Topic > Symbolism in The Garden Party by Katherine Mansfield

The death of Mr. Scott from her less fortunate neighborhood not only teaches Laura how to offer compassion to others in a time of need, but also allows society to portray the differences between wealthy families and poor families. For example, in the first paragraph of the garden party, Mansfield implies: “Roses are the only flowers that impress people at garden parties; the only flowers that everyone is certain to know.” The statement illustrates how roses often symbolize the wealthy class because Mansfield describes that everyone recognizes roses, just as any individual living in the time period of the 1920s would be able to differentiate a rich person from a beggar by the way they dress or hold themselves. addressed to others. . Wealthy guests were the only ones allowed at the garden party, meaning that the Sheridans were able to identify the guests they invited to their party simply by their appearance. After the death of the man from the slum, Laura observed that his family members contribute an effort to help the less fortunate only when the moment is convenient for them. The case in which Laura's mother offers some of the leftovers to the grieving family and says, "What's the point of having everything ready," exemplifies the fact that Laura's mother will willingly help the needy and grieving family only when the moment is right? will present appropriate. For