Themes and message

The main themes in the story “Miss Brill” by Katherine Mansfield are loneliness, distorted perception of reality, and alienation. They are all linked together, and their connection is explored throughout the story.

The message of the story could be about showing kindness to those who are different. Miss Brill is different from the young couple, at least in the sense that she is old, single, and has an old-fashioned appearance. The ending shows Miss Brill deeply affected by the couple’s comments. It is likely that this event will affect her self-esteem even further and make it even more difficult for her to reach out to other people, which would not happen if the couple had shown her some consideration.

Loneliness

The theme of loneliness is suggested throughout the story. It is connected with the other themes in the sense that the distorted reality that Miss Brill lives in and her alienation from herself and others seem to originate in her loneliness.

The narrator never explicitly states that Miss Brill is lonely. However, various details in the story convey her isolation from others. For example, it is obvious that Miss Brill wants to connect with others, because she becomes skilled at listening to other people’s conversations.

The story indirectly compares Miss Brill to the old and silent pe...