Katherine Mansfield's "The Garden Party" is a poignant exploration of social class and personal awakening. It features Laura, a sensitive girl navigating the expectations of her affluent family while confronting a harsh reality. The narrative unfolds with Laura grappling with the juxtaposition of her world and a neighboring tragedy, ultimately leading to a profound realization.

Setting the Scene

The story opens with energetic preparations for an elaborate garden party at the Sheridan home. The protagonist, Laura, is portrayed as an idealistic young woman, deeply aware and sensitive to her surroundings. Her family, however, is steeped in conventionality. Laura's sister, Jose, is characterized by her delight in ordering around the household staff, while their mother, Mrs. Sheridan, appears more concerned with the aesthetics of the garden, particularly the canna lilies, than with any deeper matters. Laura feels a kinship with her brother, Laurie, as they both share a more empathetic outlook on life. Critics have noted that Mansfield's writing style creates a dream-like quality to this world, enveloping the reader in its ethereal charm.

A Disturbing News

This idyllic atmosphere is disrupted when Laura learns of a laborer's death in the nearby cottages, casting a shadow over the planned festivities. Laura is immediately troubled by the thought of celebrating while a family mourns nearby and suggests canceling the party. This request is met with resistance from her family, marking the central conflict of the story. When Laura approaches her sister Jose with her concerns, she is met with scorn. Jose dismisses her sister's sentiments, telling her, "You won't bring a drunken workman back to life by being sentimental." The narrator later paints a vivid picture of the cottages, highlighting the underlying animosity between Laura's family and their impoverished neighbors.

Family Dynamics

Laura then turns to her mother, hoping to find understanding. Her attempts to sway Mrs. Sheridan reveal much about their relationship. Earlier, Laura mimics her mother's authoritative tone when speaking to the men setting up the marquee, an effort to appear mature and assertive. Yet, in her heart, Laura strives to differentiate herself from her mother's dismissive views of the working class. Initially shocked by her mother's reaction to the laborer's death—Mrs. Sheridan's first concern is whether it happened in their garden—Laura faces another rebuke. Mrs. Sheridan dismisses the idea of canceling the party as ludicrous, instead offering Laura a new black hat, suggesting that it might change her perspective. Despite her initial resistance, Laura finds herself enchanted by her reflection, momentarily losing sight of her earlier qualms. The hat serves as a symbolic tether, anchoring her to the superficial values of her family and distancing her from the plight of the laborers.

The Unfolding of the Party

The narrative offers only glimpses of the garden party itself, conveyed through snippets of dialogue and fleeting impressions. The event proceeds smoothly, with Laura and her hat garnering much attention. Compliments such as "Darling Laura, how well you look!" pepper the occasion, reinforcing her brief lapse into the superficial concerns of her family. Yet, the specter of the laborer's death is not easily dispelled. Mr. Sheridan casually mentions the "beastly accident," prompting Mrs. Sheridan to suggest that Laura deliver leftover food to the bereaved family. Initially uncertain of the gesture's appropriateness, Laura is persuaded by her mother to undertake this task, maintaining her party attire despite the incongruity of the situation.

A Journey Beyond Comfort

Laura's walk towards the cottages is depicted as a passage from light into shadow. Saunders Lane, in stark contrast to the Sheridan's vibrant garden, is shrouded in darkness and burdened by poverty. The "dark knots of people" who gather outside the widow's cottage underscore the divide between Laura's world and theirs. Self-conscious in her festive clothing, Laura intends to swiftly deliver the basket and retreat from the uneasy scene.

Confrontation with Reality

However, the widow's sister insists on engaging Laura, who soon finds herself face-to-face with the grieving widow, her features swollen with sorrow. Disregarding her mother's advice not to view the body, Laura is led to the deceased. Contrary to her expectations, she is struck by the serene beauty of the laborer in death, recognizing a grace and tranquility that trivializes garden parties and social conventions. Overwhelmed by the contrast between her sheltered existence and the profound peace of the laborer's repose, she tearfully pleads, "forgive my hat."

Realization and Reflection

Laura's encounter with her brother Laurie as she leaves the cottages encapsulates her inner turmoil. Sensing her disquiet, Laurie gently inquires, "Was it all right?" Laura struggles to articulate her newfound understanding, realizing that her glimpse of something transcendent defies explanation. Yet Laurie intuitively grasps the depth of her experience, responding to her unfinished thought "Isn't life—" with empathetic understanding, "Isn't it, darling?" The story concludes with the siblings sharing a moment of awareness, transcending the shallow preoccupations of their social world.