Leila Ashour
Dr. Boulanger
English II C
3 February 2025 Comparison Paper
We often hear that money can't buy happiness, yet it seems to shape how we see the
world and others. In Katherine Mansfield's The Garden Party and A Cup of Tea, the
protagonists, Laura and Rosemary, both meet individuals from a lower class, yet their reactions
to these encounters reveal significant differences in their understanding of social divides. Both
Laura and Rosemary initially approach their encounters with lower-class individuals from a
position of privilege and curiosity, but while Laura’s experience fosters genuine empathy and
understanding of class divisions, Rosemary’s remains a self-serving indulgence, highlighting the
contrast between true compassion and performative kindness.
Laura and Rosemary’s initial curiosity about the lower class comes from a privileged
perspective, shaping how they view those beneath them. Laura sees the workmen setting up for
the garden party as fascinating, even romanticizing their actions: “He bent down, pinched a sprig
of lavender, put his thumb and forefinger to his nose and snuffed up the smell” (Mansfield 64).
She finds charm in their simple movements, almost as if they exist for her amusement, rather
than recognizing their labor. Similarly, Rosemary treats her encounter with Miss Smith as an
exciting opportunity rather than a real act of kindness. She reflects on the moment, thinking,
“People always said that sugar was so nourishing. As for herself she didn’t eat; she smoked and
looked away tactfully so that the other should not be shy” (Mansfield 589). Instead of making
Miss Smith feel comfortable, Rosemary distances herself, keeping her own wealth and status
intact. Both women start from a place of privileged curiosity, but while Laura eventually begins
to recognize the reality of class struggles, Rosemary remains trapped in her self-image as a
benevolent savior.
Mansfield contrasts Laura’s growing emotional awareness with Rosemary’s self-
importance through imagery that reflects their shifting, or unchanging, perspectives. As Laura
watches the beauty of her surroundings, she observes, “The green bushes bowed down as though
they had been visited by archangels” (Mansfield 62). This heavenly imagery suggests that she is
beginning to see the world differently, as if something greater is at play. In contrast, Rosemary
never moves beyond a surface-level view of the world, where wealth defines worth. This is
evident when the shopkeeper flatters her while selling an expensive item: “But the shopman had
already bowed as though keeping it for her was all any human being could ask for” (Mansfield
585). The way he treats her reinforces her sense of importance, making her feel special simply
because she can afford luxury. While Laura’s perception of the world is shifting as she becomes
more aware of inequality, Rosemary stays in a reality where everything revolves around her.
While Laura is deeply affected by her encounter with poverty, Rosemary’s concern
remains shallow, driven by vanity rather than genuine empathy. As she stands on the pavement,
“Of course, the car was there. She’d only to cross the pavement. But still she waited” (Mansfield
586). This moment captures Rosemary's hesitation, not because of the circumstances around her,
but due to her discomfort without the box she wishes she had bought. She wishes for the comfort
of the box she was carrying earlier, something to hold onto and give her security. This feeling of
unease shows that Rosemary is more concerned with her own comfort than with engaging
meaningfully with the reality of her life or the lives of others. She is unwilling to move beyond
her privileged bubble, showing how her focus is on her own needs rather than extending
compassion to others. Her hesitation stands in stark contrast to Laura, whose discomfort with her
privilege is more emotionally genuine. For instance, Laura’s rejection of cream puffs, “Oh,
impossible. Fancy cream puffs so soon after breakfast. The very idea made one shudder”
(Mansfield 73). This reflects her internal conflict as she faces the reality of death in the lower
class. Unlike Rosemary, who waits on the pavement, unable to act beyond her own needs,
Laura’s reaction shows how she’s struggling with the realization of the vast social divide that
separates her from others, specifically the poor family nearby. This highlights the contrast
between performative benevolence, seen in Rosemary, and a true emotional response to social
injustice, as represented by Laura.
