A senior citizen is described as an elderly person usually beyond the age of retirement. In many countries, such citizens are taken care of by the whole community and special shelters are provided for them. However, once such special centers are set up, no person actually stops to think whether the most aged members of our society are happy or not. Do they like staying all alone in a closed room, with other elderly people? Or would they rather like to spend time with family and friends? Society often tends to ignore and avoid such questions. “Miss Brill” by Katherine Mansfield is a very insightful story that deals with this subject. The main character, Miss Brill, is portrayed as an isolated, vulnerable and fragile senior citizen. She lives in her own unreal world and tries her best to fit in with the rest of society. However, when she realizes her actual role, she becomes depressed and emotionally devastated. This story provides its readers with an insight about how isolated, susceptible and depressed elderly people feel because of the way community behaves with them.

Katherine Mansfield characterizes Miss Brill as a person who really wants to fit

Lastly, as I have already mentioned, the rest of society is to blame for the pitiful conditions of the senior citizens. On Pg 331, this is clearly exemplified when the young boy calls Miss Brill “that stupid old thing”. He makes the poor woman feel unwanted and abandoned. She is brought back to reality and her idea of being a part of the community is completely shattered. Is this the way to behave with the some of the experienced members in society? Instead of helping them and greeting them with reverence, people have taken them for granted.

Some things, which may not be of much importance to society, are of tremendous value to the senior citizens. To Mrs. Brill, for example, buying the honey cake every Sunday is a big treat. It makes her feel happy. She herself admits on Pg 331, “It made a great difference”. It is upsetting to see the some of the most integral members of our community in such a state. However, we have to realize that the rest of society is to blame for this poor condition of the senior citizens.

In addition, when Miss Brill describes her fur, she is actually describing her own life. “Miss Brill put up her hand and touched her fur. Dear little thing! It was nice to feel it again. She had taken it out of its box that afternoon, shaken out the moth powder, given it a good brush, and rubbed the life back into the dim little eyes.” (Pg. 328) – When Miss Brill states th

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