The short story, a Victorian Literature, “The Garden Party” written by Katherine Mansfield talks about the upper class Sheridan family, including Laura, Laurie, Meg, and Jose, preparing for a garden party. Laura, the main character, is excited about the party first but becomes troubled later when she learns the news about the death of their working class neighbor Mr. Scott died because of being drunk. Laura feels sorry for Mr. Scott and she would like to cancel the party, but her mother insists that they should continue with the party as planned. She pulls Jose out and talks to her, showing her sympathy for the Scott's family, but Jose just regards it as a puny matter compared to their garden party. Laura becomes mad and goes up to tell her mother this matter, but surprisingly her mother attempts to distract her by saying that Laura looks beautiful in her hat. After the party Laura brings the leftover party food to the Scott’s family, views the dead body lying under a sheet, observing the family’s grief. Laura then starts to think about the meaning of life and the idea of social hierarchy, and also how she feels sympathy for the poor people. This arouses the question: Will Laura retreat to be a nice young lady? Laura would stand up for the poor people based on the three reasons: sympathy for the people from the working classes, rich upper class men’s arrogance toward the working classes, and all human beings born with equal dignity.
Laura feels sympathy toward the poor people and how they cannot even eke out a living in this wealthy area. Sympathy is a sincere feeling, understanding of, showing concerns, and taking actions toward someone who is experiencing something difficult or painful. When Mr. Scott, a working-class neighbor, died, nobody cared for him but Laura. She even wanted to cancel the party to respect the death of Mr. Scott. But her family members all said no because the garden party has been planned for a long time. Their reaction and carelessness make Laura very angry. Sympathy for the poor is often overlooked, as nobody wants to care for the poor because of their low status and position in society. People often didn’t care about one another because often people just mind their own business. Most rich people are acting like that. They often are too absorbed in their matter that they think that the world goes around them and everything else is unimportant things, such as a death of a servant’s relative and some other news stuff that they don’t even care about. Just as Mother thinks in the story, if there isn’t anything that makes an influence on them, then it is no big matter. This kind of philosophy is incorrect. Even though there is a saying “Mind your own beeswax” people still need to have empathy and sympathy. Laura’s sympathy for the lower class inferiors of the neighborhood, which is actually very rare in upper class families, suggests the potential of her challenging the social divide.
Laura considers that the ways men from the rich upper class act and talk are arrogant, they present a sense of superiority toward the poor people and show indifference. Their mean attitudes, languages, or actions, unreservedly reveal the social hierarchy, treating the poor people as objects rather than individuals with their own feelings and struggles. When she went out on dates with the boys in her social class, they were always silly and unrealistic. When the workers were setting up the marquee, she was astounded by the worker's friendliness and appreciation of nature, not like the rich family young boys. They have the same heart, but Laura’s understanding is way shallow. Many rich people often are too proud of themselves, especially boys. People who act like this often just inherit the fortune from their parents, which makes them spoiled and not concerned about their future. They are often unrealistic and silly. People in the working class often use slang and are incredibly nice, unlike the refined and snobbish gossip of the higher classes. Personally Laura thinks that these people are much better than the “silly boys” that she meets at garden parties. Laura is also delighted at the fact that the workers appreciate the beauty and existence of the lilies that grow in their garden, where rich people just use it to represent their social standing. Laura dislikes the conversations and interactions the rich upper class men have made towards the poor people, further reinforcing the social stratification among different classes.
Laura views all human beings are born equal in dignity, and people can't just use money to determine their social status and position. People are always equal. They have the divine right to be respected, to be free, and to be valued. However, in this system, it often defies this statement. The poor people often don’t get their deserved respect from society just because of their classes. Jose and Mother both think the Scotts are no big deal, but Laura knew they had to deserve some respect. Just because they have less money doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be valued. This is unfair for the Scotts. In the US Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson wrote “All men are created equal.” This statement should apply to all societies old or new, and to every place. However, in the early 19th century, this rule was forgotten and humans have created a deeply unequal society. The poor almost have no financial support except for themselves, while the rich lavish themselves with luxuries and other things. They depend on each other, as the servants depend on them for money, and the Sheridans depend on them for work and labor. Everyone is created equal, even though some may be poor, some may be rich, all of them deserve the same level of respect.
The Garden Party is a short story full of meaning and open to many interpretations. While using snippets from her own life, combined with the current society and social problems, Mansfield weaves a delicate and meaningful tale although it may look mundane and ordinary at the start. People in the richer classes have never been so empathetic of the poor, like how Laura feels so sad when Mr. Scott dies. However, her parents tell her not to worry about it, and also interactions with the poor are very inefficient, as they have slang and proper words that come from completely different backgrounds. When she feels empathy for the poor, her family tells her not to worry about it because that we are rich and they are poor. Laura believes this is wrong, and the question is will Laura retreat in the confines of richer classes, or finally stand up for the poor people from their society, which treats them like trash.
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