Tone Of Miss Brill

The Pain of Loneliness


The central idea of Katherine Mansfield’s “Miss Brill” is the pain of loneliness. Throughout the story, Mansfield reminds us constantly of Miss Brill’s pain by letting us see life through Miss Brill’s eyes, which allows us to feel pity for Miss Brill. Miss Brill sadly attempts to experience life through strangers. Mansfield creates the tone by showing readers Miss Brill’s naivety of life. This brings about a sad, painful, and pitiful tone to take over the entire story. The tone of loneliness is developed by Miss Brill’s attempts for warmth and companionship, her fantasizing about the life she would like to live, and her final realization of what her life truly is.
Miss Brill’s loneliness and the need for warmth and companionship is obvious. In the beginning of the story she treats her fur as if it were her favorite pet. She rubs “the life into the dim little eyes.” Also, when the band is playing, she feels like she is w...