The Singing Lesson

Katherine Mansfield’s story ‘The Singing Lesson’ gives an apt

version into the female consciousness of that time and the
relationship shared between man and woman.

In this story the author concentrates more on describing the

details of the atmosphere with respect to the emotions of the
characters. Her writing styles blend the use of interior
monologous and symbols to showcase the story and its themes.

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‘The Singing Lesson’ is the story of Ms.Millows, a thirty year old
music teacher who is disturbed by the news of her broken

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engagement. Her disturbed emotional state does not allow her to
keep her professional life separate from her personal one.

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The turmoil of her relationship reaches her classroom affecting
behaviour and responses towards her students.

Her wavered thoughts colours her perspective and overpower her

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normal senses.
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Katherine Mansfield uses the symbols in her short stories to

narrate the importance of specific events and highlights the
deeper meaning beneath it.
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Her characters are middle class people, living a mediocre life -

any minute change in their routine brings about a disastrous
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effect in their life and evokes nothing but indifference from

them.

“ With despair - cold, sharp despair - buried deep in her heart

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like a knife. ” words bring out the tension in their atmosphere

as well as the internal conflict and tension within Ms. Meadows.
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The sombre mood is heightened by the use of a smile “ buried deep

in her heart like a wicked knife ” which reminds us of her death.

The author sets the beginning of her story in ‘ cold corridors’

that clearly indicated the coldness within Ms. Meadows. The time
of the year when the story is based is autumn which is another
symbol used to highlight the coldness that is prevalent within
Ms.Meadows.

The setting, the atmosphere and environment in Mansfield's story

bring out the physiological happening in the character.
The noise made by the students is stopped only at the arrived of
Ms. Meadows. She is ironically a symbol of noise and chaos herself.
Considering the turbulent time she is going thorough in a
relationship.
She beats the batten asking for silence which is a sign of her
power like a magic stick or or wand.
However, her power is limited to her class as she has nothing that
could silence her disturbed mind.
She channels her lament for the lost relationship through the
laments sung by her student.

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She feels betrayed, almost feeling “ bleeding to death pierce to
the heart ”.

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The red colour of the blood represents the love as well as the rage
Miss.Meadows full when her pride is injured.
The lament is an expression of her own lovelorn condition.

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