Author : W. Somerset Maugham
SETTING
Setting (Place) : There are two setting place in this story among others America (Chicago) and France (Paris), but in this story one of the character tells about their life and their experience in another country like India, Germany and Spain.
Setting (Time) : 1919 – 1992
THEME
This story tells about writer that interested in people and what people do with their lives.
CHARACTERS
Main Character : W. Somerset Maugham the writer of The Razor’s Edge, I think he is a good writer and honest person, why? Because what he writes is what he did and he saw. This story describes about good character that Maugham had. He is so friendly and gives some feel enjoyable to his friend for share about their lives.
Main Character : Larry (Laurance Darell) kind of difficult man to understand, he made his ways of this life, he just want to be free and freedom with his way. For Example, he just enjoyed his life to read many books in the library. He never thinks about find some job and makes a lot of money. For many years, he went to some place around the world that he wanted. The purpose to find the happiness, I guest. In the other hand, for the first time he leaves Chicago, he starts to stay in the places that he really comfortable. He goes around to German, Spain, India and Paris, but in the end of this story Maugham decided to live in New York. When he lives in India he met with a holy man, he learn about “Peace of Live”. That man teaches him a lot of happiness, insight and God. He stayed in India for two years. This is the fact if Larry is the man who’s always looking for something new in live. From that story Larry has story of love, he felt in love with Isabel, she is a daughter Elliot’s sister. But they cannot marry because Elliot forbid with their love story.
Main Character : Elliot Templeton is a very rich man. He lives in America, but usually lives in Paris. He always dresses well and he was very polite. He hate with a poor people because he feel he that rich. He has a sister and beautiful niece, her name is Mrs. Bardley and Isabel. Elliot really like a big party and he always invited his friend to come in his house to party. He only invites rich people. When Elliot getting older, he still likes make some big party in his house. At that time everything has been changed. In 1992 when America lost a lot of money, all of the rich man becomes poor included Elliot. Cause of this, then Elliot decided to live in France till died.
THE STORY
The Razor’s Edge talks about the writer who interested in people and what they do with their lives. The writer is W. Somerset Maugham. Maugham writes about a man whom Maugham knew many years ago. That man had a strange life, but he never became famous. His full name is Laurence Darell and many people called him Larry.
The story begins in America, 1919. Maugham staying in the city of Chicago, because Maugham books had been published in England, Maugham became a famous and because of this Maugham met rich American called Elliot Templeton. One day, Maugham comes in Elliot’s party then Maugham known many new friends.
Isabel fall in love with Larry, but her Uncle forbid because Larry is lazy person and he has no money. Larry always wants Isabel happy although without him. Larry just wants to be free with his life. Isabel feels sad because Larry wants to go away to looking for something new. Larry goes to Paris.
Because of love, Isabel visiting Paris to meet him. At the time, Maugham meets with her first, then they share each other about their feeling. Isabel know if Larry very busy with what he like. Larry spends the time to read a lot of books. Maugham gives some advices to her that for some people love knowledge is more important than love for one person. So Isabel left Paris and went back to Chicago while Larry stayed in Paris and Elliot was also living in Paris but of course he did not meet Larry.
Day by day, finally Isabel marries with Gray, but Gray was bankrupt. Elliot gives some support to find a job for Gray. After Gray found some jobs, their financial back to normal. They are became a good friend for Maugham in Paris.
Maugham meets with Larry again in the big restaurant, and then they make a deal to visit Isabel and Gray at their flat. They have a plan to get some dinner together but suddenly Gray has a terrible headache. Maugham and Larry come to their flat to know Gray condition. Gray sitting in the library, the tablets from the doctor are no use. Gray feels this pain will kill him. But Larry tried to help him with his knowledge about the way to cure desease with meditation that he learned in India that time. After that, Gray seen be more healthy than yesterday.
That spring in Paris was very happy for both all of them. They travelled to country places near Paris and enjoyed themselves like children. They meet with Sophie Macdonald at the big restaurant. Isabel said about Sophie’s bad attitude to other because she still loves with Larry. This is because Isabel was a clever woman. When she wanted something, Isabel usually got her own way. But in this story describe that Sophie is bad woman, she is drank and took opium. Larry wants to help her but it was very difficult for change her life.
Elliot getting older now and he sick then he felt many people hate him, he was not get the invitation to attend princess’s party. Maugham tries to give some attentions to secretary of princess to re-invite Elliot so that Elliot happy. Have been a long time Maugham not see Larry. And in the autumn Maugham meet Larry in Paris again. Larry talks about his experienced when he goes around the world. He said the story when he was child. When he saw the young people die because God allowed it. Sophie has dead and gone because much drank and opium.
In the finally, Larry tells Maugham about India, what he found and the freedom he got. He was not only found something new, but also feels happy and cozy. He joined with meditation in the cave, finally he found the God. He think that he must stay in India or never be happy again, Larry stayed in India to long time. He interested with Indian belief that they believe that life has no beginning and no end, when we past away, our life passes into another body. We life another life, but we do not remember what happened to us before. Larry changed his life and now he became a wise man and has a beautiful think and voice.
In a few days before Maugham visit to England, Maugham wanted to visit Isabel to tell her about the death of Sophie and about Larry’s plans. Maugham blame Isabel, because of her makes Sophie too much drink and opium. In the end, Larry will never become a famous man, but perhaps he has helped a few people to find happiness. Elliot died happy because he had received an important invitation. Isabel was rich and beautiful. Gray worked hard and people like him. Poor Sophie had an early death, but perhaps that was what she wanted.
The main problems/conflicts in the story :
There are many conflicts, one of them is when Isabel falls in love with Larry, and her Uncle disagrees with their relationship because Larry is lazy person and has no money. Larry hates poor people.
How did the story conclude? Were I surprised by the ending?
I really surprised with the ending, because Isabel has scheming with Sophie, she wants Sophie never marry with Larry. If Sophie had married with Larry, she would have ruined his life.
MY THOUGHTS :
I would recommend this story to others, because this story is very simple but full meaning. There are a lot of values about life and love. This story teaches me that we don’t regret our selves although many people said if we are stranger because if we want to be happy, just do what we want and we can be happy.
0 comments:
Post a Comment