Discuss the class consciousness in The Garden Party In Katherine Mansfield's - The Garden Party class consciousness is the central theme The theme is woven into the narrative Again this theme shapes the characters's outlooks and actions Social Divide and Right The story portrays a clear class distinction between the Sheridans an affluent family and their working-class neighbors Mansfield highlights this contrast when describing the Sheridan family's luxurious lifestyle against the poor settings nearby For instance Laura Sheridan's revelation of the poor cottagers near their villa emphasizes the divide But we can't possibly have a garden-party with a man dead just outside the front gate This quote highlights Laura's naive understanding of the working-class reality Sense of Superiority The characters' attitudes often reflect a sense of entitlement and superiority Laura's mother dismisses the significance of a workman's death stating People like that don t expect sacrifices from us This statement