ABSTRACT
In this chapter, a comparison is made between Mansfield’s “Life of Ma Parker” and Anton Chekhov’s “Misery,” the former widely regarded as an imitation of the latter. With the discovery of Mansfield’s creation of dual dynamics, however, we will find essential differences behind fundamental similarities between the two texts. Mansfield’s tale is marked by the existence of a covert progression behind the plot development, while Chekhov’s proceeds only with the plot development. The undercurrent in Mansfield’s text challenges patriarchal gender roles by presenting a female protagonist having qualities traditionally associated with men and a male protagonist with “feminine weaknesses.” With the uncovering of the dual dynamics of Mansfield’s “Life of Ma Parker,” a number of defects critics have found in this narrative in comparison with Chekhov’s “Misery” will turn into strong points and previously unnoticed strengths of Mansfield’s tale will come into sight. This chapter also reveals the remarkable techniques of Chekhov’s single narrative progression from a fresh angle.
