Modernist writers believe that public and private spaces play a central role in the formation of public and private culture. The question of public and private spaces cuts across areas of class, gender, social and racial forms [1]. After all, the term “space” can be defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as “A continuous area or expanse that is free, available, or unoccupied” [2]. However, the French philosopher Michel de Certeau's definition of space states: “In the practice of daily life, a place is the order (of any type) according to which the elements are distributed in relationships of coexistence”; a place is therefore “an instantaneous configuration of positions. It implies an indication of stability.” [3] So, by reading, it generates a sort of textual space. This textual space is displayed in the works of both Katherine Mansfield and Virginia Woolf, which portray the interaction between the described setting and the imagination itself. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay From De Certeau's definition it can be said that space and place have a similar meaning. Indeed, place is a form of stability associated with women and their place at home. Furthermore, the idea of space and place can be directly related to gender and gender relations. Gender relations today are completely different from those of the twentieth century. However, during the modernist period, this idea seemed to have changed. This was the time of industrialization, which changed individuals' relationships in terms of class, gender, race and culture. “Industrialization gave women new job opportunities and new possibilities to acquire knowledge and the freedom to move in certain public spaces” [4]. The division between public and private spaces corresponds to a male-dominated world of work and female domestic spheres resulting in workplace separation. The woman's place was in the private sphere of the home, which consists of the house and garden, and she had a moral duty as a wife and mother. This essay will explore character interactions in public and private spaces in Katherine Mansfield's short stories and Virginia Woolf's "A Room of One's Own." Katherine Mansfield is also known as the master of modernist short stories. Most of his stories portray important themes concerning the domestic sphere and the marital relationship between men and women. Another important textual element, included in all his stories, is space. Both public and private spaces seem to have great importance for her. Elisanda Masgrau-peya states that the place is not only an environment for the characters but also a place that influences their lives “confining or enhancing their perspectives of freedom, movement and shaping their identities” [5]. One of the main elements that Mansfield uses in most of his stories is the Garden. The Garden is not only represented as a setting but is also associated with the white bourgeois society existing in that period. In The Garden Party, Mansfield introduces the idea of having a “garden party” [6] (p.104) immediately in the second line. Although the characters in the story have not yet been talked about, this automatically gives the reader knowledge of the characters' current financial situation. Mansfield portrays gender inequality through the use of public and private spaces in her story. This is shown when “In the hallway her father and Laurie were brushing their hats ready to go to the office” [7](p.111) while Laura was busy with decorating the garden party. Mansfield separates the sexes in thehistory. This is further demonstrated through the various roles of the characters in the story. Mansfield emphasizes the idea that women should be at home and prepare for home entertainment while men are responsible for the activities of the outside world. This is shown through the characters "The florist's man", "the workers", "Mr. Sheridan and Laurie"[8], which shows that only men are involved in the outside world and have jobs and women are all in the doors, responsible for indoor activities. Similarly, in Life of Ma Parker, Mansfield further highlights the idea of public and private spaces. The reader is initially introduced to the main setting of the "literary gentleman, whose apartment old mother Parker cleaned every Tuesday"[9]. The reader is informed about the gender and class differences that exist in society. Mansfield shows this through characterisations: Ma Parker as a working class ruler and upper class literary gentleman. Although the narrative contains a variety of internal monologues, the plot is primarily based on one room, where Ma Parker spends all of her time. Throughout the story, it is through his internal conflicts that the reader is able to see the outside world. It seems that Mansfield shows Ma Parker's life through her thoughts to emphasize her entrapment in the house. The idea of public and private spaces is further emphasized in The Little Governess. Mansfield demonstrates that when women leave their premises, they need supervision and protection. This is shown at the very beginning of the narrative: “You'd be better off taking an evening boat and then if you get into a 'women only' compartment in the train you'll be much safer than sleeping in a foreign hotel. Don't go get out of the carriage; walk the halls and make sure you lock the bathroom door if you go there [10] (p.1) This shows that women are not safe in the outside world and need constant supervision even if they are also highlights the idea that, although women in the twentieth century were becoming less “closeted, domesticated and desexualised”[11], they were still seen as “the angel of the home”, to be protected in a similar way, Virginia Woolf reveals the relationship between space and gender inequalities in “A Room of One's Own”. room” in the title is significant; it suggests, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, a space that can be occupied or where something can be done.[12] states in her essay that “a woman must have money and a room of her own if she wants to write fiction”[13] (p.1), which describes the importance of being financially stable in order to do what they want. It also highlights the fact that for women to succeed, there also needs to be space for them to gain freedom. Woolf shows inequalities through “he was a Beadle; I was a woman.”[14] (p.11) in her story to show that only “Only Fellows and Scholars are admitted here; the gravel is the place for me.”[15](p.11) From this quote it can be seen that Woolf felt the difference between people who had an education and those who did not. He also witnessed gender inequality when he was in the library "he signaled to me that women are only allowed in the library if accompanied by a member of the College or provided with a letter of introduction."[16] (p.16) , which highlights the gender inequality that existed at the time Woolf was writing. It shows that women have a special place to be and that they are not meant to be in certain places where other men are. Woolf tries to compare woman to any kind of civilization in society in “If one is a woman, she is often surprised by a sudden splitting of consciousness, say while walking for.
tags