The Doll’s House by Katherine Mansfield is a short story that has been on my reading list for a long time. The story follows three sisters and a beautiful doll’s house that they receive. Set in colonial New Zealand during the 20th century, it examines how social structures and social class are ingrained from a young age.
The story begins when the Burnell sisters Isabel, Lottie, and Kezia receive a large doll’s house. The house becomes the centre of excitement at school, and Isabel, the eldest sister, takes pleasure in deciding which girls will be allowed to visit it. It makes the girls more popular amongst their peers. However, there is one clear exception to visits, and that is Lil and Else Kelvey, the daughters of a poor washerwoman. Because of their family’s low social position, the Kelvey sisters are avoided by the other children and even treated differently by adults.
While Isabel and the other girls proudly discuss the doll’s house, Kezia is more interested in a small lamp inside it. Unlike her sisters, she does not seem to understand or accept the social rules that separate the Burnells from the Kelveys. Eventually, Kezia invites Lil and Else into the Burnell family’s yard to see the doll’s house. Her kindness is immediately interrupted by Aunt Beryl, who angrily orders the Kelvey sisters away. The story ends with Lil and Else leaving the Burnell property. Away from the other children, Else finally speaks and reveals that what she noticed most about the doll’s house is the little lamp.
The main theme of the story is social class. The Burnells occupy a privileged position in their community, while the Kelveys are treated as outsiders because of their poverty and their mother’s occupation. The children have absorbed the belief that the Kelveys are somehow inferior, even though they have done nothing to deserve such treatment. The school becomes a miniature version of the larger society. Children who belong to respected families are welcomed, while Lil and Else are deliberately excluded. Katherine Mansfield shows how social status and its awareness are taught rather than being a natural occurrence.
Another thing I noticed was innocence versus learned behaviour. The girls can be remarkably cruel, particularly when they realise that mocking the Kelveys earns them approval from their peers. Meanwhile, Kezia provides an important contrast; she does not understand why Lil and Else are excluded, and her instinct is simply to include them. This makes Kezia the story’s moral compass, and she represents a child who has not completely accepted the prejudices imposed by adults. The story constantly divides people by discussing who belongs and who does not in social groups.
The Doll’s House by Katherine Mansfield is still relevant to the society we live in. Children still learn about the ideas related to class, wealth, and social status from the adults around them. I feel the story makes us think about how social exclusion works because it depends on specific factors. The story packs a punch in its short duration, and I really enjoyed the way it was written along with its message.
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