Fiction Essay Engl 102
Alyssa Hallinan
Mr. Morgan
English 102
19 February 2015
Loneliness in the heart of “Miss Brill”
Thesis: In “Miss Brill,” the main character of the story undergoes a change from a content woman to a lonely woman, when her distorted reality is revealed to herself.
1. Throughout the story Miss Brill is perceived as a woman who is content with her life but as the story hits a crucial point she devolves into a very lonely and depressed old woman, when her distorted reality is revealed to herself.
a. She took out her fur, which she groomed to look like new.
b. When she sat on the bench she “always looked forward to” listening to conversations.
2. Miss Brill came a point where her character was the happiest she has ever been.
a. She imagines that the reality on front of her is a play and all of the people are the actors.
b. She draws herself into the false reality by realizing that she also is an actor.
c. This realization brings her to tears.
3. Finally, her false reality is shattered when a young couple talks about her calling her a “stupid old thing” (197).
a. The girl laughed at her “fried whiting” fur calling it “funny” (197).
b. Their rude remarks about Miss Brill cause her to think about what other people must think of her.
4. In the last paragraph of the story her attitude drastically shifts from happy to lonely.
a. She passes by her “Sunday treat” (197).
b. She “quickly, without looking, laid [the fur] inside [its box]” (197).
c. Miss Brill’s last thought in the story was that “she heard something crying” when she put the fur in the box (197).
Alyssa Hallinan
Mr. Morgan
English 102
19 February 2015
Loneliness in the heart of “Miss Brill” Katherine Mansfield’s “Miss Brill” is a short story that briefly analyzes the distorted reality of one Miss Brill. Every Sunday she goes to the public gardens to hear the band, and to people watch. She imagines the lives and stories behind each character that she sees. In “Miss Brill,” the main character of
Mr. Morgan
English 102
19 February 2015
Loneliness in the heart of “Miss Brill”
Thesis: In “Miss Brill,” the main character of the story undergoes a change from a content woman to a lonely woman, when her distorted reality is revealed to herself.
1. Throughout the story Miss Brill is perceived as a woman who is content with her life but as the story hits a crucial point she devolves into a very lonely and depressed old woman, when her distorted reality is revealed to herself.
a. She took out her fur, which she groomed to look like new.
b. When she sat on the bench she “always looked forward to” listening to conversations.
2. Miss Brill came a point where her character was the happiest she has ever been.
a. She imagines that the reality on front of her is a play and all of the people are the actors.
b. She draws herself into the false reality by realizing that she also is an actor.
c. This realization brings her to tears.
3. Finally, her false reality is shattered when a young couple talks about her calling her a “stupid old thing” (197).
a. The girl laughed at her “fried whiting” fur calling it “funny” (197).
b. Their rude remarks about Miss Brill cause her to think about what other people must think of her.
4. In the last paragraph of the story her attitude drastically shifts from happy to lonely.
a. She passes by her “Sunday treat” (197).
b. She “quickly, without looking, laid [the fur] inside [its box]” (197).
c. Miss Brill’s last thought in the story was that “she heard something crying” when she put the fur in the box (197).
Alyssa Hallinan
Mr. Morgan
English 102
19 February 2015
Loneliness in the heart of “Miss Brill” Katherine Mansfield’s “Miss Brill” is a short story that briefly analyzes the distorted reality of one Miss Brill. Every Sunday she goes to the public gardens to hear the band, and to people watch. She imagines the lives and stories behind each character that she sees. In “Miss Brill,” the main character of