Alienation Unit- Miss Brill

Miss Brill

By: Katherine Mansfield

“Tum-tum-tum tiddle-um (Page 184)!” The short story, Miss Brill by Katherine Mansfield, is a performance in itself about a performance. Thus, throughout the production, various visual techniques of imagery are used to form a more full impression of the novel. Such an example is that of the onomatopoeia which verbally displays the actions of the story. 

In analyzing the actions of the short story through the eyes of Miss Brill, one is able to not only analyze the society with which she lives, but also her qualities as an individual. As the story opens, one is able to picture Miss Brill walking through the town park on the brisk Sunday afternoon as the leaves fall signifying the passing seasons. Imagery is created as Miss Brill recounts the fine details and predicts the behaviors of those around her. One quickly discovers that these predictions, that an admirable skill, are not true predictions, but rather analysis from many Sundays of watching. As she watches, Miss Brill becomes disheartened that not everything is as grand or exciting as it once seems. In contrast though, she becomes inspired and excited once more as she realizes that the fascinating part of this behavior is that everyone involved is both an actor and the audience, including herself. The "play" takes a dramatic turn, however, when the young heroes arrive and make fun of Miss Brill and her fur. The vivid descriptions and emotional connection that is formed with Miss Brill's hurt allows the reader to then further understand the loneliness felt by Miss Brill. Thus, as the play closes, one is able to visualize and imagine, just as Miss Brill does, that the fur is crying as it is forever packed away. In other words, Miss Brill becomes disconnected from culture and society as her emotional sadness makes her disheartened and lonely.