Discovery in Robert Gray's Poetry & Katherine Mansfield's The Garden Brianna Rimmer 12th Grade

Discoveries that challenge what one does in their everyday lives and what one sees as acceptable allows them to reassess their place in the world and forces greater understanding of it. Through viewing the world through fresh eyes, one offers themselves insight into something that may have been previously disregarded or concealed. Composers explore how discoveries encourage re-evaluation of situations, evident in the poems ‘Late Ferry’ and ‘The Meatworks’ by Robert Gray, an Australian imagist poet, where he delves into the consequences of economic progress despite it being widely accepted in modern society, allowing the reader to make informed opinions on the subject. Similarly, in the short story ‘The Garden Party’ by Katherine Mansfield, a well-to-do modernist writer, the reader is taken on a journey as the character reflects on her privileged lifestyle, and in turn causes the reader to reassess their own life.

Reflection on the simple beauty of nature as opposed to the overwhelming consumerism in society leads to deeper understanding and appreciation of life. By separating oneself from the everyday one is able to reassess popular opinion and what society values. In the poem ‘Late Ferry’, Gray brings the reader along on the...