The Singing Lesson – 3 character Traits of Miss Meadows / character sketch of Miss Meadows

Katherine Mansfield did not give any account of physical appearance of Miss Meadows in the story. The only description provided is that she was wearing a cap and gown and carrying a little baton and trod the cold corridors that led to the music hall. 

• Popular Teacher – 

     Also the students seemed happy to be in her class “with bobbing pink faces and hands” and “music books outspread”.

• Jealous and despiteful – 

Here she pointed on her fake sweetness.

    Miss Meadows resented the Science Mistress, she grimly replied to her greetings that was made “in her sweet affected drawl”. She was filled with so much resentment for the Science Mistress as if she was hugging a sharp, wicked knife in her heart. She even stared at her with eyes full of hatred.

• A Stereotypical school Teacher –

     She used to teach music and carried a small ‘baton ‘ in her hands.

    The ‘baton’ a sign of her power, was used to conduct music as well as her class. When she entered into the hall that day she planted the brass music stand in front of her and ” gave two sharp taps with her baton for silence.”

     The baton was a symbol of her authority and control.

Her student were deeply Influenced with Miss Meadows so they reflected her moods instinctively. When she felt heart broken , she chose the song to play was – A Lament. In a cold, dictating  voice she asked the girls to open page fourteen and to sing the depressing song. The students instinctively pick upon Miss Meadows’ emotions to become angry and afraid. 

  On the other hand, when she received Basil’s telegram, she became ecstatic as if she were on “the wings of hope, of love and of joy”. As a reflection of her happy and excited mood she started teaching them a gleeful song.

• Impressionable – 

  The protagonist of the story, Miss Meadows was no different. On receiving Basil’s letter she was heartbroken. She resented her colleague, the  Science Mistress – 

      She allowed her inner turmoil to influence the choice of song for her class. Basil’s opinion that their marriage would be a mistake influenced her so much that she spreading her despair, ignored the chrysanthemum given to her by her favourite student Mary Beazley. 

     However, when she received a telegram from Basil saying that his letter was a mistake, she instantly became happy as if she were on the wings of hope, love and joy. The song she chose then reflected her happiness, and it was then that she finally picked up the yellow chrysanthemum.

• Insecure –

When Basil sent the letter to call off their upcoming marriage, the thoughts that troubled her most were that she would never be able to “face the Science Mistress or the girls after it got known.”

    People had already been surprised enough at her engagement. Thus to escape public embarrassment, she thought of disappearing somewhere.