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. …showed first 75 words of 1263 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1263 total…she is aware of the fact that he is providing the money for the family, and admires his devotion. Katherine Mansfield, at first sight, seems to make Stanley Burnell look as if he is a tyrant, a despot, because he is pushing everybody to work hard, but he is actually a positive character, because he has the dignity and the morality to deal with his life and take the responsibility of looking after his family.