「가든파티」(“The Garden Party”)에 나타난 계급 연구

A Study of Class in “The Garden Party”

In “Garden Party,” Katherine Mansfield strongly emphasizes the social problem of class separation through the contrasting composition of a routine party in a middle-class family and the accidental death of a poor carter. At first, Laura romanticizes the workers who come to set up the tent, boasting that she despises class distinctions absurd and foolish conventions. Thus, when Laura hears of the death of the poor carter Scott, she has sympathy for the lower classes and tries to stop the party, which can be said to be an attempt to transcend the rigid class separation. But her mother tries to pass on her middle-class perceptions and legacy, putting Laura in her new hat and encouraging her to recognize herself as an aesthetic object. But after a perfect afternoon party, when Laura sees the calm and beautiful face of her dead carter Scott, she emerges from the world of innocence into the world of experience, feeling the wonder of her life and gaining intuitive knowledge. However, the ambiguous ending in the final scene of this short makes it difficult to gauge the extent of her changed perception. Laura's journey to visit the dead carter’s house gives her a chance to grow socially, psychologically, and morally, but considering that this story only deals with what happened in one day, it is difficult for her to overcome prejudice against class differences or distinctions. It can be seen that a longer time and experience are needed for Laura to achieve a sufficiently changed perception and maturity.