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ENGL1514 – 2024
Response Paper 1 (20 MARKS)
Instructions:
• Response papers should consist of students’ reflections on a chosen text or
texts.
• These reflections should be presented as nuanced critical analyses of the
text(s) under discussion.
• Your response paper should indicate to your instructor that you are a careful
reader who can engage critically with a text and can craft a convincing
argument of your own.
• Ultimately, however, your response paper should be organized around a
central argument/thesis statement that you can support by providing
evidence from the text in question to substantiate your observations.
• Your response paper should follow the structure of an academic essayIn a typed 1 page response paper (minimum 400 words/maximum 500 words)
discuss how the issues concerning social class in Katherine Mansfield’s ‘The Doll’s
House’ (1922) impact on one child character of your choice.
Bot GPT 3.5
answered
In Katherine Mansfield's short story "The Doll's House," issues of social class are a central theme that greatly impact the lives of the characters. One child character who is particularly affected by these issues is the Kelvey sisters, Lil and Else. Through their interactions with the other children in the story, Mansfield highlights the harsh realities of social hierarchy and the discrimination faced by those of lower social standing.
Lil and Else Kelvey are depicted as being from a working-class background, as evidenced by their shabby appearance and the disdainful reactions of the other children towards them. The narrator describes how the other children, particularly the Burnell sisters, treat Lil and Else as outcasts, refusing to include them in their games or acknowledge their presence. This exclusion based on social class is deeply hurtful to the Kelvey sisters, who long to be accepted and included like the other children.
The impact of social class on Lil and Else is further seen in their reaction to the doll's house itself. When the Burnell sisters show off their luxurious doll's house to their classmates, Lil and Else are mesmerized by its beauty and grandeur. However, they are quickly reminded of their social inferiority when they are scolded for daring to touch the doll's house, as it is deemed too precious for girls of their background. This moment serves to reinforce the divide between the social classes and the limitations placed on those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
The treatment of the Kelvey sisters by the other children in the story highlights the harsh realities of social class discrimination and the impact it can have on individuals, particularly children. Lil and Else are marginalized and ostracized simply because of their social standing, leading to feelings of shame and inadequacy. Mansfield effectively portrays the damaging effects of social hierarchy on young, impressionable minds and invites readers to reflect on the unjust treatment of those deemed 'less than' by society.
In conclusion, the issues concerning social class in "The Doll's House" have a profound impact on characters like Lil and Else Kelvey, who are subjected to discrimination and exclusion based on their background. Mansfield's portrayal of the effects of social hierarchy on children serves as a powerful commentary on the injustices perpetuated by class divisions in society. Through the character of the Kelvey sisters, Mansfield challenges readers to consider the consequences of such discrimination and the importance of empathy and inclusivity in a world marked by social inequality.