Miss Brill

by Katherine Mansfield

Miss Brill: Tone 1 key example

Definition of Tone

The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical or mournful, praising or critical, and so on. For instance... read full definition
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical or mournful, praising or critical... read full definition
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical... read full definition
Tone
Explanation and Analysis:

Throughout the story, Mansfield employs a distanced and ironic tone which allows her to comment on Miss Brill's behavior and beliefs even as the narrative is firmly rooted in her consciousness. 

At multiple points in the story, Mansfield shows Miss Brill passing judgment on old and shabby park visitors with whom she has much in common. Looking around at the other people watching the orchestra play, Miss Brill remarks:

Other people sat on the benches and green chairs, but they were nearly always the same, Sunday after Sunday, and – Miss Brill had often noticed – there was something funny about nearly all of them. They were odd, silent, nearly all old, and from the way they stared they looked as though they’d just come from dark little rooms or even – even cupboards!