About The Author:
Kathleen Mansfield Murry, commonly known as Katherine Mansfield, was a prominent New Zealand-born writer of the early 20th century. She was born on October 14, 1888, in Wellington, New Zealand, and is regarded as one of the most talented and innovative short story writers of her time..
Mansfield's writing career began during her time in London, where she moved in 1903 to pursue her education and literary ambitions. She associated with the literary circles of the time and became acquainted with notable writers such as Virginia Woolf and D.H. Lawrence.
Her writing style was marked by its modernist tendencies and an emphasis on exploring the complexities of human emotions and relationships. Mansfield's works often delved into the internal lives of her characters, portraying their struggles, desires, and inner conflicts with great sensitivity and depth.
Mansfield's short stories, including “In a German Pension”, "The Garden Party and Other Stories," "Prelude," and "Bliss and Other Stories," “Something Childish and Other Stories,” are widely celebrated for their lyrical prose, vivid imagery, and evocative portrayals of ordinary life and its transformative moments. She was known for her keen observation of human behavior and her ability to capture subtle nuances and emotions in her writing.
Tragically, Mansfield's life was cut short by tuberculosis, and she passed away on January 9, 1923, at the age of 34. Despite her brief life, Mansfield left behind a significant body of work that continues to be studied and appreciated for its literary merit and contribution to the modernist movement.
Katherine Mansfield's writings have had a lasting impact on the literary world, inspiring subsequent generations of writers and readers alike. Her stories are celebrated for their exploration of themes such as identity, class, gender, and the complexities of human nature. Mansfield's legacy as a pioneering writer and her contributions to the short story genre remain influential and relevant to this day.
Summary:
‘The Little Girl’ is the story of a little girl, Kezia who misunderstood her father’s strictness and usually remained scared of him. She kept a distance from him, whenever he would be at home. She considered him to be as big as a giant. She would often get nervous and stutter while talking to him. She longed for his love and affection like her neighbour Mr Macdonald.
Once she was kept indoors as she was affected by cold. Her grandmother suggested that she make a gift for her father’s birthday next week. They decided that Kezia would make a pincushion for him. Kezia made a beautiful pin-cushion; but she accidentally made a mistake. She filled it with bits of paper that she got by tearing her father’s important speech. She was punished for that. This incident further estranged Kezia from her father.
She would often look at the neighbours, the Macdonalds playing joyously in their lawn. Mr. Macdonald was such a good father and played so lovingly with his children. She wondered he might be a different sort of father.
Once her mother fell ill and was hospitalized. She was left alone at home under the care of the cook. At night she had a nightmare and woke up screaming. She found her father standing by her bedside. He picked her up and took her to her room. He tucked her up in his bed and soon fell asleep. Kezia felt secure lying near her father. She realized that her father was not as big as a giant. She felt the beating of her father’s loving large heart. Finally, she realized her father was very loving and had a generous heart.
"The Little Girl" showcases the contrast between the innocence and imagination of a child and the cold, adult world. It highlights the universal desire for love, acceptance, and understanding, even in the face of indifference.
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