Frau Fischer by Katherine Mansfield

A visiting Englishwoman observes the unsettling dynamics between Frau Fischer, a bitter boarding-house owner, and her timid daughter Else. The atmosphere is tense and oppressive, marked by silent cruelty and emotional strain. The plot is driven by atmosphere and subtle power shifts rather than overt action. Mansfield explores the quiet violence of maternal domination. It’s a brief but haunting look at family dysfunction and emotional control.