One Holy Night by Sandra Cisneros and The Garden Party by Katherine Essay

One Holy Night by Sandra Cisneros and The Garden Party by Katherine Mansfield - Essay Example Although Laura tries to maintain an authoritative attitude over the workmen, the happy and positive disposition of the workmen draws Laura to them. As a result, Laura considered the idea of having the workmen as friends because she realized that their attitudes are more natural than those men she had met in parties. Primarily, Laura’s social status in life, her attitudes, and the attitudes of her parents make her different from other people especially from her mother, Mrs. Sheridan, and her sister, Jose. For instance, Laura’s social status separates her from the rest of the world in the sense that she was not able, or was not allowed, to mingle with the poor people in their neighborhood. With the high standards of her family, Laura was not able take pleasure in enjoying the friendship of simple people. With her situation, Laura feels that she is confined within the gates of her home and the limits of her elite society. Laura’s feeling of isolation also affects he r attitudes toward other people especially the workmen. For instance, although she wants to maintain a demanding tone in making the workmen do their job, the positive attitudes of the workmen make her realize that they are actually nice people to have around. With this idea, it can be said that Laura’s isolation affects her attitudes toward people. ... Sheridan. For instance, when Laura heard the news of the carter’s death, she instantly feels empathy and concern that she proposed to cancel their party. She feels that having a party while one of their neighbors is mourning is not proper. In addition, Laura feels that she and her family need to pay some respect to the mourning family. Laura thinks that by cancelling the party, they would be able to be one with the neighborhood. She thinks that in this way, she can overcome the barriers of social status. Contrastingly, Mrs. Sheridan and Jose think that the idea is foolish because it would mean that the money they spent for the party would be wasted. It would also be a humiliation to the family if they cancel the party because of their neighbor’s death, who is not their relative, in the first place. In addition, Mrs. Sheridan and Jose think that the death of the Carter is not their business, so they have the right to pursue their party without feeling guilty. In Mrs. She ridan’s and Jose’s view, the attitudes of Laura signify childhood innocence and ignorance. With these attitudes, Mrs. Sheridan and Jose think that Laura still needs her family to support her in her decision. In this context, it can be said that Laura is still seen as dependent; therefore, cannot have the freedom of choice. Although Laura is projected as a positive character in the story, her childhood innocence creates the irony in her character. For instance, although she seems very concerned with the Scott family at first, her sympathy faded by the time â€Å"Mrs. Sheridan gives her a beautiful hat.† In the story, the beautiful hat signifies the alluring beauty of the elite life, the life of luxury. Considering this situation, it can