Class Consciousness in "The Garden Party"

Paper Summary:

This paper analyzes a number of incidences within the story "The Garden Party" from a Marxist critical perspective focusing on the attitudes toward the poor by several of the story's main characters (Laura, Jose, Laurie, Mrs. Sheridan) and the insignificance of Laura's eventual epiphany.

From the Paper:

"Subtle shifts in narration occur throughout the party; Mrs. Sheridan's voice is obvious when her husband broaches the topic of the dead man down the road. Although the silent dialogue still appears to be from Laura's perspective, the actions and ideas immediately following are those of Mrs. Sheridan. She suggests that Laura fill a picnic basket with the party leftovers and bring them to the new widow; Laura, her bourgeoisie consciousness slowly evaporating, wonders how wise this idea truly is. "Again, how curious, she seemed to be different from them all. To take scraps from their party. Would the poor woman really like that?" (294). "

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