This research paper is concerned with the image of stereotypes in selected short stories of Katherine Mansfield. Especially the German stereotype in In a German Pension will be analyzed.
"In a German Pension" is Mansfield's first published work of fiction (published in 1911) and takes place in a enviroment that Mansfield has visited herself. She does not value most of the stereotypes she imputes to her characters, but because of her special way of carrying it to the extremes, she manages to convey her views about German stereotypes to the reader. These views will be analyzed later on. By repeating these stereotypes in the different short stories in this collection, they become especially apparent and shift into the centre of the discussion.
Even if Mansfield herself feels ashamed of her work, which she has written in her younger years, it is definitely an important piece of literature, speaking of German stereotypes.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Analyzing her Short Stories
2.1 “Germans at Meat”
2.2 “The Swing of the Pendulum”
2.3 “The-Child-Who-Was-Tired”
2.4 “At Lehmann's”
2.5 “The Sister of the Baroness”
2.6 “Frau Fischer”
2.7 The Modern Soul
2.8 “Frau Brechenmacher attends a Wedding”
3. Conclusion
Objectives and Research Themes
This research paper examines the portrayal of stereotypes in Katherine Mansfield's short story collection "In a German Pension," specifically focusing on the depictions of German identity, social structures, and gender roles as presented in her early work.
- Analysis of German national stereotypes in the early 20th century.
- Examination of gender roles and the "Angel in the House" archetype.
- Investigation of social interactions and manners in a German health resort setting.
- Critique of societal expectations regarding marriage and family life.
- Exploration of Mansfield's use of exaggeration as a literary tool.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 “Germans at Meat”
This is the first story of her book In a German Pension and one recognizes directly the German names between the English words, which makes them stick out. Some of the stereotypes are noticeable even after reading the first lines and are summarized best in the following quote: “The German characters are gross and corporeal, constantly eating, perspiring and discussing their ailments“2.
The “cold blue eyes“ of Herr Rat or his preference for sauerkraut (“I eat sauerkraut with great pleasure“) let one assume that this could be a German person, even if his nationality is not yet mentioned. It is the same for Fraulein Stiegelauer (the owner of the pension). She seems not to have proper table manners (picking her teeth with a hair pin in front of all other guests), courteousness (being impolite towards the first person narrator without noticing it) but in return she has nine children, something that is characteristical of German Woman, especially around World War I: „The Germans are very enthusiastic about families — “Germany … is the home of the Family“3.
She loves meat and solid food and blames the narrator for being vegetarian and not knowing her husband's favourite meat and seems to be the role model of the Angel in the House4 with motherly charm. She represents the typical German Woman, not very beautiful (wears a hair knot) but short tempered. She pretends to watch her health and explains how she planned her day. She seems to be overweight (a stereotype of German women that is found very often in the short stories is that they are overweight) and, as the narrator mentions, eats a lot, almost too much, of the fruits (apricots) that are important for her health, as she claims. But in reality “The clientele consisted mainly of overfed bourgeois“5.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the research focus on stereotypes in Katherine Mansfield's debut collection "In a German Pension" and the cultural context of pre-World War I Europe.
2. Analyzing her Short Stories: Provides a detailed, story-by-story examination of how specific German stereotypes, such as social etiquette and gender roles, are depicted through Mansfield's characters.
2.1 “Germans at Meat”: Explores the initial stereotypes of German characters regarding their obsession with food, health, and family, exemplified by the pension guests.
2.2 “The Swing of the Pendulum”: Discusses the role of unmarried women and male-female dynamics, using the character of Viola to reflect on societal pressures.
2.3 “The-Child-Who-Was-Tired”: Analyzes the themes of child labor, harsh education, and the inhuman living conditions present in the depicted German family.
2.4 “At Lehmann's”: Examines the "constructed double plot" and the intersection of pregnancy and the introduction to adult life for the protagonist Sabina.
2.5 “The Sister of the Baroness”: Investigates the superficiality and class-consciousness of guests in a German health resort.
2.6 “Frau Fischer”: Analyzes the assertive and often contradictory nature of Frau Fischer, who embodies rigid, traditional views on marriage and childbearing.
2.7 The Modern Soul: Focuses on the role of the Herr Professor and the expectations placed upon women in marriage versus personal fulfillment.
2.8 “Frau Brechenmacher attends a Wedding”: Explores the themes of marital dissatisfaction, social judgment, and religious adherence within a wedding context.
3. Conclusion: Synthesizes the analysis, arguing that Mansfield’s use of exaggeration serves to make her social critique more effective rather than purely satirical.
Keywords
Katherine Mansfield, In a German Pension, Stereotypes, German identity, Gender roles, Angel in the House, Social criticism, Literature, Early 20th century, Short stories, Cultural perception, Feminism, Satire, Pre-World War I, Character analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this research paper?
The paper examines how Katherine Mansfield utilizes and depicts stereotypes of the German people and culture in her first short story collection, "In a German Pension."
What are the primary thematic fields covered?
The research explores national stereotypes, rigid social structures, gender expectations, the role of women in marriage, and the influence of cultural identity on human behavior.
What is the main research objective?
The objective is to analyze how Mansfield uses exaggerated character portrayals to convey her critical observations of the social environment she encountered in a German health resort.
Which scientific method is employed?
The author uses literary analysis, examining specific short stories within the collection and contextualizing them with secondary literature and historical viewpoints.
What does the main body of the text cover?
It provides a chapter-by-chapter breakdown of the stories, analyzing specific characters and interactions to extract recurring patterns of behavior and stereotypical traits.
How would you describe the key characteristics of the work?
The work is analytical, critical, and focused on literary interpretation, highlighting Mansfield’s transition from realistic observation to stylistic exaggeration.
How does the author interpret the portrayal of German men in these stories?
The author suggests that the German men are often depicted as rude, possessive, and lacking table manners, frequently assuming a position of superiority while remaining oblivious to their own impoliteness.
What role does the "Angel in the House" motif play?
It is used to describe the typical, submissive role expected of German women at the time—focusing on their duty to please their husbands, bear children, and manage household affairs.
Why did the author conclude that Mansfield's writing is not "racist"?
The analysis argues that despite her exaggeration, Mansfield's characters remain relatable and human, indicating that she was observing and reflecting the people she actually met rather than promoting discriminatory hatred.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Anonym (Autor:in), 2008, Stereotypes in Katherine Mansfield's "In a German Pension", München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/434956
