Marriage a la Mode

“Marriage à la Mode” is a well-known short story by Katherine Mansfield, a Modernist New Zealand author. The story first appeared in the magazine Sphere on December 31, 1921, and was published in the collection The Garden Party and Other Stories in 1922. “Marriage à la Mode” includes common themes in Mansfield’s work, such as marriage and family life, transformation and change, the Tension Between Tradition and Modernity, The Shallowness of Bohemian Circles, and the contrast between city and country life.

This guide references the version accessible through the Katherine Mansfield Society website.

William works in London during the week and travels by train to visit his wife, Isabel, and his children, Paddy and Johnny, on the weekends in their new home in the suburbs. On his way to visit one weekend, he regrets not being able to bring new toys to his children, though they have many toys from different countries. He opts to buy a melon and a pineapple as gifts, hoping they won’t attract the attention of his wife’s guests.

During his journey, he recalls a conversation with Isabel, who has changed so much that William calls her “the new Isabel” (1). She abhors everything traditional, calling things “dreadfully sentimental,” while William acknowledges his own “sentimentality” and fondness for traditional family values. Many memories from their past “happy” life come to his mind. He wonders how he could not have realized that Isabel was not as happy as he was in their old city house. While he is nostalgic about that cozy home, he also recognizes that she is somewhat right. He recalls Isabel sitting at her dressing table, brushing her hair, and saying that William “grudges” her their new house in the suburbs and their servants. He believes she has changed, while she insists that she has just found some “really congenial people” (3).

William is concerned about these new friends, with whom Isabel spends all her time. Moira Morrison wears a strawberry bonnet and wants to “rescue” Isabel, whom she deems “an exquisite little Titania” (3), from William’s alleged selfishness; Bobby Kane apparently has neither money nor trade apart from an inclination for modern dance; Dennis Green is a writer, and Bill Hunt is a painter.

When William arrives at the station, he hopes to find Isabel alone, and his heart “leaps” at first seeing her. He is soon disillusioned when he learns that Isabel’s friends are waiting. Bobby lets Isabel pay for the sweets he buys at a shop, and the whole party heads home by taxi. Isabel wants to keep the fruit William bought for their children for herself and her friends.

At home, the children are asleep. Later, they are sent away on another engagement, so William does not have any time with them. Isabel and her friends go bathing, and William is left alone and “forgotten.” Later, in the garden, he overhears Isabel and her friends refer to him as a boring, burdensome man. Meanwhile, Bill and Dennis eat “enormously” at dinner, exploiting William’s hospitality. The only moment William has alone with Isabel is while waiting for the taxi when it is time to travel back to London. She insists on accompanying him and carrying his bag. There is no time to say anything meaningful.

Once seated on the train, William is distracted and starts to compose a letter to Isabel. The day after, Isabel receives William’s bulky letter. As she reads it, she is surprised and cannot understand her emotions, so she decides that it is “absurd” and “ridiculous” and starts laughing.

She reads William’s heartfelt letter aloud to her bohemian friends, and they all ridicule it. Suddenly, she stops laughing and runs to her bedroom, realizing how vain and mean their behavior is. Downstairs, they call for her to go bathing with them, but Isabel decides to remain indoors and write back to her husband.

In the end, Moira calls her again, and Isabel gives in because writing back is “too difficult.” She laughs as she runs toward her friends, abandoning her task.