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The Garden Party

Questions

1. Describe the preparations for the garden party

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2. What is Laura’s attitude to the lower-class people in the story. The workmen, the servants,
and the Scott family, for example?
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3. In what ways is Laura different from her family and in what ways is she similar to them?
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4. Why does Laura want to stop the garden party, and what makes her change her mind?
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5. What does the story show about the character of Mrs Sheridan?
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6. Why does Laura feel that it is a mistake to take the food to the Scott family? Do you agree with her?
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7. How does Laura feel as she goes to see Mrs Scott, and why does she feel like this?
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8. Describe the relationship between Laura and Laurie.
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9. What is the “marvel” that comes to the little street? What’s Laura’s reaction to it and why?
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10. Do you think that this incident will have any permanent effect on Laura?
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for
Topics
discussion

1. How much contact and understanding is there between the upper- and lower-class people in
the story?
In this story, the upper-class is shown as the leader class, just beause the lower-class people work for them. They are linked in a way
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in which it's clear which is treated as a superior class and which is not. However, approaching the ending, when Laura finds herself in
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the other class' territory, she is the one being treated differently, as the prejudice has been stated in the society.
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2. Do you think that Laura is right when she wants to stop the garden party, or do you agree
with her mother? Give your reasons.
I do think Laura was being reasonable with her suggestion, her motivation was empathetic, whereas her mother's posture about
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the tragedy was inhuman and not at all thoughtful. My agreement is based on Laura's feelings involved in her reaction when being
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told the news. She stopped thinking about her family's reputation but in her neighbors' lives, not caring about their economical status.
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3. What do you think Laura realises about life after her visit to the Scott family?
I think she realises that life is not determined by the things one owns or buys, but in one's motivation and dreams. Even though she
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was a rich woman, she found this man's body in a sweet nice sleep. So, she finds out that, in the end, everyone has the same destiny
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everyone will die one day, either you're rich or poor, what's important relapses in how you've enjoyed your lifetime.
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4. What effect does the class structure have on the character in this story?
The character is really sick of the class structure. Despite her attempts to stick to the status quo, the walls that separated the classes
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tumbled down when she got to know the workmen as she felt comfortable and wished she could be one of them.
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5. Can you distinguish upper and lower class in your own society? What effect does this class
structure have on individuals?
Yes, I can distinguish them in my life. The topic for discussion that everyone should have into account is that not only the upper-class
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is the one being hypocrite. Nowadays, people are meant not to have nice things, because, if you do, you are, according to them,
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showing off your luck. However, it's not always about luck, but effort. So, wether you're part of upper-class or not, no one should feel
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more important than other because of the belongings or social stats one posses.