How death and it’s acceptance as significant has been incorporated in Mansfield’s The Garden Party
The death of Mr. Scott, only a passing acquaintance, shocks Laura into action. She feels it would be incredibly rude of her family to proceed with their Garden Party after Mr. Scott’s death especially because he lived and died so close to the Sheridan’s property. No one in her family shares her concerns which causes Laura to begin to view her family in a different light. How could they be so ignorant of the suffering of others? Laura’s vivid imagination and musings over how devastated the Scott family must be in the wake of the tragedy only intensifies her desire to help them. She cannot understand her family lack of empathy. The Scotts were their neighbours but Mrs Sheridan is firm in her decision to have the garden party despite what has happened. Mrs Sheridan indirect opposition to Laura’s sentiments, is deeply prejudiced against families like the Scotts who live in the poorer section of their community. She does not understand how they can survive at all and yet makes no effort to help them. Instead she feels only irritated by their presence and thinks of their “shabby” homes, located only one street away, reflects poorly on the Sheridan’s decadent property.
Read More – Explore the symbolism of the Sheridan family’s Garden in the story