Maturity And Independence In Katherine Mansfield's The Garden Party

The following paper will discuss the disruption of Laura`s naïve and illusory worldview as an important step in her life to maturity and independence in Katherine Mansfield`s The Garden Party.
There are several situations in The Garden Party which mark the beginning of Laura questioning the world around her. The Party and the sudden death of a man from the working class offer the young protagonist the opportunity to make assumptions about herself and where her place in society might be. Her childish guilelessness determines her behavior but nonetheless a slow development from ignorance to something like self-awareness can be seen at the end of the story.
Following the indicators of an initiation story, whose plot revolves around the theme

Whereas the home of the Sheridans is situated on top of a rise, “ ..., a steep rise that led up to the house.” (343), assuming their superiority, the cottages on the contrary are additionally divided from the Sheridans by a “broad road” (343) that runs between them. The sudden shift of atmosphere when Laura steps outside the garden introduces the cottages in a gloomy and obscure light, “It was just growing dusky as Laura shut their garden gates.” (347), leaving behind the reverberating impressions of the successful garden party. Even when

Even though the death she is experiencing is not that of a beloved or close one, she is nevertheless very shaken in comparison to the man who brings the sudden news:” ‘Dead when they picked him up,’ said Godber`s man with relish.” (343). Further confused with her sister`s reaction, Laura is on the verge of calling off the garden party. She is clearly struggling with the idea of offending the family:” ‘But we can`t possibly have a garden party with a man dead just outside the front gate.’ ” (343). Laura has to come in terms with death and what it means to her but is still far from realization. Even though she is continuously stating “‘I don`t understand...’” (345) no answer is given to her. Not by her parents and not by their siblings. Rather they draw her back into their shallow superficial behavior and distract her: “At the sight of him Laura remembered the accident again. She wanted to tell him... ‘My word, Laura! You do look stunning,’ said Laurie... and didn`t tell him tell him after all.”