ANALYSIS OF A DILL PICKLE

(Short story by Katherine Mansfield)

A dill pickle is short story which tells about a woman who meets again with his beloved
former that she hasnt seen for six years. They were met again at the Caf unintentionally. She is
Vera. A woman who is really loved the man, but she also was broken the relationship with
him.She came from rich family. It can see when she had a little pot of caviar which had cost
sevenand six pence. She really likes playing piano. On the other hand, the man who is really
lovedVera too, came from poor family. But it changes after six years later and he go around to
manycountries. He often interrupts the conversation, especially with Vera. It made Vera hate him.
That his habit didnt change until they have
meeting again. Beside that, the man is so self engrossed and often unconcerned his sweetheart,
Vera. He always busy with himself thananybody else. But, between Vera and the man have some
similarities, such as egoist, loved oneanother, and have desire to go to Russia.

The story began when Vera looks the man who was sitting at one of those little bambootables
decorated with a Japanese vase of paper daffodils. We usually called Caf. The situationof this
setting is so quiet, like The Caf which nothing visitors beside them. Both of them feltshocked
when their eyes view one another. The man invited Vera to sit with him and havecoffee. Hesitate,
she complies it. After Vera sits, they are making little conversation. Butsuddenly the man
interrupts her, call the waitress, to order some foods. It was remind Vera to six
years ago when the man stopped in the middle of what she was saying. Its same, nothingchanges
until theyre met again.

The man retell about the sweet memory at Kew Gardens, when he didnt know
the namesof any flowers. Finally, he knew it one by one, such as Geranium, Marigold, and
Verbena. It was
a sweet memory for him. Different with him, Vera dont think so. It was a bad memory for her.
Why? Because the man made she felt embarrassing in front of many people with his
behaviour.How she had suffered. In the warmth, as it were, another memory unfolded. However
they weremaking romantic activities like other couple.

The setting moves to the Caf again. The man offered Vera smoking. Smoking remindedhim to
Russia. Then, he retell about his journey for six years. He spent time with travelling toSpain,
Corsica, Siberia, Russia, Egypt, and China. Vera felt envy to him, because she is reallywanted to
go to Russia. She was not reach it yet, but the man has go there. Russia is a specialcountry for
the man, because it has changes his sadness become happiness. Before he retells
about Russia, he was remind about boatmans song that Vera often like while playing piano.
But,she doesnt have piano anymore for ages ago. Her piano was sold. The man didnt care about
it.
He starts to tell that he even spent some days on a river boat on the Volga. He had imagined
thesituation on that river. He can join with Russian without necessary knowing the language.
TheRussian life is so free. And the peasants are so splendid. It can see when he offers
a dill pickle
tothe wife of his friends, while they were picnic at the Black Sea. The
dill Pickle
was terribly sour.The man describes it indirectly. He used poetic expression, but Vera can
understand what hesaying.

Vera is a marvelous listener for the man. She was changes his life. He had never spoken
toanybody before. After he met Vera, he has become accustomed to spoken with other
people.Suddenly, the situation became unpleasant when the man tells about a letter, how Vera
brokentheir relationship, while laughing. It made Vera feel offended what he saying. It was so
hurt for her and she is crying. Then, Vera stand up and ready to go away. But, the man restrains
her withcaught up one of her gloves from the table. But, Vera can take her gloves again.

Vera is a special woman for the man. So do Vera. She felt regret had broken the man. He isthe
only man who had ever understood her. But, all is too late for her. She go away from theCaf
without touch the cream or saying goodbye. She leaves him alone. She had gone. He satthere,
like a thunder-struck, without any words. And then he asked the waitress for his bill. But,
he dont want to pay the cream because it has not been to
uched.

So, the plot of this story is flashback. And the writer position in this story is
omniscient point of view. It can see trough external narrator who refers to protagonist in the third
person.The protagonist character is Vera and the antagonist character is the man. I think the coda
is
chance will never back again. So, used your chance efficiently, and dont forget to think before
act!