ISSN:
2181-3906
2023
International scientific journal
«MODERN SCIENCE АND RESEARCH»
VOLUME 2 / ISSUE 6 / UIF:8.2 / MODERNSCIENCE.UZ
210
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE STYLE OF KATHERINE
MANSFIELD'S STORIES
Ataullayeva Sitorabonu
Alisher Navai Tashkent State University Of Uzbek Language And Literature
sitorabonuataullayeva@gmail.com
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8018619
Abstract.
This article is devoted to the interpretation of the stylistic features of the stories
of the famous English writer Katherine Mansfield. In the article, based on several stories, the
writer's skills in creating images, using motifs, and using words are highlighted. The role of
symbolism is defined in her works. The principles of choosing a subject and determining the
development of events are discussed.
Keywords:
Style, plot, development of events, story, symbolism, image, character, motive,
tradition.
ОСОБЕННОСТИ СТИЛЯ РАССКАЗОВ КЭТРИН МЭНСФИЛД
Аннотация.
Данная статья посвящена интерпретации стилистических
особенностей рассказов известной английской писательницы Кэтрин Мэнсфилд. В статье
на основе нескольких рассказов выделены навыки писателя в создании образов,
использовании мотивов, использовании слов. Определена роль символизма в ее
произведениях. Обсуждаются принципы выбора темы и определения развития событий.
Ключевые слова:
Стиль, сюжет, развитие событий, рассказ, символизм, образ,
персонаж, мотив, традиция.
Katherine Mansfield is one of the authors who made a great contribution to the
development of the short story genre in English literature. It stands out in world literature with its
unique direction and style. Mansfield has a unique approach to writing stories. Many story writers
focus on plot sequence in their stories. However, in Mansfield's stories, we see a complication.
She, unlike other creators, tried to depict the inner feelings and experiences of the heroes of the
story in the leading place, rather than the development of events. In Mansfield's stories, rather than
the development of events, the thoughts of the characters are described more widely. She tried to
analyze and clearly express the mental state of the characters. The writer's way of ending her stories
is also unique. She did not give a ready solution or conclusion to her work. It is often left up to the
reader to come to the final deduction.
Mansfield considered the Russian writer Anton Pavlovich Chekhov to be her mentor. She
wrote works influenced by his works. But, nevertheless, we can clearly say that her writing style
is also very different from Chekhov's writing style. Because in the stories of A. Chekhov, we
observe that laughter and humour took the lead. In many of his stories, he skillfully used humour
to attract the reader's attention, to make them interested in the story and, of course, to make his
stories extraordinary. However, Mansfield rarely used humour in her works. Her style seems a bit
more complicated than Chekhov's because she described more inner experiences. She wrote more
about the problems that can be encountered in human life, material and social difficulties, class
differences, and disagreements between people. Her works are dominated by scenes of the human
psyche and dramatism. In the centre of Mansfield's works, the main issue, the introduction as the
ISSN:
2181-3906
2023
International scientific journal
«MODERN SCIENCE АND RESEARCH»
VOLUME 2 / ISSUE 6 / UIF:8.2 / MODERNSCIENCE.UZ
211
main idea, is the expression of sad mental experiences such as loneliness, stratification, difficulties
of poverty, isolation, and injustice.
The main innovation in her work was Modernism. This trend was different from the
optimism, positivity and certainty of the Victorian and Edwardian eras. In her writings after the
First World War, Mansfield encouraged the reader to understand the deception of appearances, the
changeability and impermanence of life, especially the deception of momentary joy and happiness,
and the transience of the world.
"Prologue" is one of Mansfield's favourite subjects. Her works in this interpretation cover
the process of learning to survive and fight in a cruel world. In her stories on this topic, young
heroines are often at the centre of the work. For example, in the story "The Garden Party" the
conflict between Laura and death and the living conditions of the poor is leading. The story "Her
First Ball" describes Leila's struggle to understand the falsities and shortcomings of adult life.
In
the story "The Little Governess", the young governess is deceived by an older man and her trust
is broken.
One of Katherine Mansfield's earliest, most famous stories is The Tiredness of Rosabel. It
interprets the thoughts and inner experiences of the hat seller Rosabel. In the story, Rosabel returns
home after a long day at work and begins to dream of a rich husband, a honeymoon after the
wedding, and a fulfilling, happy lifestyle. She is so engrossed in her dreams that she falls asleep
from exhaustion and continues to dream even in her dreams. The work has similarities with the
stories of O. Henry. But at the same time, we also observe totally different aspects. In particular,
O. Henry tried to reveal the human character and spiritual world through the events in the story.
But in the story of K. Mansfield A.P. Chekhov's influence is greater. In addition to the development
of events, she can skillfully and productively use inner experiences and spiritual evolutions to
create a character. In life, there is no prince from a fairy tale, nor a wallet found by chance. There
is only today that is like yesterday and tomorrow that is like today. So, how long will Rosabel have
the strength to keep her faith, which is her only wealth? Until, of course, her trust is taken away
by a cruel world: “The night has passed,” Mansfield concludes the story. - The cold fingers of
dawn closed on her bare hand, the gray day penetrated the gloomy room. Rosabel shuddered, half
sobbed, half sighed, and sat up. And because she inherited that tragic optimism, which too often
turns out to be the only property of youth, not yet fully awake, she smiled with slightly trembling
lips. («Ночь прошла, – заканчивает рассказ Мэнсфилд. – Холодные пальцы рассвета
сомкнулись на ее непокрытой руке, серый день проник в унылую комнату. Розабел
поежилась, не то всхлипнула, не то вздохнула и села. И оттого, что в наследство ей достался
тот трагический оптимизм, который слишком часто оказывается единственным достоянием
юности, еще не совсем проснувшись, она улыбнулась чуть дрогнувшими губами» )[15, С.
68].
In these last sentences of Mansfield's story, she used the phrase "tragic optimism", that is,
tragic optimism. With this, she wanted to convey to the reader the tragic situation of a person living
only in the pursuit of dreams.
As we mentioned above, Mansfield was created in the direction of Modernism, which
differs from the optimism and positivity of the Victorian and Edwardian eras (19th century). The
story "The Tiredness of Rosabel" is clear proof of our point. While Mansfield developed the story
genre, enriching it with its own characteristics, she wisely used the experiences of her
ISSN:
2181-3906
2023
International scientific journal
«MODERN SCIENCE АND RESEARCH»
VOLUME 2 / ISSUE 6 / UIF:8.2 / MODERNSCIENCE.UZ
212
contemporaries, such as O. Henry, T. Gardy, A. Chekhov, and J. Joyce. But traditionalism is not
imitation. In the history of world literature, we can witness that innovation, originality and
individualization have always grown up in the heart of traditions. In the works of Mansfield, we
observe the same signs of progress. Each example created by her is distinguished by its
individuality and uniqueness in world storytelling. That is why, in the literature of the 20th century,
the work of the writer is recognized as a special bright page.
The human concept in Katherine Mansfield's stories is also unique. She did not choose
active, bright heroes of society as images for her works. Perhaps it depicts simple people living in
normal, natural conditions as leading characters. In her stories, the author's attention is often
focused on social facts, situations and events that are not very important in life: for example, the
heroes of the work meet ("Psychology"), and move to a new house, they arrive ("Prelude"),
organize family holidays, weddings ("Sun and Moon", "Picnic", " Frau Brekenmacher at the
wedding "), look for work ("Actress"), walk in the garden (" Miss Brill”). ( “В рассказах
писательницы проявились новые подходы к человеку: в поле ее зрения оказались не яркие,
исключительные характеры, а, напротив, простые, заурядные герои, изображенные в
обычных, естественных условиях. Ее внимание сосредоточено на обыденных,
незначительных событиях и фактах. Герои встречаются («Психология») и расстаются
(«Голубь и голубка»), переезжают в новый дом («Прелюдия»), устраивают семейные
праздники («Солнце и Луна»), пикники и свадьбы («Пикник», «Фрау Брекенмахер на
свадьбе»), ищут работу («Актриса»), гуляют в парке («Мисс Брилл»), то есть они не
вырваны из потока жизни, но, наоборот, зафиксированы в процессе обычного,
каждодневного бытия.”)[А. А. Бурцев, М. А. Бурцева. Концепция человека в рассказах
Кэтрин Мэнсфилд.2017,C.191].
As in the works of D. Konrad, D.Joyce and other foreign writers, the main themes in
Mansfield's stories are loneliness, alienation, the ability to stand up against the bitter truths of life,
and the feelings of detachment. For example, in the story “Life of Mother Parker”, Parker lost her
precious children during her life. She also buries her spouse himself. When she lost her
granddaughter, she could not bear it. Her whole div burns like a dead tree. But no way! Man has
to endure all the tests of fate. There is no other way or solution. Parker is also mentally broken,
she has no choice but to take a sad breath and accept her fate.
It seems that Mansfield's stories are based on showing the bitter and painful truths of life,
describing the willpower and strength of people who were able to stand in front of them with
perseverance, patience and satisfaction. She was able to skillfully convey to her readers the
thoughts and mental anguish of the heroes of the story, surrounded by sad fates. She effectively
used the principles of socio-psychological interpretation. In her works, the writer's artistic intention
is revealed through the dreams, fantasies, memories, moods and mental states of the characters.
Mansfield's main goal in her stories is not to tell stories full of events. Perhaps it is to introduce
readers to human psychology, to illuminate the world of the psyche more deeply, and through this,
to encourage their contemporaries to understand people.
Mansfield paid special attention to symbolism in her stories. There are many used symbolic
images and events that serve to illuminate the writer's artistic intention. Some details are
distinguished by the fact that they direct the reader to understand the character and inner world of
the main hero. In particular, the author effectively used the motif of a dream. In the story "The
ISSN:
2181-3906
2023
International scientific journal
«MODERN SCIENCE АND RESEARCH»
VOLUME 2 / ISSUE 6 / UIF:8.2 / MODERNSCIENCE.UZ
213
child who was tired", the girl sees the same dream several times. In her dream, she repeatedly sees
a white path that no one has walked on, that leads nowhere, surrounded by tall black trees on both
sides. We can interpret this image as a girl's dream that will never come true.
It seems that Mansfield speaks to the reader in two languages. The first is through words,
and the second is through the language of symbols. The writer does not reveal all her thoughts to
the reader. With the help of some signs, she directs them to think and speculate. This is an
important aspect of Katherine Mansfield and of true high literature. The writer was more attracted
to simple, lonely, wounded characters. Such characters, created by her, are distinguished by the
richness of their inner world, despite the deep sorrows and complex psychological conditions they
experienced. While creating an image, she paid more attention not to the development of events,
but to the development of mental scenes. In all her stories we see a strong spiritual analysis.
Although positivity and optimism are not visible in Mansfield's works, through this principle in
her work, she succeeded in exposing bitter and painful truths in real life. In this way, she directs
the reader to open his eyes, to wake him up, and to look at life with a sharp eye. This is the task of
high literature.
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