Miss Brill Lesson Plan

Discuss the symbolism of Miss Brill's fur.

The fur necklet Miss Brill wears is symbolic of herself. Miss Brill's engagement with her fur demonstrates how she feels about her own place in society. At first, Miss Brill is excited to take her fur out. She sees its "sad little eyes" wonder "what has been happening to me?", and she attentively cares for the fur before going out. She's excited to go to the Public Gardens and be an active participant in the community and the "performance" she imagines. When Miss Brill overhears the young couple speaking of her cruelly and comparing her beloved fur to fried whiting, she concludes she is insignificant to the community,...