We live in a real world where real people communicate and interact with one another. However, there are some people in this world who seem to be out of touch with reality and live their life through dreams like the main character in Katherine Mansfield's short story "Miss Brill." In this story, the author uses various ways to fully characterize Miss Brill, and in doing so reveals the many sides and complexity of Miss Brill's character. Miss Brill is an extremely dynamic character who undergoes many changes.
In the beginning of the story, we see Miss Brill as a woman of indeterminate age, who is just enjoying another Sunday in the Jardins Publiques. However, as we enter her character's point of view, we realize that she seems to have a somewhat bazaar personal connection with her fur. The fact that she thinks of it as a "little rogue" (pg 88) gives us the tiniest hint of foreshadowing about the complexities of her character. Miss Brill is especially glad that the Season has begun. However she enjoys her time in the gardens for reasons that go beyond the casual conversation and social aspects of the Sunday gatherings. Miss Brill was disappointed that the old man and woman sharing her "special" seat did not speak because she looked forward to the conversation of other people in the gardens. She felt as though she was an expert at "sitting in on their lives for just a minute while the talked around her" (Pg 88). At this point in the story, the reader may start to believe that Miss Brill is a nosy old woman.
Miss Brill is takes delight in extremely small details and although she has a great lack of self-awareness, she is a keen observer of others in the gardens. She notices everything that is going on around her, from the conductor's new coat to the other people in the park. She sees something funny about them. She sees them as "odd, silent, nearly all old," looking as though they had just come from cupboards.
