Who is narrator in Birthday Party by Katherine Brush?

Answer 1

In "Birthday Party" Katherine Brush uses three different perspectives to reveal human beings' inhumanity to one another. The scene begins with an inconspicuous dinner between a married couple. As events unfold a third-person perspective comes to light. The interest in Katherine Brush's poem lies in her use of several points of view to tell the story, while also ultimately allowing the judgment of character to fall to the reader.

The husband's take on the proceedings of the evening establish him as a man usually accustomed to privacy and intimacy. On his birthday, a man of such demeanor would hardly enjoy such a public display of affection. His immediate reaction of embarrassment turns quickly to spite when he quietly lashes out at his wife as the attention of the room fades from the couple. His spiteful actions hardly alleviate his embarrassment, but instead only serve to worsen the already deteriorating evening as his wife succumbs to tears.

The wife's attempt at a flamboyant birthday gesture is crippled by her husband's mortified response to the unwanted attention his "small but glossy birthday cake" has garnered for him. All she had been trying to achieve was the appreciation of her partner, but instead received only heartache. The wife's big brimmed hat may symbolize her predisposition for audacity and grandiose, showing her husband's lack of tact and understanding as his wife attempts to display her affection.

The third point of view is offered from a casual observer located inside the restaurant. The stranger knows only what has occurred at that evening's dinner, and nothing of the couples past or of the workings of their relationship. The onlooker sees a man become incensed by his wife's surprise and witnesses the sharpness of the husband's tongue. The narrator obviously empathizes with the wife, feeling her disappointment and angst at the failure of her gift, but at the same time would feel much more comfortable having not witnessed such a scene of despair.

Overall, Katherine Brush's poem, "Birthday Party" displays the true root of inhumanity as misunderstanding, offering three points of view of one event and inviting the audience to be the judge as to who was right and who was wrong

Answer 2

The story is written in what is called "first-person observer". The story is written in first person, but the narrator is not the main character, he or she is merely watching from a distance. The downside to this is that neither the narrator nor the reader knows the feelings or the thoughts of either the husband or the wife.

Answer 3

The characters in Katherine Brush's "Birthday Party" are a "seemingly married couple", but that is left to the assumption of the narrator. As the audience we must remain open minded in the sense that this might not be the case. Brush wants us to believe that the characters are married but if they were TRULY married she would have made that fact more resolute; because she did not, the actual past and situation of the characters are blurred. Could they not be on a secret date, the "fadingly pretty" woman being the "self-satisfied" man's mistress. If so his curtness is now understood in a new light. He is not conforming to the Post World War II attitude of practical man over sweet and meek woman-they just simply can't be seen. Will they be noticed by a neighbor? The narrator even shows embarrassment as the "Occasion" advances, not even being able to look at the woman. It is left to the reader to determine what the "curt, unkind" words were that were so cruelly addressed to the woman. The complete lack of the words husband and wife, allow the reader to delve deeper into the situation. Brush leaves out the two most important words to uncovering the truth of these characters, and because of that do we really know the characters?

Answer 4

Some people's intentions might not always be pure.

"The Birthday Party" by Katherine Bush subtly shows an unnamed wife's desire for attention. From the narrator's point of view, it seems as if the woman is a genuine caring wife while the man is a disapproving harsh husband. But some details of the short story reveal that perhaps the situation is not as they seem. The wife is observed to be wearing a big hat. When someone wears a big hat, they are sure to be noticed; the wife wearing a big hat is the first clue that her intentions for a special night for her husband may not be pure. When the cake is delivered, a sole pink candle is burning on the cake. Pink is a feminine color which implies the wife was not taking into consideration her husband because if she was, she would've placed a masculine color candle on the cake. After the small celebration at the restaurant, it is evident the husband is embarrassed and displeased with his wife and her surprise. Perhaps the husband was appalled that even on his birthday his wife still insisted on capturing the spotlight. He then speaks something unknown to his wife that causes her to cry. She might not have been crying because of the words he spoke, but because the birthday surprise she wanted to use for her benefit was then ruined. Katherine Bush's short story "The Birthday Party" vaguely reveals the wife's impure intents.

Answer 5

In "Birthday Party" by Katherine Brush, the narrator is a third-person omniscient narrator who observes and describes the interactions and emotions of the characters at the party without being a part of the story themselves. The narrator provides insight into the main character's thoughts and feelings as she navigates the social dynamics of the party.

Answer 6

Setting is where the the story takes place. Setting includes geographical location, the time period, and specific rooms or buildings.

Use your noggin!