Short Stories: A Cup of Tea by Katherine Mansfield, The World Renowned Nose by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer & The Open Window by H.H. Munro (SAKI)

TOPIC OF THE BLOG:- 

This blog is a part of the BA syllabus of M. M. Ghodasara Mahila Arts and Commerce College, Junagadh. In this blog I am going to discuss Short Stories: 'A Cup of Tea' by Katherine Mansfield, 'The World Renowned Nose' by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer & 'The Open Window' by H.H. Munro (SAKI).

A CUP OF TEA BY KATHERINE MANSFIELD:-

"A Cup of Tea" by Katherine Mansfield is a short story that was published in 1922. It follows the story of a wealthy young woman named Rosemary Fell who has a chance encounter with a poor young woman on the street one day. Rosemary Fell was a woman of means who lived a comfortable and elegant life in London. She was used to having her way and being waited on hand and foot by her servants. One cold, wet afternoon, Rosemary was returning home from an outing when she came across a young woman standing on the street, shivering and looking lost. 

The young woman, who was poorly dressed and seemed quite poor, caught Rosemary's eye. Rosemary felt a sudden pang of pity for the girl's situation. Without really thinking it through, Rosemary impulsively invited the young woman to come back to her house and have a cup of tea to warm up.

The young woman, whose name was Miss Smith, was surprised by Rosemary's kindness but gratefully accepted the offer. As they walked to Rosemary's elegant townhouse, Rosemary sized up Miss Smith, noting her shabby coat and hat. She wondered what Miss Smith's story was and how she had ended up in such a predicament.

When they arrived at the house, Rosemary ushered Miss Smith inside and called for a maid to bring tea. As Miss Smith sat uncomfortably in Rosemary's ornate drawing room, Rosemary studied her guest, noting her delicate features and observing how the poor girl seemed out of place in such luxurious surroundings. As they sipped their tea, Rosemary asked Miss Smith a few polite questions, hoping to learn more about her. But Miss Smith was quite shy and reluctant to share much about herself. Rosemary, on the other hand, talked freely about her own comfortable life and how she enjoyed the material luxuries she was able to afford.

After some awkward small talk, Rosemary decided she wanted to do something more to help the young woman. She suddenly had the idea to give Miss Smith one of her own expensive fur coats to keep her warm. Rosemary sent a maid upstairs to retrieve the coat, and when it was brought down, she proudly presented it to a stunned Miss Smith.

Miss Smith was overwhelmed by Rosemary's generosity and tried to refuse the coat, saying it was too much. But Rosemary insisted, enjoying the feeling of being able to help someone in need. As Miss Smith put on the luxurious coat, Rosemary admired how elegant and transformed the young woman looked.

With Miss Smith now outfitted in the expensive fur coat, Rosemary felt a sense of pride and satisfaction. She had done a good deed and helped someone less fortunate than herself. Rosemary began to imagine what else she could do for Miss Smith, perhaps finding her a job or helping her get back on her feet.

However, just as Rosemary was basking in her own generosity, the mood shifted suddenly. Miss Smith, who had been quietly admiring the coat, suddenly tore it off and thrust it back at Rosemary, her face twisted with anguish. She declared that she did not want Rosemary's charity and could not accept the coat.

Rosemary was stunned and confused by Miss Smith's reaction. She pleaded with the young woman, insisting that she take the coat, but Miss Smith refused. Finally, Miss Smith abruptly left, hurrying out of the house and disappearing into the street. Rosemary was left alone, the expensive fur coat draped over her arm. She stood there, bewildered and unsure of what had just happened. All of her good intentions and feeling of self-satisfaction had been shattered in an instant.

As Rosemary pondered the strange encounter, she began to realize that her offer of help had perhaps been more about her own ego and desire to feel generous than about genuinely helping Miss Smith. She recognized that the coat was more of a gift to herself than to the young woman.

In the end, the story suggests that Rosemary's act of charity was not really about the needs of Miss Smith, but about Rosemary's own need to feel good about herself and her comfortable lifestyle. The sudden rejection by Miss Smith forced Rosemary to confront the selfishness and vanity underlying her supposed generosity.

"A Cup of Tea" is a poignant and insightful exploration of the complex dynamics of class, privilege, and human interaction. Through the lens of Rosemary's encounter with Miss Smith, the story examines the ways in which attempts at charity can be tainted by self-interest and the inability of the privileged to truly understand the experience of the less fortunate.

THE WORLD RENOWNED NOSE BY VAIKOM MUHAMMAD BASHEER:-

"The World Renowned Nose" is a humorous and insightful short story by the renowned Indian writer Vaikom Muhammad Basheer. It was originally published in Malayalam in 1943 and has since become one of Basheer's most famous works. The story follows the tale of a man named Unni, a simple and uneducated villager, who becomes fixated on the idea that his nose is exceptional and "world renowned." The story explores Unni's growing obsession with his own nose and how it ultimately alienates him from those around him.

One day, Unni overhears a group of people in the local tea shop discussing a famous person known as the "World Renowned Nose." This intrigues Unni, and he begins to wonder if his own nose could be considered equally remarkable. From that moment on, Unni becomes completely consumed by his nose and its potential fame.

Unni starts spending hours gazing at his reflection, scrutinizing every detail of his nose. He becomes convinced that his nose is truly extraordinary and deserves to be recognized by the world. Unni even starts measuring his nose with a ruler, carefully documenting its exact dimensions.

As Unni's fixation on his nose grows, he begins to neglect his normal daily activities. He spends less time working in his small vegetable garden and more time preening and admiring his nose in the mirror. Unni's wife and friends become increasingly puzzled and concerned by his strange new behavior.

Determined to share his discovery with the world, Unni decides he must travel to the nearby city of Calicut to seek out a doctor who can properly examine and evaluate his remarkable nose. Despite his wife's attempts to dissuade him, Unni sets off on his journey, proudly carrying a small mirror so he can continue to check on his nose along the way. When Unni arrives in Calicut, he begins asking around, trying to find a doctor who can assess the true significance of his nose. Unni's quest becomes the talk of the town, with people mocking and laughing at his strange obsession.

Finally, Unni locates a doctor who agrees to examine his nose. The doctor, amused by Unni's insistence, carefully measures and inspects the nose. To Unni's delight, the doctor pronounces it to be an "exceptional" and "world-class" nose. Unni is overjoyed, feeling that his lifelong suspicion has been confirmed.

With a renewed sense of pride, Unni decides he must share this news with the wider world. He begins approaching strangers on the street, accosting them and demanding that they come admire his famous nose. Unni's eccentric behavior quickly earns him a reputation as a harmless but peculiar local character.

As news of Unni's "world renowned nose" spreads, more and more people begin to seek him out, curious to see this remarkable feature for themselves. Unni happily obliges, proudly displaying his nose to all who will look. He even starts charging a small fee for people to admire his nose up close.

Unni's newfound fame brings him a sense of purpose and fulfillment that he had never experienced before. He becomes a local celebrity, with people coming from far and wide to marvel at his extraordinary nose. Unni starts to see himself as a man of great importance, worthy of respect and adoration.

However, Unni's ego and self-importance eventually start to alienate those closest to him. His wife grows increasingly frustrated with his obsession and the disruption it causes to their lives. Unni also begins to clash with the local authorities, who try to curb his public displays of his nose.

As Unni's notoriety grows, the story takes an unexpected turn. One day, a group of traveling circus performers pass through the town and hear about the "World Renowned Nose." They approach Unni with an offer - they want to hire him to join their circus and exhibit his remarkable nose as a main attraction.

Unni is thrilled by this opportunity, seeing it as a chance to truly share his nose with the world. He eagerly accepts the circus' offer and prepares to embark on a new adventure. However, just as Unni is about to leave town, a strange and surprising thing happens. While packing his belongings, Unni accidentally knocks over a vase, and in the process, his precious nose gets slightly damaged. Panicked, Unni rushes to a mirror to assess the damage, only to discover that his nose no longer looks quite as impressive or prominent as it once did.

Unni is devastated by this discovery. He had built his entire identity and sense of self-worth around the idea of his "world renowned nose," and now that it was slightly flawed, he felt that he had lost everything. In a state of deep anguish, Unni decides he can no longer join the circus, as his nose is no longer perfect.

As the story ends, we see Unni sitting alone, despondent and uncertain about his future. The narrative suggests that Unni's all-consuming fixation on his nose had ultimately alienated him from his loved ones and blinded him to the true meaning and purpose of life.

Through this humorous yet poignant tale, Basheer offers a keen social commentary on the human tendency to become obsessed with superficial attributes and material status. The story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of ego, vanity, and the pursuit of shallow forms of recognition and validation. "The World Renowned Nose" is a thought-provoking exploration of the complexities of human identity, the power of perception, and the importance of maintaining a balanced perspective on one's place in the world.

THE OPEN WINDOW BY H. H. MUNRO (SAKI):-

"The Open Window" is a classic short story written by the British author H.H. Munro, who published under the pen name "Saki." It was first published in 1914 and has since become one of Saki's most well-known and frequently anthologized works. The story takes place in the English countryside and centers around a young man named Framton Nuttel, who has come to the country to rest and recover from a nervous condition. Framton has been given letters of introduction to various families in the area, in the hopes that they will help him feel more at home and aid in his recovery.

One such family that Framton visits is the Sappletons, a widow and her niece Vera. When Framton arrives at their country home, he is greeted by the young Vera, who invites him in and makes him feel welcome. As they sit chatting in the drawing room, Vera begins to tell Framton an intriguing story about her family's past.

Vera explains that three years ago, on a day just like this one, her aunt's husband Mr. Sappleton, as well as her two younger brothers, had gone out for their annual shooting expedition. Tragically, they never returned, as they had met with a terrible accident and drowned in the nearby marsh. Vera paints a vivid picture for Framton, describing how her Aunt Bertha had spent hours anxiously waiting by the open window, hoping to see her loved ones return. Sadly, they never did, and Aunt Bertha fell into a deep depression from which she never fully recovered.

As Vera finishes her story, the window in the drawing room suddenly opens, and Framton is startled to see the figures of three men approaching the house. Vera exclaims that it must be her aunt's husband and brothers, returning from their shooting trip. Framton is shocked and unsettled, not knowing how to react to this unexpected development.

Aunt Bertha then enters the room, and Vera explains the situation to her. Aunt Bertha seems overjoyed to see the men and rushes to the window, calling out to them. Framton, now deeply disturbed, begins to feel faint and ill, convinced that he is witnessing some kind of supernatural phenomenon.

However, the reader soon learns that Vera's story was entirely fabricated. The three men approaching the house are not the deceased relatives, but rather Vera's actual aunt and two younger brothers, returning from their annual hunting trip. Vera had simply concocted the tragic tale in order to toy with the nerves of the unsuspecting Framton. As Framton hastily makes his exit, claiming he must leave immediately, Vera and her aunt are left chuckling at the success of Vera's mischievous prank. The story ends with Vera remarking that Framton "gave me such a turn" - a reference to the way she had intentionally startled and unsettled him with her imaginative storytelling.

Through this clever and humorous tale, Saki explores the themes of deception, the power of narrative, and the fragility of human perception. The story highlights how easily people can be manipulated and unsettled by convincing stories, even when those stories have no basis in reality.

Framton's nervous disposition makes him particularly susceptible to Vera's fabrications, but the story suggests that even the most level-headed individual could be thrown off balance by such an elaborate ruse. Vera's skill in crafting a compelling narrative demonstrates the potent influence that stories can have on our understanding of the world.

Additionally, "The Open Window" touches on the notion of social etiquette and the performance of politeness in the face of discomfort. Even as Framton is clearly disturbed by Vera's tale, he feels compelled to maintain a veneer of civility and composure, lest he offend his hosts The story serves as a wry commentary on human gullibility and the ways in which our preconceptions and biases can leave us vulnerable to manipulation. Through the lens of Framton's misadventure, Saki invites the reader to consider the importance of critical thinking and maintaining a healthy skepticism, even in the face of seemingly convincing narratives.

In its compact yet impactful form, "The Open Window" showcases Saki's trademark blend of wit, irony, and insight, making it a enduring classic of the short story genre. The story's enduring popularity is a testament to its timeless exploration of the human condition and the power of storytelling to both enlighten and deceive.