Discuss the short story A Cup of Tea by Katherine Mansfield.

[kimberly]

I have been on a close reading spree lately and reread this short story, which is much anthologized and even appears in the Bonk textbook. I assigned myself a question and wrote this short essay. If you are interested, let me know your thoughts on this story, will you? OK, here we are:
Is Rosemary Fell idealistic or materialistic?
At first glance, Rosemary demonstrates a high level of idealism. The central event of the story is that she takes pity in a beggar girl and brings her home. This charitable gesture appears to be prompted by fiction, particularly by Dostoevsky. She also seems to act out some noble principles, such as “women are sisters”. However, as we probe a bit deeper into the story, she turns out to be driven by materialism rather than idealism.
Being “not exactly beautiful”, Rosemary makes up for this by putting on artistic airs to make sure that she stands out in her circle of rich friends. She “discovers” artists and invites them to her parties. She orders around shop assistants pretending that lilac offends her artistic sensibilities. She laps on the shopkeeper’s flattery, not doubting his ridiculous claim that he would only sell his things to someone who has “that fine feeling which is so rare…” It is not a mere coincidence that in all the situations in which she shows off her artistic leanings, she also spends or is prepared to spend a lot of money. Without funding, her artistic pretensions would be exposed as illusory. Although she’s not aware of it, she relies heavily on her wealth to boost her self-image as a “brilliant” and “extremely modern” young woman.
Her urge to help the girl is not free from selfish motives, either. It is also dictated by self-promotion, as is evident from her thoughts: “…she heard herself saying afterwards to the amazement of her friends: “I simply took her home with me.”” She also derives a lot of pleasure from the girl being overwhelmed by her luxurious home.
After promising Miss Smith to take care of her, Rosemary is easily manipulated into throwing the girl out. To soften the blow, she decides to give her some money, pulls out of the drawer five pound notes and, in a telltale gesture, puts two back. She sends the girl away with three pounds, and the next thing she does is cajole her husband into letting her buy an enamel box, which costs ten times as much!
As we can see, Rosemary might be naïve and sentimental, but she lacks the strength to follow her ideals through. At the same time, the life she built for herself as well as her public persona completely depends on her wealth. Therefore, she could be considered materialistic.

[Kind_Punk]

The story is just about a woman spoiled rotten and ugly as sin and stupid in the bargain )

[kimberly]

That's a concise way of putting it!))

[Philipp]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosemar ... aby_(film)
"she takes pity in a beggar girl " -испытывает жалость к нищенке"

[acapnotic]

Surprisingly I couldn't find the story anywhere, only lots of its analyses.

[Yety]

couldn't find the story

Yandex it.
https://lengish.com/texts/text-51.html
https://lingualeo.com/ru/jungle/a-cup-o ... 85#/page/1

[acapnotic]

I had. But I know now what happened: I didn't think it was SO short, so I thought the texts I found to be excerpts from it. :)

Thanks for the links. But if that is all there is, I wonder how people can get so much out of it. :)

[Yety]

if that is all there is

The size of the text doesn't matter that much. The interpretation cycle is infinite!)
Mansfield is a female version of Chekhov.

[acapnotic]

Mansfield is a female version of Chekhov.

Brevity is talent's sister? It seems she took it to the extremes. Her story looks much like "a man walks into a bar", etc. I'd expect more from a story than I would from a joke.

[kimberly]

Brevity is talent's sister? It seems she took it to the extremes. Her story looks much like "a man walks into a bar", etc. I'd expect more from a story than I would from a joke.

(Sorry, I couldn't work out how to insert the name)
But that is the beauty of it!:-) You invest just a little time, but then you look into clues and the story opens up for you. It's a bit like detective work.
So, for those who want to put on their detective's hat, I have a question: What does the story tell us about Philip's character? And do you think he loves his wife?

[Kind_Punk]

What does the story tell us about Philip's character?

He is smart and can easily make his wife do what he wants )

And do you think he loves his wife?

Why else does he need such an untalented woman? )

[kimberly]

He is smart and can easily make his wife do what he wants )

Yes, I agree, he played on her insecurities quite spectacularly. Apart from his ability to manipulate her, are there any other indications that he is smart?

[acapnotic]

His being rich maybe. If you are so smart, why are you so poor? :)

[Kind_Punk]

If you are so smart, why are you so poor? :)

Maybe one who is poor is smart enough to learn that money is vanity of vanities and vexation of spirit? )

[kimberly]

Maybe one who is poor is smart enough to learn that money is vanity of vanities and vexation of spirit? )

That's quite a profound observation ;-)

His being rich maybe. If you are so smart, why are you so poor? :)

I think, here we need to consider the historical context. It's difficult to believe that he has made this fabulous fortune himself (remember, they were very rich, not just well-off), it's more likely he inherited it. Back then, vast fortunes were rarely made in one generation (if one wasn't a pirate). And the chances are Rosemary contributed to the family's wealth. She seems to be used to big money, and, lacking in beauty and brains, how else could she attract a wealthy man?

[Kind_Punk]

kimberly,

I, BTW, found your English flawless. Are you sure it is your second language? )

Well, it's a bit 'bookish', but we are talking about books, right? )

[Yety]

Brevity is talent's sister?

Oh, it was even mentioned right there.)

Katherine Mansfield took a great interest in Russian literature, particularly in the works of Chekhov. In fact, she considered herself to be a pupil of the great Russian writer.

[Olya]

It is a story that has touched the hearts of many silly cows across the world.)

[acapnotic]

I think, here we need to consider the historical context. It's difficult to believe that he has made this fabulous fortune himself

Then I'm out of ideas what else makes him look smart. I'm afraid you'll have to enlighten me on that. :)

The only guess I have, and it's a wild one, is that he had never said she was pretty in order to appear honest to her, which could have made it easier for him to deceive her in other matters.

I, BTW, found your English flawless.

Well, I seem to see a redundant article in #15. Can you spot it? :)

[Kind_Punk]

Well, I seem to see a redundant article in #15. Can you spot it? :)

It seems to me that I've got lost ) 'The chances'?

[Kind_Punk]

It is a story that has touched the hearts of many silly cows across the world.)

Cruelty will bring thee orchids from the bowels of the abyss, Olya )

[acapnotic]

Well, I seem to see a redundant article in #15. Can you spot it? :)

It seems to me that I've got lost ) 'The chances'?

Yes! :)

[Kind_Punk]

Yes! :)

But dictionaries say it's not a mistake )

the chances are (that)…
(informal) it is likely that…
The chances are you won't have to pay.

[acapnotic]

But dictionaries say it's not a mistake )

Ah, OK. Then I've probably just seen the version without the article much more often. It didn't even occur to me to look in the dictionary.

Maybe they have different meaning?
"Chances are" = "There are chances" = "It's possible".
"The chances are" = "It's likely".

Or I've been misunderstanding it all the way!

[Olya]

Either possessives or "the" in the meaning of the likelihood.

Sorry! (The) chances are - the dictionary says. :)