world today.
> The language of the story reflects the contrast between Rosemary's and Miss Smith's social backgrounds and personalities. The informal language is used mainly in the dialogue between Rosemary and Miss Smith, as well as between Rosemary and Philip. This shows how Rosemary tries to act friendly and casual with Miss Smith, but also how she patronizes her and does not listen to her. For instance, when Miss Smith says she does not want to go to Rosemary's home, Rosemary replies: "Nonsense! Come along, do! I'd love it - of course you must come home with me" (Mansfield 2). The vivid and emotional language is used to describe Rosemary's feelings and reactions, as well as the setting and atmosphere of the story. This shows how Rosemary is impulsive, passionate, and easily influenced by her surroundings. For example, when she sees Miss Smith in the street, she feels "a pang of envy" (Mansfield 2) and when she enters her home, she is "enchanted" (Mansfield 3) by the warmth and luxury. Descriptive language is used to portray the physical appearance and mannerisms of the characters, as well as the contrast between their lifestyles. This shows how Rosemary is superficial and obsessed with beauty and fashion, while Miss Smith is simple and humble. For example, Rosemary is described as "young, brilliant, extremely modern" (Mansfield 1) and wearing "a coat that had been made in Paris" (Mansfield 2), while Miss Smith is described as "thin as a thread paper" (Mansfield 2) and wearing "a little black hat" (Mansfield 3). The language of the story also contains many simple neutral words and common expressions. For example, I simply took her home with me. Good heavens, how thoughtless I am! She’s extremely pretty. Rosemary’s heartbeat was like a heavy bell. From a grammatical point of view, the language is not too complicated. The most common tense is the Past Simple one. Some sentences are written in Past Continuous and Future Indefinite Tense. For example, My dear, I think you’re making a mistake. Miss Smith won’t dine with us tonight. But the text also features many simple modal and passive verbs and gerund constructions. For example, Rosemary, can I come in? She can’t be more than twenty. It simply can’t be done. I couldn’t keep her against her will. Rosemary was extremely modern, and well-read in the newest of the new books. Rosemary was so surprised that she blushed. Rosemary went back to her bedroom, holding three-pound notes in her hand. Miss Smith insisted on leaving. In general, the sentences are not too complex and the text is easy to understand.
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