Struggle for Justice in Katherine Mansfield’s The Doll’s House and The Garden Party

Abstract

This research aims to examine the theme of the struggle for justice in Katherine Mansfield’s two short stories, The Doll’s House and The Garden Party, using Lucien Goldmann’s theory of genetic structuralism. It aims to analyze how Mansfield critizes the social class inequality and rigid social structure in early 20th century New Zealand society , which was heavily influenced by the British colonial system. A qualitative approach was used in this study of literary works. This research explores the application of human fact, collective subject, significant structure, and worldview in both stories. The results of the analysis reveal that Mansfield portrays the lower classes, such as the Kelvey family and the Scott family, as a group that experiences masrginalization and social injustice at the hands of the upper classes. However, there are also forms of resistance and empathy, as seen in characters such as Kezia and Laura, which reflect the author’s progressive humanistic views. This analysis shows that Mansfield’s literary works reflect a collective social consciousness and serve as a critique of dominant bourgeois values. The depiction of social injustice, especially in the form of exclusion ans dehumanization of the working class, shows a significant structure shaped by the historical and sociocultural conditions of its time. Mansfield’s worldview prioritizes empathy, human dignity, and justice as common values in resisting oppressive social structures. Using genetic structuralism as an analytic framework, this thesis proves that Katherine Mansfield’s short stories are not only personal narratives but also powerful and profound sosial critiques, calling for social awareness and transformation. This research contributes to literary studies by emphasizing the importance of the structural approach in understanding literary works as reflections and critques of societal dynamic.