Modernist writers believe that public and private spaces play a central role in the formation of public and private culture. The question of public and private spaces crosses the domains of classes, genders, social and racial forms [1]. After all, the term “space” can be defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as “a continuous area or expanse that is free, available, or unoccupied” [2]. However, the definition of space by the French philosopher Michel de Certeau specifies: “In the practice of daily life, a place is the order (whatever it may be) according to which the elements are distributed in relations of coexistence » ; a place is therefore “an instantaneous configuration of positions. This implies an indication of stability. [3] Thus, while reading, he generates a kind of textual space. This textual space is illustrated in the works of Katherine Mansfield and Virginia Woolf, which depict the interplay between a described setting and the imagination itself. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”?Get the original essayIt can be said from De Certeau's definition that space and place have a similar meaning. In fact, place is a form of stability associated with women and their place in the home. Additionally, the idea of ​​space and place can be directly linked to gender and gender relations. Relations between the sexes today are completely different from those of the 20th century. However, during the modernist period this idea seems to have changed. It was the era of industrialization, which changed the relationships between people in terms of class, gender, race and culture. “Industrialization gave women new employment opportunities and new possibilities to acquire knowledge and the freedom to move in certain public spaces” [4]. The division between public and private spaces corresponds to a male-dominated world of work and female domestic spheres leading to a separation of the workplace. A woman's place was in the private sphere of the home, which included the house and the garden, and she had a moral duty as a wife and mother. This essay will explore the character's interactions in public and private spaces in Katherine Mansfield's short stories and Virginia Woolf's "A Room of One's Own." Katherine Mansfield is also known as the mistress of modernist short stories. Most of his short stories address a major theme of the domestic sphere and the marital relationship between men and women. Another important textual element included in his stories is space. Public and private space seems to him to be of great importance. Elisanda Masgrau-peya mentions that the place is not only a setting for the characters but also a place that influences their lives “by limiting or reinforcing their perspectives of freedom, movement and shaping their identity” [5]. One of the main elements Mansfield uses in most of his stories is the garden. The garden is not only depicted as a setting but is also associated with the white middle class society that existed at that time. In The Garden Party, Mansfield introduces the idea of ​​having a “garden party” [6] (p. 104) immediately in the second line. Although the characters in the story have not yet been discussed, this automatically gives the reader the knowledge of the characters' current financial situation. Mansfield depicts gender inequality through the use of public and private spaces in her story. This is seen when “In the hall, her father and Laurie were brushing their hats ready to go to the office” [7] (p.111) while Laurawas busy decorating the garden party. Mansfield separates the sexes in the story. This is also reflected through the different roles of the characters in the story. Mansfield emphasizes the idea that women are expected to be at home and prepare for household entertaining while men are responsible for the activities of the outside world. This is demonstrated through the characters "the florist's man", "the workers", "Mr Sheridan and Laurie"[8], which show that only men are involved in the outside world and have jobs and that the Women are all at the door, in charge of the indoor activities. Similarly, in Life of Ma Parker, Mansfield highlights the idea of ​​public and private spaces. The reader is first introduced to the main setting being the "literary gentleman, whose apartment old Ma Parker cleaned every Tuesday".[9] The reader is made aware of the gender and class differences existing in society. Mansfield shows this through the characterizations of Ma Parker as a working-class housekeeper and an upper-middle-class literary gentleman. Although the narration contains a variety of internal monologues, the plot primarily takes place in a single room, where Ma Parker spends all of her time. Throughout the story, it is through his internal conflicts that the reader has the chance to see the outside world. It seems that Mansfield is showing Ma Parker's life through her thoughts to emphasize her imprisonment in the house. The idea of ​​public and private spaces is further emphasized in The Little Governess. Mansfield shows that when women leave their premises, they need supervision and protection. This is shown at the very beginning of the narration: "You'd be better off taking a boat in the evening, and if you get into a "ladies'" compartment on the train, you'll be much safer than sleeping in a foreign hotel. Don't go there. get out of the car; don't wander the hallways and be sure to lock the bathroom door if you go. [10] (p.1) This shows that women are not safe in the outside world and need constant surveillance even if they are. It also emphasizes the idea that despite the twentieth century, women were less and less “confined, domesticated, and domesticated.” desexualized”[11], they were still considered the “angel of the house” who had to be protected. Similarly, Virginia Woolf reveals the relationship between space and gender inequality in “A Room of One’s Own.” room” in the title is significant; it suggests, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, a space that can be occupied or where something can be done.[12] Virginia Woolf mentions in her essay that “a woman must have money and a room of her own”. if she wants to write fiction” [13] (p.1), which describes the importance of being financially stable to be able to do what she wants. She also insists that for women to succeed, it is necessary. They also need space to obtain freedom. Woolf shows inequality through “he was a Beadle; I was a woman. ”[14] (p.11) in his story to show that “only fellows and scholars are allowed here; gravel is the place for me. She also witnessed the inequality between the sexes when she was at the library: "he indicated to me that women are only admitted to the library if they are accompanied by a member of the College or if they receive a letter of introduction. »[16] (p.16), which emphasizes the inequality between the sexes that existed at the time Woolf was writing. This shows that women have a special place to be and that they are not supposed to be in certain places to be..