Analyze The Plot and Conflicts in Short Story

“A Cup of Tea” by Katherine Mansfield

Group Project by:
- Nadia Aulia (237010032)
- Farhan Yazid (237010037)
- Herlina Aprilia (237010050)

1. Exposition
Rosemary Fell is a wealthy and charitable woman, being approached by a young girl named
Miss Smith, who is described as poor and destitute. The introduction of Rosemary is proven
in the first line.
- Rosemary Fell was not exactly beautiful. She was young, brilliant, extremely
modem, exquisitely well dressed, amazingly well. (Page 1)
- Rosemary had been married two years. She had a duck of a boy named Michael.
(Page 1)
- She has a fondness for shopping. To-day it was a little box. An exquisite little enamel
box with a glaze so fine it looked as though it had been bakes in cream. she liked it
very much. She loved it; it was a great duck. She must have it. But what was the
price? "Twenty-eight guineas, madam." "Twenty-eight guineas." Rosemary gave no
sign. She laid the little box down; she buttoned her gloves again. Twenty-eight
guineas. Even if one is rich... She looked vague. (Page 1 & 2)

2. Rising action
Rosemary and Miss Smith's meeting and Miss Smith asks Rosemary for some money to buy
a cup of tea. Rosemary takes Miss Smith home instead of just giving her money. Rosemary
decided to take her home and treat her well. Miss Smith was afraid when she is brought into
the wealthy home of Rosemary Fell. They haven't talked much yet when Rosemary's
husband, Philip came to interrupt.
- A young girl, thin, dark, shadowy was standing at Rosemary's elbow and a voice like
a sigh. "Madam, may I speak to you a moment?" "Speak to me?" Rosemary turned.
"M-madam, stammered the voice. Would you let me have the price of a cup of tea?"
"A cup of tea?" There was something simple, sincere in that voice. (Page 2 & 3)
- "But I do," cried Rosemary. "I want you to. To please me. Come along." The girl put
her fingers to her lips and her eyes devoured Rosemary. (Page 3)
- "Come, come upstairs," said Rosemary, longing to begin to be generous. "Come up to
my room." (Page 3)
- "Come and sit down," she cried… "you mustn't be frightened, you mustn't, really.
Sit down, when I've taken off my things we shall go into the next room and have tea
and be cozy. Why are you afraid?" And gently she half pushed the thin figure into its
deep cradle. But there was no answer. The girl stayed just as she had been put. (Page
4)
 - The other did stop just in time for Rosemary to get up before the tea came. She had
the table placed between them. She plied the poor little creature with everything,
all the sandwiches, all the bread and butter, and every time her cup was empty she
filled it with tea, cream and sugar… "And when did you have your last meal?" she
asked softly. (Page 5)
- "Rosemary, may I come in?" It was Philip. "Of course." He came in. "Oh, I'm so
sorry," he said, and stopped and stared. "It's quite all right," said Rosemary, smiling.
"This is my friend, Miss…” "Smith, madam," said the languid figure, who was
strangely still and unafraid. "Smith," said Rosemary. "We are going to have a little
talk." (Page 5 & 6)

3. Climax
Rosemary insists on helping Miss Smith. Her husband, Philip thought his wife was crazy for
inviting a poor and stranger lady to the house but then he changed his mind by telling his wife
how pretty Miss Smith is. Rosemary's insistence leads to tension between her and Philip. Her
husband praised another woman in front of her face.
- "But what on earth are you going to do with her?" cried Philip. "Be nice to her," said
Rosemary quickly. "Be frightfully nice to her. Look after her. I don't know how. We
haven't talked yet. But show her - treat her - make her feel -" "My darling girl," said
Philip, "You're quite mad, you know. It simply can't be done." "I knew you'd say
that," retorted Rosemary. Why not? I want to. (Page 6)
- "But," said Philip slowly, and he cut the end of a cigar, "She's so astonishingly
pretty." "Pretty?" Rosemary was so surprised that she blushed. "Do you think so? I
- I hadn't thought about it." "Good Lord!" Philip struck a match. "She's absolutely
lovely. Look again, my child. I was bowled over when I came into your room just
now. However... I think you're making a ghastly mistake. Sorry, darling, if I'm crude
and all that. But let me know if Miss Smith is going to dine with us in time for me to
look up The Milliner's Gazette." (Page 6)

4. Falling action
Rosemary’s insecurity is further highlighted when her husband praises another woman,
causing her to feel insecure about her own physical appearance. Rosemary felt jealous and
tried to minimize interactions between her husband and Miss Smith so that he would not go
further than praising her. Rosemary questions herself and her husband's love for her.
- "I only wanted to tell you," "Miss Smith won't dine with us to-night." "Oh,
what's happened? Previous engagement?" "She insisted on going," said she, "so I
gave the poor little thing a present of money. I couldn't keep her against her will,
could I?" she added softly. (Page 7)
- She put up her hands and touched Philip's cheeks. "Do you like me?" said she, and
her tone, sweet, husky, troubled him. "I like you awfully," he said, and he held her
tighter. "Kiss me." There was a pause. Then Rosemary said dreamily: "I saw a
fascinating little box to-day. It cost twenty-eight guineas. May I have it?" Philip
jumped her on his knee. "You may, little wasteful one," said he. But that was not
 really what Rosemary wanted to say. "Philip," she whispered, and she pressed his
head against her bosom, "Am I pretty?" (Page 7)

5. Resolution
The resolution also connects together the matter of class and social status. The story ends
with Rosemary feeling satisfied with her act of charity, and the poor girl appreciating the cup
of tea.

6. Conflict
a. Internal conflict
Man and self (Rosemary and herself)
- "Twenty-eight guineas." Rosemary gave no sign. She laid the little box down; she
buttoned her gloves again. Twenty-eight guineas. Even if one is rich... She looked
vague. (Page 1) (Solved)
- But that was not really what Rosemary wanted to say. "Philip," she whispered, and
she pressed his head against her bosom, "Am I pretty?" (Page 7) (Unsolved)
b. External conflict
Men vs men (Rosemary and her husband, Philip)
- "But what on earth are you going to do with her?" cried Philip. "Be nice to her," said
Rosemary quickly. (Page 6) (Solved)
- "But," said Philip slowly, and he cut the end of a cigar, "she's so astonishingly pretty."
"Pretty?" Rosemary was so surprised that she blushed. "Do you think so? I - I hadn't
thought about it." (Page 6) (Unsolved)

CHARACTERIZATION
1. Rosemary
- Wealthy
- Well-dressed
- Well-read
- Nice

2. Miss Smith
- Poor
- Timid
- Frightened
- Pretty

3. Philip
- Wealthy
- Heartless
 A. Personal Description
“Rosemary Fell was not exactly beautiful. No, you couldn’t have called her beautiful. Pretty?
Well, if you took her to pieces… But why be so cruel as to take anyone to pieces? She was
young, brilliant, extremely modem, exquisitely well dressed, amazingly well read in the
newest of the new books”. (Page 1)
B. Character as seen by another
Philip remarks that Rosemary is acting “insane” for bringing Miss Smith home with her,
indicating his disbelief with her actions. Additionally, Philip comments on Rosemary’s
beauty, mentioning how he was captivated when he entered her room earlier. (Page 6)
“But what on earth are you going to do with her?” cried Philip.
“Be nice to her,” said Rosemary quickly. “Be frightfully nice to her. Look after her. I don’t
know how. We haven’t talked yet. But show her, treat her make her feel”
“My darling girl,” said Philip, “you’re quite mad, you know. It simply can’t be done.”
“I knew you’d say that,” retorted Rosemary. Why not? I want to. Isn’t that a reason? And
besides, one’s always reading about these things. I decided”
“But,” said Philip slowly, and he cut the end of a cigar, “she’s so astonishingly pretty.”
C. Speech
Occurs primally through the dialogue between the characters, revealing their personalities,
emotions, and interactions.
“Don’t cry, poor little thing,” she said. “Don’t cry.” And she gave the other her lace
handkerchief. She really was touched beyond words. She put her arm round those thin, bird
like shoulders. (Page 5)
“Philip,” she whispered, and she pressed his head against her bosom, “am I pretty?” (Page 7)
D. Past Life
In “A Cup of Tea” although Mansfield doesn’t explicitly delve into Rosemary’s past life, she
indirectly reveals aspects of it through Rosemary’s interactions and behaviour. Rosemary’s
affluent lifestyle, her spontaneous decision to bring the girl home, her deserve to help, and
her fascination with the girl’s beauty all hint at her background and upbringing. These
elements suggest that Rosemary may have been sheltered, privileged, and accustomed to
having her desires fulfilled, but also process a compassionate and empathetic side.
E. Conversation of Others
“Madam, may I speak to you a moment?” “Speak to me?” Rosemary turned. “M-madam,
stammered the voice. Would you let me have the price of a cup of tea?” “A cup of tea?” There
was something simple, sincere in that voice; it wasn’t in the least the voice of a beggar. “Then
have you no money at all?” asked Rosemary.
“None, madam,” came the answer. “How extraordinary!” Rosemary peered through the dusk
and the girl gazed back at her. “I simply took her home with me,” as she stepped forward and
said to that dim person besides her: “Come home to tea with me.” (Page 2&3)
 F. Reactions
- Rosemary’s Generosity: “I mean it,” she said, smiling. And she felt how simple and
kind her smile was. “Why won’t you? Do. Come home with me now in my car and
have tea.” (Page 3)
- The girl’s Vulnerability: “I can’t go on no longer like this. I can’t bear it. I can’t bear
it. I shall do away with myself. I can’t bear no more.” (Page 5)
- Philip’s Concern: “Good Lord!” Philip struck a match. “She’s absolutely lovely.
Look again, my child. I was bowled making a ghastly mistake. Sorry, darling, if I’m
crude and all that. But let me know if Miss Smith is going to dine with us in time for
me to look up The Milliner’s Gazette.”

G. Direct Comment
There isn’t a direct comment of a person’s character. Instead, the story reveals the character’s
traits indirectly through their actions, dialogue, and interactions with each other. The
characters personalities emerge gradually as the story unfolds , allowing readers to from their
own interpretations based on their behaviour and choices.
H. Thoughts
The author often conveys characters thoughts and feelings through narration, dialogue, and
actions rather than directly stating them. This allows readers to interpret and understand the
characters’ inner worlds based on their words and behaviour. In the excerpt provided, we can
glean insights into Rosemary’s thoughts and feelings through her actions and dialogue.
Example, in the Page 6, Rosemary feels embarrassment when Philip comments on the girl’s
beauty. “Pretty?” Rosemary was so surprised that she blushed. “Do you think so? I – I hadn’t
thought about it.”
I. Mannerism
When Rosemary encounters Miss Smith, a young and impoverished girl, she immediately
invites her home without considering the consequences or Miss Smith’s situation. The
impulsive generosity illustrates Rosemary’s privileged background and her tendency to act on
whims without much thought.