What role does music play in the short story, “The Singing Lesson” by Katherine Mansfield
English · High School · Thu Feb 04 2021
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In Katherine Mansfield's short story "The Singing Lesson," music plays a crucial role in reflecting the emotional state and internal experiences of the protagonist, Miss Meadows. The story focuses on a singing teacher who is subjected to the tumult of her own emotions after receiving distressing personal news. Music in the story is a significant element as it serves to illustrate Miss Meadows' mood swings and reverberates with her inner turmoil. At the beginning of the story, Miss Meadows arrives at school in an extremely unhappy state after reading a letter from her fiancé Basil, where he calls off their engagement. This emotional disturbance is mirrored in the way she conducts her singing lesson. She chooses a sad, mournful song for her students, "a lament," which resonates with her feelings of despair and sorrow.