LITERARY ANALYSIS OF “A CUP OF TEA” BY K. MANSFIELD

Abstract

The story of “A Cup of Tea” by modernist writer Katherine Mansfield was written on15th of March. It tells a story of Rosemary Fell- a beautiful charming young upper class woman in the 1920’s. The story was first published in the famous magazine “Story-teller” and later appeared in the Mansfield’s short story collection “The Dover’s Nest”.“ A cup of tea” is associated with the deplorable conditions of the author’s birthplace-New Zealand at that time when it used to be a part of a British Empire. The trends of class distinctions were its peak, a family issue which needed to be brought forward influenced the author to pen down. In this story there exists class consciousness, social stratification and materialism as its top point. Stunningly well-characterized and magnificently portrayed against its plain title, “A cup of tea” remarkably presents a crystal clear image of class distinction and one’s mad fondness towards material things.