Katherine Mansfield uses the sisters' fear and indecision in 'The Daughters of the Late Colonel' to illustrate the theme of patriarchal oppression and the challenge in breaking free from it.
The correct answer to the given question is option A.
In "The Daughters of the Late Colonel," Katherine Mansfield conveys her theme by showing how terrified the sisters are of incurring disapproval even after their father's death.
The sisters' lives have been dictated by their authoritarian father, and even in his absence, they struggle to make decisions independently, showcasing their inability to break away from his control.
This is particularly evident when they cannot decide what to do with their father's top hat, a symbol of his oppressive influence.
Mansfield's use of the sisters' fear and indecision expertly illustrates the theme of the patriarchal oppression and the difficulty of breaking free from it.
The probable question may be:
How does Mansfield convey her theme in "The Daughters of the Late Colonel"?
A. By showing how sympathetic Kate was to the sisters' grief
B. By showing how supportive the mother was of the daughters' funeral plans
C. By showing how angry the brother was when he found out about the funeral
D. By showing how terrified the sisters are of incurring disapproval