A Cup of Tea by Katherine Mansfield

 A Cup of Tea by Katherine Mansfield

'A Cup of Tea' short story written in Modernist Style by Katherine Mansfield, explores the innermost insecurities of Human mind like Jealousy.

A woman named Rosemary, a Stereotypical Woman caught up in the fantasy of helping others not out of empathy but as a part of 'Social Service Fashion'. Take a lady named Miss Smith to her home. Her husband denies Miss Smith's staying at home and plays a game by praising Miss Smith's beauty. Rosemary's Jealousy wins over generosity and she sends Miss Smith's away by giving her a three pound note. Rosemary visits her husband Philip, and says Miss Smith will no longer stay with us. And ultimately end up by asking 'Am I pretty?' So, The story rightfully captures how the material conditioning of people's minds is so powerful that we are not able to come out from the notion of 'Outer Beauty.'

So, The story explores the innermost Jealousy prevailing in our unconscious mind which comes out when we see a threat to our own position. It also rightly pointed out how Class-consciousness leads Upper-class people to do charity work and help others. So, The story portrays deep complexities of Human behaviour. Where on one side they wanted to help others but only for the sake of show off, and suddenly they felt that their charity works can be a threat to their own life also.