Decay

The theme of decay pervades almost all facets of this story, from the characters to the plot, and Mansfield uses this theme to demonstrate how trauma and harboring dark secrets can cause mental, emotional, physical, and moral decay. Mansfield uses symbolism, descriptive language, and character development to explore this theme.

The first prominent symbol of decay that Mansfield uses is the manuka bushes at the beginning of the story. The bushes are “covered with thick spider webs” (60), and they are found in the middle of the wasteland. The spider webs show that nobody has been in that region for a long time, since the webs represent neglect. This symbolism is used to draw parallels with the character of the woman who owns the store; she has also been neglected for years, and her beauty has been replaced by a crazed appearance and personality. This suggests that...