Summary
- Morning Preparations: A World of Beauty and Privilege
- The Accident and the Party: Conflict Between Compassion and Social Expectations
- Laura’s Journey to the Scott Home: Confrontation With Reality and Emotional Awakening
The Garden Party – Summary
1. Morning Preparations: A World of Beauty and Privilege
The story opens with a vivid description of a perfect summer morning at the Sheridan family’s luxurious home. The air is fresh, the sky is clear, and the garden is bursting with flowers—an ideal day for the grand garden party that Mrs. Sheridan has planned. The household is buzzing with activity: cooks prepare extravagant food, gardeners trim the lawn, and maids hurry about their tasks.
Laura Sheridan, one of the daughters, is put in charge of supervising the workers who arrive to set up the marquee (a large tent). Though she comes from an upper-class family, Laura feels a natural, almost instinctive connection with the working-class labourers. When she speaks to them, she is surprised at how personable and friendly they are. This encounter makes her question the invisible social barriers her family takes for granted. Yet she also feels slightly embarrassed by her inability to fully cross those boundaries.
As the preparations continue, the Sheridan house becomes a symbol of comfort, wealth, and elegance. Fresh lilies arrive, sandwiches are arranged on trays, and everything seems perfect. But beneath this beauty lies Laura’s growing awareness of the stark differences between her world and the world just down the hillside in the poor neighbourhood of the Scotts.
2. The Accident and the Party: Conflict Between Compassion and Social Expectations
Just as excitement peaks, a piece of tragic news interrupts the joyful preparation: a working-class neighbour, Mr. Scott, who lives in the settlement below their house, has been killed in a sudden accident when a horse-drawn cart overturned. The man leaves behind a grieving wife and children.
Laura is deeply affected by the news. Her first instinct is empathy—she feels it is inappropriate, even cruel, to continue with the party when a man has just died so close by. She insists that the party must be cancelled as a gesture of respect.
However, Mrs. Sheridan dismisses Laura’s concerns. She argues that the death is “not their affair,” implying that the social gap between the Sheridans and the Scotts makes the tragedy irrelevant to them. To distract Laura, she gives her a beautiful, new black hat with bright gold daisies—an object symbolic of wealth and vanity.
The party goes on as planned. It is a dazzling event filled with sunshine, laughter, white tablecloths, musicians, and elegant guests. Everything is lavish and festive. Yet throughout the event, Laura feels uneasy. The hat, which everyone compliments, becomes a symbol of how society tries to cover up discomfort and moral responsibility with beauty.
Even as she tries to enjoy the party, Laura cannot forget the dead man. The contrast between the luxurious celebration above the hill and the tragedy below grows sharper in her mind.
3. Laura’s Journey to the Scott Home: Confrontation With Reality and Emotional Awakening
After the party ends, Mrs. Sheridan decides to send the leftover food to the Scott family, treating it as a charitable gesture. She asks Laura to deliver it, possibly as a way to soothe her daughter’s conscience. Though hesitant, Laura accepts, still troubled by the events of the day.
As Laura descends the hill toward the poorer neighbourhood, she becomes increasingly uncomfortable. The narrow, shabby lanes, the simple houses, and the grieving atmosphere feel entirely different from the bright, sheltered world she comes from. She realises how little she truly understands about life beyond her privileged upbringing.
When she enters the Scott household, she is led to see the body of Mr. Scott. Expecting something frightening, she is instead struck by the peacefulness and beauty of his face. In death, he looks calm, almost noble—far more serene than anything she saw at the party. The moment overwhelms her. She feels an intense sense of connection, recognising that life is fragile and shared by all, regardless of class. The dead man’s peaceful appearance gives her a profound insight into the nature of life, death, and human equality.
Laura leaves in tears, unable to fully express what she has learned. When she meets her brother Laurie on her way home, she tries to describe her feelings but struggles to find the right words. He comforts her, and the story ends with the two siblings sharing a moment of closeness—suggesting that Laura has taken her first steps toward maturity and self-awareness.
