The Dolls House Analysis Plot: Mrs.

Hay has given a doll's house to the Burnell children, it is minutely described, with special emphasis on a lamp inside of it, which the youngest girl, Kezia, thinks is the best part of the doll house. The next morning they cannot wait to show it off to their school friends, Isabel bossily says she will be the one to decide who is allowed to come and see it in the house as she is the eldest. The Kelveys, two poor girls, Lil and "our" Else, will not be allowed to do so because they are of a much lower social class. Later, Isabel and two of her friends, Emmie Cole and Lena Logan, taunt the Kelveys about their low social status. Soon afterwards Kezia impulsively decides to show them the house anyway, Aunt Beryl, worried about an insisting letter from a certain Willie Brent, walks in on them, shoos away the Kelveys, scolds Kezia, then feels better. The Kelveys have managed to see the lamp though and our Else smiles joyfully which is rare.and the story ends with them being silent once more. Rising action - takes place when Kezia invites the little Kelveys sisters to see the dolls house. Climax - when finally the little Kelveys sisters see the dolls house and soon after they are expelled from the backyard by aunt Beryl. Falling action - the little Kelveys, after that tremendous fright, stop to rest. Resolution - the little Kelveys were satisfied to see the dolls house. Else was happy manly because she saw the little lamp Characterization: The Burnell sisters Isabel, Dottie, and Kezia The little Kelveys Lil, and Else The aunt Beryl The school girls Setting: Small place or Countryside. Theme: Class Consciousness - the school is portrayed as a melting pot or mixing of all social classes, and the Kelveys as the lowest of the social classes. The other children are discouraged from talking to them, they are outcasts. Pride and prejudice, true and false feelings of friendship, innocence. Point of view: The narrator is omniscient during the whole plot of the short story. He is an observer, controlling the situation and sometimes being an intruder narrator, commenting about life in a poetic way in this short story. Conflict: Man vs. Society - at the same time the little Kelveys as well as their parents is victims of the societys prejudice. Rich people avoiding poor people.

Man vs. Man - all characters but Kezia avoid the little Kelveys sisters due to their social condition. Symbol: The main symbol is, at the same time, the title and the subject of the short story, that is, the dolls house. There are many aspects revolving around this symbol or subject, as if the dolls house was a gravitational point where everything in the short story happens. Action: The girls run to see the dolls house, the great novelty. Emphasis: Mansfield focuses the relationship among the society of her time, emphasizing themes such as prejudice and external appearances. Exposition: The description of the dolls house and its effect upon the children.