Never Satisfied The main theme of "A Cup of Tea" by Katherine Mansfield is the selfishness often shown by rich and arrogant women of the British aristocracy. Set in turn-of-the-century England, rigid social classes separate the rich and the poor. As a member of the upper class, the story's protagonist Rosemary Fell lives a life of luxury. Her encounter with Miss Smith, a young beggar, exemplifies the rich woman's need to be constantly satisfied. Rosemary's exclusive shopping habits, romanticism of the poor, and frivolous requests highlight her selfish personality. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Although the rich are believed to have everything, human nature rarely allows people to be completely satisfied. Being a wealthy woman, Rosemary needs everything she owns to be better than what is already considered exquisite. While most wealthy women shopped in fashionable London, "if Rosemary had wanted to shop, she would have gone to Paris" (1036). Wanting to imitate the characters in her Dostoevsky novels, Rosemary brings Miss Smith home simply because she believes "it would be exciting" (1037), and she will be the only one of her friends who can share a story about saving a poor woman. . Although Rosemary decides that 28 guineas is excessive for an ornamental box "even if one is rich" (1036), she later asks her husband for money to purchase the box and he calls her a "little waste" (1041). Rosemary Fell's excessive desires never seem to be satisfied, and she continues to strive for an exquisite quality of life. As a selfish and spoiled member of the aristocracy, Rosemary fails to value life outside of bodily pleasures. Her shopping locations must surpass those of other wealthy women, her service to others is the result of an internal desire to be enthusiastic, and she is interested in owning things not because she needs them, but because she craves materialistic superiority over others. These characteristics portray to the reader the superficiality of both Rosemary and the rich as a whole. This self-centered lifestyle led by many rich people in England actually leaves them with a sense of dissatisfaction, ironically putting them on an equal or lower spiritual level than the poor. Although many believe that money will solve their unhappiness, Rosemary Fell confirms the incorrectness of this belief.