A Cup of Tea by Katherine Mansfield:
Hello friends,
About the author:
Katherine Mansfield, original name Kathleen Mansfield (1888 –1923) was a New Zealand writer. When she moved to England she became a friend of D. H. Lawrence, Virginia Woolf and other prominent figures. Her short stories and poetry were very well received, they mostly focused on existentialism. She’s one of the most influential and important authors of the modernist movement and had much influence on the development of the short story as a form of literature. Her popular works include “Prelude” and “Bliss”.
As Rosemary prepares tea, she becomes increasingly fascinated with Miss Smith and her apparent poverty. She offers her clothes and money, but Miss Smith refuses, claiming that she is not a beggar and that she is in fact the daughter of a wealthy family. Rosemary is surprised by this revelation and begins to question her own assumptions about class and poverty.
In the end, Rosemary's husband, Philip, arrives home and is shocked to see Miss Smith in their home. He recognizes her as a former acquaintance and reveals that she is in fact a notorious prostitute. Rosemary is horrified by this revelation and begins to feel uneasy about her own naivety and privilege.
The story is a commentary on the nature of class and privilege, and the assumptions that people make about others based on their appearance. It also highlights the power dynamics at play between wealthy and poor individuals, and the ways in which these dynamics can be complicated by social and cultural norms. Overall, "A Cup of Tea" is a poignant and thought-provoking story that offers insight into the complexities of human relationships and social structures.
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