The LANDSCAPE AND INTERIOR IN KATHERINE MANSFIELD’S STORIES
Keywords:
Landscape and interior, symbolism in setting, freedom vs. confinement, social expectations, Psychological depth, alienation, transience, modernist short fiction, the contrast between nature and domestic space.Abstract
This article explores the use of landscape and interior spaces in Katherine Mansfield’s short stories, emphasising how these settings reflect her characters’ emotions, psychological states, and societal roles. It discusses how landscapes often symbolise freedom, beauty, and emotional reflection, while interior spaces represent confinement, social expectations, and psychological tension. The article analyzes stories such as “At the Bay,” “Prelude,” “The Doll’s House,” and “Bliss,” demonstrating how Mansfield contrasts exterior and interior settings to enhance themes of alienation, transience, and the conflict between personal desires and social constraints. Through this dynamic interplay, Mansfield deepens the emotional and thematic complexity of her fiction.
