Analysis of 'The Doll's House' by K. Mansfield

Setting

In time and place: Small town, everyone from the area goes to the same unique school. Kids from different family backgrounds merge

Symbols

The dolls house: represents power, wealth, and privilege. Excuse for segregation to the Kelveys, but a point of union between Kezia and them

The smell: 'But perfect, perfect little house! Who could possibly mind the smell. It was part of the joy, part of the newness'

Metaphor

People and things can look perfect on the outside and be the contrary on the inside

Rite of passage

1. Separation (mistreatment to the Kelveys) 'the Kelveys were shunned by everyone' 'Can I ask the Kelveys just once? Certainly no'
2. Then liminality (in-betweenness) 'You can come and see our dolls house if you want to'
3. And finally aggregation. She invites the two girls over to her house even though she knows she is not supposed to. She is transitioning.

She becomes a better person and treats the Kelveys as equals she wants to include them 'I'll open it for you, there's the drawing room and the dining-room'

Defamiliarization

The children of the story are not typical children. They are not sweet and loving, they behave like exact replicas of their parents and take interest and pay attention to things that most children don't. The text shows a defamiliarized version of children and childhood. Parents have bad values, mistreat children, they act childish. Teachers also, making differences between the Kelveys and the rest of the kids.

Determinism

You belong to where you were born in this society

Themes

Social class discrimination: 'But now that she had frightened those little rats of Kelveys and given Kezia a good scolding, her heart felt lighter'

Privileges, Exclusion, Status, Cruelty, Innocence

Segregation: 'Even the teacher had a special voice for them, and a special smile for the other children when Lil Kelvey came up to her desk with a bunch of dreadfully common-looking flowers' teachers treated them differently, there is no equality.

Quotes

• 'Is it true you´re going to be a servant when you grow up, Lil Kelvey?' Cruelty

• 'I seen the little lamp' Innocence, she wasn't affected by what happened she was happy because she got to see the dolls house

• 'Your ma told our ma you wasn't to speak to us'