Miss Brill

Miss Brill

Miss Brill
                Written in 1921 by Katherine Mansfield, Miss Brill tells the story of an emotional, lonely woman going about her sunday routine.   She spends her sundays alone, while she observes others, prying into their lives as she eavesdrops from a far.   The chill in the air, and driving leaves suggest that the story takes place sometime around Fall, prompting her to bring out one of her loved possessions. "…there was just a faint chill…and now and again a leaf came drifting…Miss Brill put up her hand and touched her fur. Dear little thing! it was nice to feel it again. She had taken it out of its box that afternoon…"(175). She shows much affection for her fur, referring to it with nicknames such as "Little Rogue" emphasizing   the lack of other things in her life for her to display her affection. A young couple in the park laugh at her fur, insinuating Miss Brill might be elderly. The public garden is a place where she can get away from her isolation, as she watches people come and go, concerning herself with their personal lives. She listens to their conversation, getting emotionally involved in the stories she hears,Paying attention to every detail such as the band conductors new coat, or the married lady that refuses to get new glasses. Miss Brill was aroused by the conversations she over heard, accentuated by the bands energy , who seemed to play louder and gayer as Miss Brill grew with excitement.   The band seemed to compliment her mood as she watched the ermine toque stand alone, "But even the band seemed to know what she was feeling and played more softly , played tenderly…"(176).   Excited by everyones presence, Miss Brill thrives off of what she   hears and observes. "They did not speak, this was disappointing for Miss brill always looked forward to the conversation, She had really become quite an expert she thought at listening as though she didn't listen, at sitting in other peoples lives just for a minute while they talked around...