Two of Katherine Mansfield's most famous stories are "Prelude" and "At the Bay", both of them portraying a New Zealand family. Both stories, are revolving around the female characters, but the one link that connects all of them is Stanley Burnell, member and provider of the family.
The New Zealand critic Carl Stead affirms that Stanley Burnell is a 'benevolent despot' meaning that he is a kind person, and a tyrant in the same time. I agree with Stead affirmation, but as it seems somewhat incomplete, I would want to add a few words to it: Stanley character is benevolent but unconsciously d…
