The Garden Party by Katherine Mansfield

Introduction

Katherine Mansfield was born in New Zealand in 1888. She went to London for her studies. Her life was not happy. She had many heartbreaks in her life. Though she died when she was only 34, she ranks with the best story-tellers of the world. She left behind a number of short stories.

Mrs. Sheridan has decided to give a garden party. When preparations are underway, they hear about the death of a poor carter in an accident. The youngest daughter Laura, has a sympathetic heart. Unlike her family, she does not look down upon the working people. She thinks it unbecoming of them to let the band play while a man lies dead in their neighbourhood. But they think she is crazy. Later she is sent with the leftover food to the deadman's house. There she sees the dead man. The peaceful beauty of the deadman's face impresses her. She realizes that man was far away where the superficiality of life does not matter. Laura tries to understand life.

Summary

The Sheridans were wealthy. Mrs. Sheridan was organising a garden party. She expected her three daughters, Meg, Jose and Laura to look after all the arrangements.

They were at the breakfast table when the men arrived with poles and rolls of canvas to put the marquee. Laura, the youngest, was sent to tell them where to put it. She ran with a piece of bread and butter in her hand. She felt shy when she came to the four men. She did not know what to do with the piece of bread and butter. The workmen smiled down at her. She felt at ease. Her shyness was gone. She thought that workmen were nice people. They could be better friends than those silly boys with whom she danced. In fact Laura had symapathetic heart. She was not snobbish like other members of her family. She did not have any notion of class differences.

She suggested a few spots where they could put the marquee. But the workmen knew their job. They chose the place which they thought was the best and set to put the marquee there.

There was a telephone call for Laura. So she hastily went back into the house.

Mrs. Sheridan had ordered flowers. They arrived in abundance. The pots were put just inside the door on both sides of the porch.

Jose moved the piano and wanted to see if it was all right. She expected to be asked to sing at the party. She tried a mournful song. But she did not really have any experience of the sad sentiments the song aroused.

The cook was busy preparing fifteen types of sandwiches for which she needed flags. Mrs. Sheridon had Laura to write the names of sandwiches on the flags.

While the preparations for the the celebration of the party were underway, Laura found the cook, Sadie, and the gardener's boy standing in the backdoor. The cook was shaking her head sadly. Sadie was crying and the gardener' boy looked grieved. Laura learnt that a poor carter who lived in one of the little homes below across the street, had been killed in an accident. He had left behind a widow and half a dozen children, Laura was shocked. She thought it was awful to celebrate while a man lay dead in their neighbourhood. She spoke to Jose. She said that they must stop the party. But Jose thought she was crazy. So Laura went to her mother. Mrs. Sheridan had always despised those people living in their tiny, dirty hovels. She believed they had no right to be in that neighbourhood. Laura suggested that they must stop the party. It would be unbecoming of them to play the band while a man lay dead. But Mrs. Sherdan's reaction was the same as that of Jose. She told Laura that those people did not expect any sympathy from them. She told her not to spoil the fun they were going to have. She put a beautiful hat on Laura and told her to look into the mirror. But Laura refused to look into the mirror. She was unhappy and went into her bedroom.

But she saw herself in the mirror. Indeed she had never looked as pretty as she did in that hat that day. She decided to put off thinking about the dead man, his widow and his children till after the party was over.

Guests arrived. They admired Laura. They talked pleasantly, ate and departed. Laura helped her mother with the good byes. The party had been successful but Mrs. Sheridan was dead tired and needed a cup of strong coffee to refresh herself.

Mr. Sheridan said that there had been a terrible accident and a man who lived in their neighbourhood had been killed. But he ate sandwiches as he told this terrible news to his wife. She told him that they had heard about it, and Laura even wanted the party to stop.

Mrs. Sheridan had a bright idea. She thought of sending the left-over food to the poor widow. She thought it would be a treat for her children and she would have something to offer the neighbours when they called to condole with her.

Laura was asked to carry the basket of food to the carter's widow. She was sent there dressed as she was for the party, with her beautiful hat and frock.

She walked downhill to the deadman's house. But she thought she was inappropriately dressed to go into a house where a man lay dead. Her dress and hat were too flamboyant.

There she found a group of men outside a house. It was the deadman's house. Men parted to make a way for her. A women in black opened the door. She was the sister of deadman's wife. She led Laura to the carter's widow whose face was all red and swollen but she spoke nothing. Then the widow's sister led Laura to the bedroom where the carter lay dead.

The man's face was perfectly peaceful as if he were fast asleep. Laura was deeply impressed by the peaceful beauty of his face. She thought he was far away. He was beyond the superficiality of life - garden parties, pretty hats and frocks. This wonderful thing had happened when they were having the party and the band was playing.

Still she could not leave the place without a sob. She came out hurriedly and walked towards her home. Her brother Laurie had come to meet her on the way. He saw that she was crying. He asked her if it was awful. She replied that it was not - It was rather wonderful. But she had a feeling for which she had no words to express. To her life was a mystery which she was trying to understand.

Word Meanings

Marquee = sunshade; Blushed = became red in face being ashamed; Fault = defect, flaw; Stupid = idiot; Class differences = the feeling that the wealthy are superior to the poor; Stretched = pulled out; Mournfully = sadly; Despairing = hopelessly; Verse = stanza; Beamed = smiled; Pantry = room use for storing food or utensils; Blocked = choked; Fright = alarm, scare; Astonished = surprised; Swarms = a big group; Ragged = wearing rags; Fury = anger; Alarm = fear; Couch = bed; Trimmed = decorated or ornamented with; Streaming in = coming like a stream; Exhausted = tired; Uncomfortable = uneasy; Stammered = spoke halting.

Questions You May Be Asked

1. How are classes distinctions depicted in the story?
2. How does Laura's attitude towards te workmen surprise you? Why do you think defensice about it.
3. Discuss Laura's feeling towards the deadman and his family on the way to his house. Did her emotions change after she saw him? Substantiate your answer evidence from the story.
4. Describe how members for the Sheridan family react to the death of the poor carter in neighbourhood.
5. Write Laura's character sketch.

Unwanted by Rabindranath Tagore

Introduction

Rabindranath Tagore was a well-known poet and novelist. His short Stories are deeply touching. They express human emotions in conflict with social restraints. He won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1913.

His short stories Kabliwallah, Home Coming, The Postmaster and The Child's Return are very popular and deeply emotional.

Unwanted is Tagore's characteristic short story. Nilkanta is an orphan boy whom chance brings into the protection of a well - off famliy. Kiran is very indulgent and treats him lavishly. But it is like a dream that is soon over. Nilkanta feels neglected, helpless and frustrated. There are physical and psychological changes also because he is passing through a critical period of human life—change from adolescence to youth. Finally he discovers that he is not wanted. He mysteriously disappears.

Summary

Kiranmayi was the young wife of Sharat. She had been ailing for siometime. The doctors advised that change of air would help her. The family was well off and so Sharat and his mother came to Chandernagore with Kiran. The villagers thought that they were fussing too much over her illness..

Kiran recovered from her illness but she was weak. She had nothing to keep herself busy at Chandernagore. There were no neighbours and no friends. She wished to go back home. But Sharat did not agree with her. (He thought that the time of the year was not apt. If they went back to their village, she was likely to get the infection again. He wanted her to wait for another month. There had been usual arguments and counter-arguments between the husband and the wife.

Kiran stopped arguing. She was quiet but miserable and angry. It was a terrific stormy night. There was lightning and there was thunder. The wind was blowing hard.

A shipwrecked Brahmin boy swam across the furious river and came safely to the shore. He found himself in the garden of the bunglow where (Sharat and Kiran were staying. Someone came and told them about the boy. Kiran was a kindhearted woman. She immediately sent dry clothes for the boy to put on. She gave him food to eat. The boy appeared to be sixteen or seventeen years old. He had no moustaches. He had large eyes and long hair. He told Kiran that his name was Nilkanta. He was an orphan and worked with a band of travelling players. The troupe was engaged to give a performance in a nearby house but the ship was caught in a storm. He was a good swimmer and had been able to save himself. He did not know what had happened to the others.

Kiran was delighted. She treated him with affection. Sharat also welcomed the arrival of the boy. He hoped Kiran would have somthing to do. It would keep her busy. Sharat's mother too was glad. She thought there was merit in looking after a Brahmin boy. Nilkanta too was happy. He had not only escaped death but had got the protection of a rich family.

Kirran was overindulgent and treated Nilkanta lavishly. She gve him Sharat's old shirts and socks. She decked him like a baby. She would ask Nilkanta to tell the story of Nala and Damayanti. The boy sang it with gestures. This pleased Kiran but irritated Sharat.

Nilkanta began to smoke Sharat's hookah in secret. He would take Sharat's silk umbrella and would go round the village proudly making friends. He fondled a dog that would come in and spoil the floor coverings with its muddy paws. He would go with the band of his followers into the mango-orchards and picked unripe mangoes. Several times Sharat cuffed, boxed and whacked him. But it had no effect on Nilkanta becuase he had been used to worse treatment.

Sharat and his mother began to realise that it was time the boy went away. They felt he had stayed with them too long and if they did ot get rid of him soon, his stay would be troublesome. But Kiran was opposed to it. She continued to treat him with affection. He was Kiran's pet.

Now Nilkanta began to undergo psychological changes. He was passing from adolescence into youth. Kiran treated him like a child. One day she asked him to dress like a gril as he used to do earlier. But Nilkanta was embarrassed. They tried to teach Nilkanta to read and write. But Nilkanta only pretended to read. He could not learn anything. Earlier he used to sing the songs mechanically, but now he found meaning in them. He was transported to another world when he sang them.

While Nilkanta was undergoing these psychological changes, the arrival of Sharat's brother Satish changed his life entirely. He experienced frustration that he had never experienced before. Satish was the same age as Kiran. Both of them were good friends. Kiran was delighted. They enjoyed practical jokes and lot of fun. They laughed, they quarelled, they wept and made up again. Kiran's whole attention & time was given to Satish. Nilkanta was completely ignored. Earlier she herself served food to Nilkanta. She enjoyed watching him eat. Nilkanta could eat well. But now he was served by the maid-servant. Nilkanta would not like to eat. He would say he was not hungry. He expected that somehow Kiran would know this and would feed him herself. But no one told Kiran about it. Nilkanta was depressed. He would weep as he lay on his bed till he was asleep.

Nilkanta was convinced that Satish was responsible for his misfortune. He could not express his hostility towards Satish openly. So he tried to do him some harm stealthily.

It was time for the family to return home. Kiran proposed to take Nilkanta with them. But everyone else was opposed to it. So Kiran too had to give in. She called Nilkanta and told him to go back to his village. She spoke gently to him. Nilkanta was moved by her kind words. He burst into tears. Kiran was also sad to think that she had showered her affections on a person whom she would have to leave.

Satish had a fancy inkpot. He loved it. Nilkanta wished to cause Satish some pain. So he stole the inkpot and kept it in his box. When Satish did not find it, he suspected Nilkanta had stolen it. Kiran was not prepared to believe it. Nilkanta was called but he denied having stolen it. Kiran took him to the next room and asked him gently if he had stolen it. Nilkanta covered his face with his hands and wept. Kiran declared that Nilkanta was innocent. She defended him.

Kiran decided to give Nilkanta some clothes and money as a parting present. She went to his room and decided to put her gift in his box. Nilkanta was not there. When she opened the box she found the inkpot at the bottom of it. She was shocked. In the meantime Nilkanta came into the room. Kiran did not see him. But he saw that Kiran had discovered the theft. In fact he had not stolen it out of greed. He just wanted to do some harm to Satish. He meant to throw it into the Ganga. He ran away and disappeared. There was no sign of him. Kiran kept the discovery of the inkpot to herself. On their way home she threw it into the Ganga.

Word Meanings

Steadily = continuously; Demons = evil spirit; Proclaiming = announcing; Rebellious = unruly; Crashing = falling, breaking noisily; Groaned = moan in pain; Heaved = rose; Thrashed = beat, strike; Shuttered = closed; Alarmed = frightened; Abandoning = giving up, leaving; Soothsayers = those who foretell about things to come; Modish = stylish, fashionable; Immortal = deathless, living for ever; Prescriptions = orders, rules; Irrational = unreasonable, illogical; Touching = moving, causing sadness; Feebleness = weakness; Narrow escape = just saved from the brink of disaster; Jolly = cheerful; Gregarious = sociable; Nurturing = something that gives nourishment; irksome = irritating; Troupe = company of performers; Merit = credit; Strut = move about proudly; Prazenly = shamelessly; Frequented = Visited several time; Lavish = generous; Decked = decorated; At whim = fancy; Flamboyant = showy; Gestures = movements to convey meaning; Annoyed = displeased; Piety = virtue; Subjected to = made to suffer; Cuffs and boxes = blows with hands and fists; Matured = ripened; Underdeveloped = below normal growth; Confidante = woman who is entrusted with secret; Coincided = took place at the same time as the other; Befitted = proper or suitable; Ill-suited = inappropriate, unfit; Yatra-life = life of a travelling-performer; Relentless = strict, pitiless; Embarrassed = confused and perplexed; frivolously = in silly, trifling manner; awakened = clumsy; Imitate = copy; Sordid = ugly; Unaccustomed - not used to; Concentrated = with full attention; Fidgety = nervous, restless; Waned = decreased, declined; Mechanically = without thinking; Melodies = songs; Trivial = very ordinary, commonplace; Meretricious = showy, ornate; Unpenetrable = incomprehensible; insignificant = of no or little value; Transported = carried away; Grubby = dirty; Hovel = hut, mean dwelling; Dingy = dirty-looking; Deprivation = poverty, dispossession; Miraculous = unbelievable; Thwacking = whacking, hitting with a stick; Bolted = fastened with a bolt; Outdone = done better than others; Making up = reconciling; Nasty = unpleasant, disagreeable; Slashed = cut; Resolved = decided, made up his mind; Eventually = consequently, finally; Convinced = had the firm belief; Running him down = degrading; Enimity = hostility; Inconveniences = difficulties; Swoop = come down liek a hawk; Embriodered = ornamented with needle work; Assumed = took for granted, presumed; Snivelling = sniffling; Unscathed = unhurt, uninjured; Tap = strike lightly; Incensed = made angry; Offences = wrongs; Borne = endured; Stoically = enduring without complaint; Ascribed = attributed, assigned; Gouged = tore with sharp edged weapon; Fetch = bring; Interrogate = question; Retaliation = hit back; Adamantly = unyeildingly, stubbornly.

Questions You May Be Asked
1. The story depicts a variety of human emotions. Discuss this statement keeping in mind that characters of Kiran, Nilkanta and Satish?

2. Do you think Kiran was fair to Nilkanta at the end of the story? How would you have reacted to him had you been in her place?

3. How did Nilkantha leave without telling anyone? Was he justified in doing so? Answer in detail.

4. Write Kiran's character sketch.

5. Write Nilkanta's character sketch.