Point of view
"Miss Brill" is written in the third person limited omniscient point of view.
Symbolism
- Fur—the fur's life parallels Miss Brill's: it is removed from its small, dark residence and brought into the open, only to be returned to its lonely box at the story's close.[4] Miss Brill refers to the fur as a "rogue", an adventurer, though her own life is idle and lonely.
- Ermine toque—the once-fine fur's state of decay parallels the grayness of those sitting on the park benches and, as it turns out, that of Miss Brill herself.
- Orchestra—Miss Brill's emotions are reflected and echoed by the orchestra's performance.[4]
Themes
- Loneliness
- Illusion versus reality
- Youth and age
- Rejection
- Isolation
- Alienation
- Denial
Literary significance
The text is written in the modernist mode, third-person limited point of view, without a set structure.
