Chapter 3: The Little Girl
Understanding the Narrative
This story by Katherine Mansfield explores the changing relationship between a young girl, Kezia, and her strict father. It moves from a state of fear and misunderstanding to one of comfort and empathy.
Kezia's father is a hard-working disciplinarian. His exhaustion often manifests as irritability, which Kezia interprets as lack of love. A pivotal moment occurs when she accidentally tears his important speech to make him a gift.
Protagonist: Kezia
Kezia is a sensitive child who stutters only in front of her father. She compares him to a "giant" and feels a sense of relief when he leaves for work. She observes the Macdonalds next door and realizes that "there were different sorts of fathers."
The Transformation
The turning point comes when Kezia has a nightmare while her mother and grandmother are at the hospital. Her father carries her to his room, tucks her in, and comforts her. She realizes he has a "big heart" but is too tired from work to play like Mr. Macdonald.
Poem: Rain on the Roof
When the humid shadows hover
Over all the starry spheres
And the melancholy darkness
Gently weeps in rainy tears,
What a bliss to press the pillow
Of a cottage-chamber bed
And lie listening to the patter
Of the soft rain overhead!
By Coates Kinney
Vocabulary
Chapter Summary
- Parents may seem strict due to life's pressures, but their love is often hidden.
- Empathy and understanding can bridge the gap between generations.
- Nature (the rain) can trigger deep memories and emotional healing.