Analysis of Lady`s maid Mansfield

Analysis of The Lady’s Maid

Katherine Mansfield’s The Lady’s Maid was first published on December 24, 1920 in the literary magazine Athenaeum. Ellen, the protagonist, finds solace in her one-sided conversation with “madam” an unnamed guest of Ellen’s employer. The narrative is told in the first person and written as a dramatic monologue. Mansfield is careful; however, to include pauses and responses within Ellen’s dialogue to capture madam’s inquisitive yet silent voice, allowing for a more conversational tone.

In The Lady’s Maid by Katherine Mansfield we have the theme of independence, control, guilt, reliance, disappointment and regret.

The reader learns that when Ellen was a child she chose to cut her hair short much to the annoyance of her grandfather. Though this incident may appear to be insignificant it is important as through it the reader suspects that Ellen, in some ways, was thinking for herself or was acting independently of others. The fact that she runs away after her grandfather burns her hand may also be significant as it also suggests that Ellen does not wish to be controlled by others (her grandfather).

However there is also a sense of irony in Ellen not wishing to be controlled by her grandfather as after she leaves her grandfather (and her aunt) she becomes a maid (answerable to others). Though it is noticeable that while she is a maid, Ellen does continue to display an independent streak. When her lady kneels down to pray on the hard floor, Ellen, without instruction from her lady, lays down an eiderdown. Also when her lady’s mother dies, Ellen places some purple pansies beside her body, again without having been instructed to do so.

Mansfield also appears to be exploring the theme of regret and disappointment. This is noticeable when Ellen is on the beach looking at the donkeys with her lady’s nieces. Despite being in uniform Ellen wishes that she could ride one of the donkeys and later that night when she is in bed, she pretends to be dreaming and shouts out ‘I do want to go on a donkey. I do want a donkey-ride!’ This line is important as it suggests that Ellen, despite having a responsibility as her ladies maid, continues to have an independent streak. However by feeling responsible to her lady (and her lady’s nieces) while she is at the beach, Ellen does not act on her impulse to ride the donkeys.

Mansfield further explores the theme of regret through the introduction of Harry. Despite telling Harry that she could not marry him, there is a sense, particularly when Ellen runs out on the street after Harry has gone, that she regrets her decision not to marry him. Harry’s introduction is also important for another reason as it serves to highlight the possibilities that exist for Ellen, should she leave her job but she wouldn`t.

The fact that Harry is a florist may also be symbolically important as Mansfield appears to be using flowers in the story to highlight or suggest the possibility of freedom. Just as Ellen decided to place some flowers beside her lady’s mother when she died (acting independently or freely) Mansfield may also be suggesting that Harry has the possibility to allow Ellen to become more independent or to act more freely. This freedom (or ability to act independently) is noticeable by the fact that Ellen (at the beginning of her courtship with Harry) was free to speak her mind (even if it did cause arguments) when it came to how the flowers should be arranged.

The ending of the story is also interesting, if not ambiguous. Despite Ellen telling the madam that she rarely thinks about what may happen her when her lady dies and that when she does think about it she tells herself ‘at it again – you silly girl!’, there is a sense that Ellen is concerned about her future. It is possible that Ellen may be aware that spending her life in servitude and being reliant on her lady may not have been the correct path for her however it does not appear that she will change, if anything she may be looking at the madam as a replacement for her lady. Rather than live her life in pursuit of her own independence (which she may have achieved should she have married Harry) the reader senses that Ellen will remain in servitude, if not to her lady, than to the madam.

In my harmble opinion this story is too boring. You know I like dramatic art but not such a dejected. The moanig of half-witted silly girl is not interesting for me at all. There is no moral here except not to be stupid so i can`t imagine why it could become famouse for a little. May be for its emotionality, but there are a lot of examples much better than it, so i have no idea.