The human condition is basically what makes us human; human nature, society or just how we live our everyday lives interacting with each other, together. In other words, it’s the “fundamental issues of human existence” – C. Welch. The human condition is most definitely this “good and evil” thought we put into our heads which affects our everyday behaviour to fit those of others. In the short story “Miss Brill” (Katherine Mansfield), Katherine really makes us question some things like what are some universal truths that emerge from the story? One discussion that we had in class is about how Miss. Brill, throughout the story, was in actual fact giving off an obnoxious attitude rather than an innocent one. She kept on using words like “peasant”, “cold, pale” “shabby” and “funny with long whiskers hobbling” to describe the people and their actions she perceived at the garden. An evil aspect of the human condition is shown here; just because one gets bullied and talked down mentally does not mean one is completely guiltless. Humans are in fact guilty without even knowing it since we only focus on how we want people to portray us and we forget how to portray others. That right there is a universal truth. Miss Brill makes me think about how much someone might end up relating to a character in a short story. Miss Brill is a great example of a person who can be happy at times but gets let down too easily. She has dreams and wishes some things but they will not exactly come true in the end for her. All because of a simple misfortune,  she goes back home and hides herself in her little apartment after finally finding the courage to go outside.

Photo: http://politicalhotwire.com/legal-issues/173976-cosby-innocent.html