Tum-tum-tum-tiddle-um! tiddle-um!

In our small group discussion you (Mr.Costello) told us that Miss Brill's age wasn't as significant as her occupation--an English English teacher in France. But what difference does that make? I understand that she is isolated and lonely. She people watches by herself. She gained purpose in her life by acting as an actress in the park. Pretending to just be part of the background, listening to the dialogue of other "characters".

So I get that she is detached from the world.. but what does being an English teacher have to do with the couple making fun of her towards the end? I feel like she has to be more different than just being English. Is it her fur thing that makes her stand out? Maybe it's an English thing, not a French thing.

Maybe she feels like crap on her way home because she lost her sense of purpose at the park. She wanted to be noticed, because she's an actress. This might be a stretch.. but what if the people making fun of her were her English students, which would mean she lost her only other purpose.

Actually, I really don't get this story. Why doesn't she just move back to England?