Essay writing, sample essay topic: Katherine Mansfield's "her First Ball" - 1064 words
Writing From A Womans World Everything is so magical, exactly the way it is in fairyland. Leila, Katherine Mansfields main character in the short story, Her First Ball, is absolutely breath-taken at every sight and sound at the ball. Everything around her is so strikingly new and enthralling. It is Leilas first ball, and her first exposition to society. Mansfield describes the young girls emotions and excitement in a way that incarcerates her readers in the quaint fantasy world of Leila, and within the damsels spinning cyclone of different feelings and emotions. Mansfield illustrates a rich, colorful fairy-tale-like picture as the setting of Leilas world. We can obviously sense how Leilas perception of the ball is that of a dreamlike event.
The author shows her readers at the beginning of the story how Leila felt more like Cinderella incarnated in her body; for, her thrill is felt when she is in the cab passing by waltzing lampposts. Apparently, Leilas heart is beating fast here, and we can almost hear its pulse, especially when she tried not to smile too much; she tried not to care(p.40). The authors creation of a dream world is revealed in the way Leila views everything with wide eyes and astonishment. Simple common details, such as Megs tuberoses, Joses long loop of amber, Lauras little dark head(p.40) are even seen by her as most charming and extraordinary. Unmistakably, Mansfield is constructing fairy land as the setting of the story through the eyes of Leila. In order to sketch the ball through Leilas eyes, Katherine Mansfield writes the story from a feminine point of view.
The writer of the story seems to understand Leilas awe, and even seems to have lived similar experiences. If a man were to write in Mansfields style, it would most likely be difficult for him to achieve the same results as the female writer. He needs to think, live, and see things as a woman. There...