Focalization In Katherine Mansfield's Short Fiction

This study of Katherine Mansfield's short fiction, with its focus on the presentation of focalization in the works, is an attempt to reveal the artistic function of focalization in producing the special visual effects of Mansfield's short fiction. In Mansfield's works, fragmented episodic structure and abundant impressionist descriptions of a chain of sensory images together achieve the visualization of mentality, in which focalization plays a determining role.First, Internal focalization is systematically employed by Mansfield to create for her short stories an atmosphere incorporating subtle emotions and sentiments. The emotional state of the characters is always revealed through the interaction of the character focalizor and the focalized object. Secondly, double focalization frequently appears in Mansfield's stories for the purposes of setting the mood of the story and revealing the psychological situations of certain characters. Circumstances of emotional conflict are presented through double focalization. Thirdly, specially featured external focalization is employed as an alternative. The shift of focalization from internal to external functions to foreground the presentation of moments of loneliness and isolation and to convey a sense of the inability of mutual understanding.