Love And Relationships In Katherine Mansfield's Something Childish, But Very Natural

The theme of Katherine Mansfield’s short stories is on love and relationships while the focus is on the development of the relationship.
3.1 Something Childish, But Very Natural
First we analyze the short story Something Childish, But Very Natural, which was written and first published in 1914 and republished in the collection Something Childish and Other Stories after Katherine Mansfield’s death.
First of all we analyzed the female character Edna and the development of her character in connection to the relationship she seeks with Henry. Further, we will analyze Henry’s approach and perception to his relationship with Edna.
3.1.1 The Development of Edna’s Relationship with Henry The protagonist of the story is Edna. She is sixteen (16) years

I haven’t a thing in common with my father; he’s just... a little man in the city – but mother has got a wild blood in her and she’s given it to me. She hates our life just as much as I do.” She paused and frowned. “All the same, we don’t get on a bit together – that’s funny- isn’t it? But I’m absolutely alone at home” (Something Childish, but Very Natural 138).
Edna sympathizes with her own mother, but the relationship between Edna and her mother is not good. This paragraph portrays Mansfield’s own attitude towards her family. As Tomalin states Mansfield’s mother also wanted to travel and explore and not to settle just like she and Edna’s mother did: “If her own father had not died, Katherine remembered her saying, she would have liked to have become a traveller, an explorer even” (Tomalin 10).
The theme of isolation presents here by Edna’s point about being alone at homes, there is a link to Mansfield, who used to consider herself the ugly duckling. Edna is a timid and a shy girl, who blushes and feels embarrassed. When Edna and Henry meet first time in a train, she does not like to talk with Henry. Even she gave short answers to the questions of Henry. Edna is not interested in Henry to make a relationship with him and she denies Henry at this point, when she says that life is wonderful: “I don’t think so. But then I’ve been a fatalist for a long time now” (Something Childish, but Very Natural

At this point, their relationship is very honest, innocent and pure and they both admit that neither of them had ever been in love.
“If only their bodies would not tremble so stupidly! Still half hidden by her hair, Edna said: “Have you ever been in love before?”
“No, never! Have you?”
“Oh, never in all my life.” She shook her head. “I never even thought it possible.” (Something Childish, but Very Natural 136). Despite the initial innocence of the relationship, there is also a first sign of physicality, as their bodies – including Edna’s body – are said to tremble, which is generally used with a sexual connotation. Moreover, Edna has strong feelings for obligation and being admired by Henry as she ultimately shows Henry her hair and thinks about it whether he likes her hair or not, even Henry told her that he is fond of it: “I’d give anything to see your hair properly” (Something Childish, but Very Natural 139).
In a relationship, Edna looks like a very innocent and simple, as she does not discuss any matter or problem with Henry. She always agrees with Henry’s thoughts and maintains a obedient position, although she keeps away when it comes to physical contact with