Short Stories: Theme: 4

"Because of that stupid old thing at the end there? asked the boy. "Why does she come here at all- who wants her?" (186)

For this blog, I will be answering the sixth question on the handout about the short story "Miss Brill" by Katherine Mansfield. I think that the climax of the story is when the nicely dressed couple make fun of the old lady and say the above quote. This is the climax because it is really the height of the action. This is the scene that motivates Miss Brill to change things in her life. The resolution to the climax is when Miss Brill puts away the fur. The fur originally was her source of comfort, but she ends up putting it on the shelf. This also represents Miss Brill putting her old self on the shelf and moving on with the times. The putting away of the fur is resolving the point of contention between Miss Brill and the younger generation.