Why My Mother Can't Speak English?
By David
Why my mother can’t speak English is a short story written by Garry Engkent, an immigrant from China. Mr. Engkent’s mother arrived in Canada with her husband and her son when she was forty years old, and she didn’t realize the necessity of learning English until she hurried for obtaining Canadian citizenship for the sake of keeping her properties and old-age pension in Canada. Her husband, from the beginning, forced her to work in their own restaurant kitchen in which she could never contact any Canadians. In addition, her working time was extremely long, and she almost had no holiday for her own purpose. Meanwhile, she actually hated all the things that were related to Canada, for she was deeply afraid of losing her Chinese soul. There is no doubt that her husband’s interference and her personal character are the two main causes that led to her failure of learning English.
Firstly, that her husband hindered her from learning English is the objective cause. First of all, her husband was a selfish person, and he didn’t allow his wife to learn English for fear that she might leave him. Once she begged her husband to allow her to learn the language, he immediately ignored her pleas and discouraged her from going to those once-a-week sessions. At the same time, her husband offered to do translation for her at any time. As a result, she had to depend on him for everything. ‘I could not go anywhere by myself. He drove me to work and he drove me home.’ In addition, her husband kept her far away from the English speaking surroundings. He put her into the kitchen where nobody spoke English but only Chinese. ’The kitchen is no place for you to learn English. All you do is speak Chinese.’ Furthermore, she had to work seven days a week from six in the morning until eleven at night, and this condition lasted for twenty-five years, almost to the day of her husband’s death. Therefore, she seldom had the time to learn English language.
Secondly, as the subjective cause, that she didn’t learn English was due to her personal reasons: she didn’t feel that it was necessary. Above all, her attitude towards learning even a little English was always negative but not positive. It was true that she did feel unsatisfied with her husband’s arrogant; however, she never said ‘no’ to him, and she was only docile and obedient. While she was working in the kitchen, she only learnt some English words such as French fries, pork ships, and only for the purpose of surviving in the restaurant kitchen. When she presented her wish of obtaining gum san--the Canadian citizenship, her son tried to teach her some ‘ready-made phrase’, she forgot them at all even though she had know it was extremely important for her. There was no denying that the most important reason why she didn’t learn English is the fact that she feared that learning English would change her Chinese soul. ‘If you are here long enough, fan gwei will turn your head until you don’t know who you are—Chinese.’ One thing she kept doing since she had landed on Canada was that she resisted anything that was fan gwei. She neither celebrated any fan gwei holidays nor tried to say even one word in English but only in her local dialect to her English-is-better-than-Chinese son. On contrary, she did everything the Chinese way; she always converted the months and the days into the Chinese lunar calendar; she insisted that ‘lai-shi is definitely much easier’ when her son offered to teach her English for the interview.
All in all, her husband’s obstruction and her personal fault for learning English are the two main causes. Although she obtained the citizenship of Canada finally, she still couldn’t speak English at all. How do you think about it? Won’t you feel any nervous when you are determined to become a Canadian while your English language ability is still in a low level? So, why don’t you follow Mr. Garry Engkent’s steps?
Thursday, May 31, 2007
David Liu: Shame
The Shame
By David
Essay07/05/16
David
Richard is the main character of a short story titled ‘Shame’, written by Dick Gregory, an African American comedian and civil rights activist. Obviously, Richard is the embodiment of the writer who was born in a poor family and was ‘pregnant with poverty and hunger’. Meanwhile, he was also a pride boy who wanted to work his way out of poverty. Here are the causes and effects which molded Richard’s personality during his early school life.
Richard’s school experiences and his personal circumstances led to both negative and positive effects in his life.
His school experience influenced Richard throughout his life. The key person who really influenced his life positively was his classmate Helene Tucker, a little girl whom Richard loved so much. He loved her goodness, cleanness and her popularity, and she even became Richard’s role model, a symbol of goodness. For this reason, Richard was deeply attracted by the girl everyday at school and, this influence even didn’t decay until he got married. Richard’s school life was unfair to him. When Richard was not able to concentrate on his lesson due to his hunger, he had to sit ‘in an idiot’s seat, the troublemaker’s seat which was really humiliating. What is worse, the teacher was an insensitive person and, she did not care about Richard. She only though that he was stupid and just made noises in the classroom. One day, the teacher began to collect donation and called out all the pupils’ name to ask how much money their fathers could give to the Community Chest. However, she did not call Richard although he had already prepared for it with 15 dollars! When Richard asked why she forgot to call him, the teacher ‘turned around and looked mad’, saying ‘we are collecting this money for you and your kind’, ‘and furthermore, we know you don’t have a daddy.’ Absolutely, the teacher’s carelessness hurt Richard deeply for his life time.
Richard was also the victim of personal circumstances. Richard was born in a broken family. He had no father since he was a child and lived with his five siblings together. His early life was also extremely poor. His clothes came from donation and, he lived in a cold house. Also, he had to ask for ‘rotten peaches’, ask for ‘a spoonful of sugar’ from neighbors, and, even paste didn’t taste too bad for him. Certainly, he had some social support. However, these support such as ‘Worthy Boys Annual Christmas Dinner’ and ‘white plaid mackinaw the welfare gave to three thousand boys’ made him feel shameful.
As a result, Richard suffered from negative consequences. One of the negative consequences is his low self-esteem. At first, Richard thought ‘there was shame everywhere’ and then began to avoid people. He ‘snuck through alleys, to take the long way home so the people…wouldn’t see me.’ The other negative consequence is self-pity. He ‘spent a lot of time feeling sorry’ for himself. The third one is hard-working. After the school incident, he had to start working hard as a child to make enough money to compensate his low self-esteem. He worked all day, ‘shining shoes, selling newspapers’.
However, Richard’s experience enriched his life. Firstly, he learnt how to face challenges. The school incident did make him ‘feel shameful’ but couldn’t erase his self-respect; he started work hard and his hard-working bought enough money to him. Then he entered the college and, not only did he break track records in college but he became a popular comedian as well. Meanwhile, he also succeed in learning life lessons; when he saw a wino couldn’t pay for his meal, he offered to pay the money and eventually realized that one couldn’t wait if you wanted to help other people.
In conclusion, Richard came from a needy family and suffered a lot both from poverty and humiliation. However, he never discarded his pride but made a great effort to realize his dream and finally, he successfully became a rich person, a famous comedian.
By David
Essay07/05/16
David
Richard is the main character of a short story titled ‘Shame’, written by Dick Gregory, an African American comedian and civil rights activist. Obviously, Richard is the embodiment of the writer who was born in a poor family and was ‘pregnant with poverty and hunger’. Meanwhile, he was also a pride boy who wanted to work his way out of poverty. Here are the causes and effects which molded Richard’s personality during his early school life.
Richard’s school experiences and his personal circumstances led to both negative and positive effects in his life.
His school experience influenced Richard throughout his life. The key person who really influenced his life positively was his classmate Helene Tucker, a little girl whom Richard loved so much. He loved her goodness, cleanness and her popularity, and she even became Richard’s role model, a symbol of goodness. For this reason, Richard was deeply attracted by the girl everyday at school and, this influence even didn’t decay until he got married. Richard’s school life was unfair to him. When Richard was not able to concentrate on his lesson due to his hunger, he had to sit ‘in an idiot’s seat, the troublemaker’s seat which was really humiliating. What is worse, the teacher was an insensitive person and, she did not care about Richard. She only though that he was stupid and just made noises in the classroom. One day, the teacher began to collect donation and called out all the pupils’ name to ask how much money their fathers could give to the Community Chest. However, she did not call Richard although he had already prepared for it with 15 dollars! When Richard asked why she forgot to call him, the teacher ‘turned around and looked mad’, saying ‘we are collecting this money for you and your kind’, ‘and furthermore, we know you don’t have a daddy.’ Absolutely, the teacher’s carelessness hurt Richard deeply for his life time.
Richard was also the victim of personal circumstances. Richard was born in a broken family. He had no father since he was a child and lived with his five siblings together. His early life was also extremely poor. His clothes came from donation and, he lived in a cold house. Also, he had to ask for ‘rotten peaches’, ask for ‘a spoonful of sugar’ from neighbors, and, even paste didn’t taste too bad for him. Certainly, he had some social support. However, these support such as ‘Worthy Boys Annual Christmas Dinner’ and ‘white plaid mackinaw the welfare gave to three thousand boys’ made him feel shameful.
As a result, Richard suffered from negative consequences. One of the negative consequences is his low self-esteem. At first, Richard thought ‘there was shame everywhere’ and then began to avoid people. He ‘snuck through alleys, to take the long way home so the people…wouldn’t see me.’ The other negative consequence is self-pity. He ‘spent a lot of time feeling sorry’ for himself. The third one is hard-working. After the school incident, he had to start working hard as a child to make enough money to compensate his low self-esteem. He worked all day, ‘shining shoes, selling newspapers’.
However, Richard’s experience enriched his life. Firstly, he learnt how to face challenges. The school incident did make him ‘feel shameful’ but couldn’t erase his self-respect; he started work hard and his hard-working bought enough money to him. Then he entered the college and, not only did he break track records in college but he became a popular comedian as well. Meanwhile, he also succeed in learning life lessons; when he saw a wino couldn’t pay for his meal, he offered to pay the money and eventually realized that one couldn’t wait if you wanted to help other people.
In conclusion, Richard came from a needy family and suffered a lot both from poverty and humiliation. However, he never discarded his pride but made a great effort to realize his dream and finally, he successfully became a rich person, a famous comedian.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
The Razor's Edge by W. S. Maugham
Analyses of Characters in The Razor’s Edge
Albert Chung
Somerset Maugham depicts a group of his acquaintances in detail in his novel,The Razor’s Edge. Each of the characters in the story has a unique life style. Among them, Maugham’s intimate friends, Elliot, Isabel, and Larry, display lives that are prominent throughout the story and that are very different from each other. In spite of the differences in their lives, the ultimate goals of their lives are the same: happiness. The theme of the story lies in the differences in the ways of achieving the kind of happiness which Elliot, Isabel, and Larry pursued.
The story starts in Chicago with Maugham, the author, at a party of his noble friend, Elliot Templeton. Elliot is a very snobbish person who is so passionate about hobnobbing the noble society that he spends his whole life serving high-class people. Isabel is the daughter of Mrs. Bradley and is a youthful girl who likes gossiping, values wealth, and has many relationships with elegant people, just like most people at that time. Larry is Isabel’s fiancé who has mysterious thoughts that seem profound but unfathomable to outsiders. For example, after fighting in World War I, all he wants to do is loafing whereas all the men in the society are supposed to work in a blooming American economy. This mysterious aspect of Larry attracts Maugham. However, this aspect leads to the breakup between Larry and Isabel, and Isabel ends up marrying a rich stock broker, Gray Maturin. As Elliot grows older, he notices that the noble community does not want him in parties anymore despite his tears and sweat for holding parties for them. Thus, he moves to Riviera and entertains royal families from all over the world. Larry, on the other hand, carries on with his pilgrimage of truth in India for many years. Several years later, the US’s stock market breaks, and Isabel’s family falls into destitution as a result. Being so kind and generous, Elliot offers them an apartment to live in. Isabel is emotionally deserted and hopeless right after the crash, for she was poor, but with Elliot’s help, she becomes self-sufficient and lively again. Years have passed, and Larry comes back from his quest of truth and the meaning of life in India and tells Maugham about his reception of the illumination. Larry says he went up on a mountain and watched the sunrise, and that is when he received the spiritual perfection where all his perplexities were explained and mysteries unraveled. Nevertheless, Larry decides to live and experience the life of the ordinary man, so he decides to share his spiritual realization with other people in the United States by becoming a taxi driver. On the other hand, Elliot is suffering from serious sickness and is very depressed from not being invited to an important party. Conspiring with the party host’s secretary, Maugham sends a fake invitation card to Elliot, and fortunately, Elliot dies happily. Isabel’s husband, Gray, manages to earn a lot of money once again, and Isabel’s life becomes a happy one, too.
For Elliot, the happiness of high-class people in his parties is the ultimate happiness of his life. Being an “arch-snob,” his main goal is to be an amiable party holder for ennobled people. Thus, his life is based on making new relationships, being the greatest entertainer at a party, and making social advancement. “He would put up with any affront, he would ignore any rebuff, he would swallow any rudeness to get asked to a party he wanted to go to or to make a connection with some crusty old dowager of great name”(Maugham 8). His infinite passion for social activities is well depicted in Part Five when Elliot is on his death bed, still desiring to go to Edna’s grand party. Also, he is so vain that even on his death bed he is concerned about the kind of people he will keep company in heaven. His life was occupied with going from place to place to keep track of all the important parties, so he was given the title ‘social butterfly,’ by his friend Maugham.
In contrast, Isabel’s happiness is based on materialism, Owning the best things and having enough wealth being the purpose of her life, her goal is to marry a wealthy man to maintain her standard of life. This is the main reason why Isabel refused to marry Larry, whom she felt so passionate for because she knew he could not satisfy her needs by loafing. Instead, she marries Gray, who could ensure her wealth and social status. She thinks “One can’t live without money”(Maugham 46). Due to her materialistic attitude, she is also very possessive, as shown in how Isabel still wants Larry to love her after many years of marriage with Gray. She behaves as if Larry is her property, tempting Larry’s fiancée, Sophie, into alcohols so that Larry would not be able to marry her.
Unlike the other two characters, Larry is in search of spiritual happiness. His goal does not involve high society or wealth, but self realization. After coming back from the war, he felt he was “walking in someone else’s shoes,” for his close friend had sacrificed his life to rescue him. Shaken by this experience, he decides to make the most of his remaining life by discovering what life is really about. He displays his adventurous and determined attitude through his long pilgrimage in India. His fondness for adventures leads him to a Yogi who helps him to achieve spiritual happiness, and his strong determination enables him to receive the illumination, the perfect knowledge. His attitudes affect his lifestyle; he no longer needs wealth but only enough necessities in his life because his life is directed to the spiritual quality. For example, he thinks not extravagance but only love is totally necessary for living together with Isabel. Also, with the magnificent spiritual realization, he does not plan on making money by preaching a massive crowd of people, but plans on becoming a taxi driver, making “small ripples” in the society.
Even though with different goals, attitudes, and life styles, Elliot, Isabel, and Larry attain happiness at the end of the novel by being recognized by a respectable people, having enough money to live rich life, and receiving illumination, respectively. Although they are all happy, Larry’s spiritual happiness is the most valuable among them since it is everlasting and can be shared infinitely in societies, touching people’s hearts. Indeed, “The sharp edge of a razor is difficult to pass over; thus the wise say the path to Salvation is hard”(Katha-Upanishad).
Albert Chung
Somerset Maugham depicts a group of his acquaintances in detail in his novel,The Razor’s Edge. Each of the characters in the story has a unique life style. Among them, Maugham’s intimate friends, Elliot, Isabel, and Larry, display lives that are prominent throughout the story and that are very different from each other. In spite of the differences in their lives, the ultimate goals of their lives are the same: happiness. The theme of the story lies in the differences in the ways of achieving the kind of happiness which Elliot, Isabel, and Larry pursued.
The story starts in Chicago with Maugham, the author, at a party of his noble friend, Elliot Templeton. Elliot is a very snobbish person who is so passionate about hobnobbing the noble society that he spends his whole life serving high-class people. Isabel is the daughter of Mrs. Bradley and is a youthful girl who likes gossiping, values wealth, and has many relationships with elegant people, just like most people at that time. Larry is Isabel’s fiancé who has mysterious thoughts that seem profound but unfathomable to outsiders. For example, after fighting in World War I, all he wants to do is loafing whereas all the men in the society are supposed to work in a blooming American economy. This mysterious aspect of Larry attracts Maugham. However, this aspect leads to the breakup between Larry and Isabel, and Isabel ends up marrying a rich stock broker, Gray Maturin. As Elliot grows older, he notices that the noble community does not want him in parties anymore despite his tears and sweat for holding parties for them. Thus, he moves to Riviera and entertains royal families from all over the world. Larry, on the other hand, carries on with his pilgrimage of truth in India for many years. Several years later, the US’s stock market breaks, and Isabel’s family falls into destitution as a result. Being so kind and generous, Elliot offers them an apartment to live in. Isabel is emotionally deserted and hopeless right after the crash, for she was poor, but with Elliot’s help, she becomes self-sufficient and lively again. Years have passed, and Larry comes back from his quest of truth and the meaning of life in India and tells Maugham about his reception of the illumination. Larry says he went up on a mountain and watched the sunrise, and that is when he received the spiritual perfection where all his perplexities were explained and mysteries unraveled. Nevertheless, Larry decides to live and experience the life of the ordinary man, so he decides to share his spiritual realization with other people in the United States by becoming a taxi driver. On the other hand, Elliot is suffering from serious sickness and is very depressed from not being invited to an important party. Conspiring with the party host’s secretary, Maugham sends a fake invitation card to Elliot, and fortunately, Elliot dies happily. Isabel’s husband, Gray, manages to earn a lot of money once again, and Isabel’s life becomes a happy one, too.
For Elliot, the happiness of high-class people in his parties is the ultimate happiness of his life. Being an “arch-snob,” his main goal is to be an amiable party holder for ennobled people. Thus, his life is based on making new relationships, being the greatest entertainer at a party, and making social advancement. “He would put up with any affront, he would ignore any rebuff, he would swallow any rudeness to get asked to a party he wanted to go to or to make a connection with some crusty old dowager of great name”(Maugham 8). His infinite passion for social activities is well depicted in Part Five when Elliot is on his death bed, still desiring to go to Edna’s grand party. Also, he is so vain that even on his death bed he is concerned about the kind of people he will keep company in heaven. His life was occupied with going from place to place to keep track of all the important parties, so he was given the title ‘social butterfly,’ by his friend Maugham.
In contrast, Isabel’s happiness is based on materialism, Owning the best things and having enough wealth being the purpose of her life, her goal is to marry a wealthy man to maintain her standard of life. This is the main reason why Isabel refused to marry Larry, whom she felt so passionate for because she knew he could not satisfy her needs by loafing. Instead, she marries Gray, who could ensure her wealth and social status. She thinks “One can’t live without money”(Maugham 46). Due to her materialistic attitude, she is also very possessive, as shown in how Isabel still wants Larry to love her after many years of marriage with Gray. She behaves as if Larry is her property, tempting Larry’s fiancée, Sophie, into alcohols so that Larry would not be able to marry her.
Unlike the other two characters, Larry is in search of spiritual happiness. His goal does not involve high society or wealth, but self realization. After coming back from the war, he felt he was “walking in someone else’s shoes,” for his close friend had sacrificed his life to rescue him. Shaken by this experience, he decides to make the most of his remaining life by discovering what life is really about. He displays his adventurous and determined attitude through his long pilgrimage in India. His fondness for adventures leads him to a Yogi who helps him to achieve spiritual happiness, and his strong determination enables him to receive the illumination, the perfect knowledge. His attitudes affect his lifestyle; he no longer needs wealth but only enough necessities in his life because his life is directed to the spiritual quality. For example, he thinks not extravagance but only love is totally necessary for living together with Isabel. Also, with the magnificent spiritual realization, he does not plan on making money by preaching a massive crowd of people, but plans on becoming a taxi driver, making “small ripples” in the society.
Even though with different goals, attitudes, and life styles, Elliot, Isabel, and Larry attain happiness at the end of the novel by being recognized by a respectable people, having enough money to live rich life, and receiving illumination, respectively. Although they are all happy, Larry’s spiritual happiness is the most valuable among them since it is everlasting and can be shared infinitely in societies, touching people’s hearts. Indeed, “The sharp edge of a razor is difficult to pass over; thus the wise say the path to Salvation is hard”(Katha-Upanishad).
The Razor's Edge
An Analytical Review of the Razor's Edge by William Somerset Maugham
Contributed by Daniel Oh
The Razor’s Edge by Somerset Maugham (New York: Doubleday, 1944) is the story of a boy named Larry, who seeks meaning in his life. After he returned from World WarⅠ, he realized how meaningless everything had become, and he did not want to live an ordinary life. Other characters like Larry’s girlfriend, Isabel and her uncle, Elliott seek their meaning of life in different ways. The Razor’s Edge shows how finding one’s reason for life is like walking on a razor’s edge. This book interests readers because it makes them think about the purposes of their lives. Larry struggles to lead a different life from Isabel and Elliott Templeton because the three characters have different life styles, aims and personalities.
Somerset Maugham recalls when he was invited to lunch with his friend Elliott and his family. Elliott is a snob and an art collector, and he enjoys his life hosting high-class people. Elliott has a beautiful niece named Isabel, who is in love with Larry. When Maugham is invited to the party again, he meets a kind girl named, Sophie. Sophie introduces Larry and his best friend Gray, who secretly loves Isabel. Elliott always tells Maugham that he disapproves of Larry marrying Isabel, for Larry does not work hard to earn enough money. Maugham hears that since Larry returned from the war, he has been spending all his time loafing or going out with Isabel. Even when Gray’s father offered a great job to Larry, he refused it. Larry leaves his home, love and, family, to loaf in Paris. Larry’s lover, Isabel, on the other hand, does not understand Larry’s intentions. She does not understand why Larry wants to loaf in Paris when he can be with her. As a result, she marries the other man, Gray and lives like a queen. During the Great Depression, Isabel and Gray lose everything. Elliott tells Maugham that he has rented an apartment in Paris, so Gray and Isabel could have a break. Gray started having a horrible headache after the stock market broke. Maugham accidentally meets Larry on the street and tells him what has been happening since he left America. When Larry hears about Gray’s headache, he comes over and cures him miraculously with a single coin. Mr. Maugham talks about the time when he meets Larry again. Larry tells him why he left America and why he has loafed. Larry has been thinking about the purpose for his life. He almost died in the war, and he does not understand why he should live. Larry said, "You think of a fellow who an hour before was full of life and fun, and he's lying dead; it's all so cruel and so meaningless. It's hard not to ask yourself what life is all about and whether there's any sense to it or whether it's all a tragic blunder of blind fate." (51) As Larry travels around the world, he sees lives of different people. Larry goes to India and finds his answer when he sees the beautiful sun rise. He lives because he wants to enjoy its beauty. Elliott’s health deteriorates and he does not receive any invitations because he was getting old. Elliottt is really angry when he is not invited to the grand party. Elliott regrets spending all his money for higher people when they do not even remember his existence. Elliott dies leaving all his possessions to his family and friends. Isabel and Gray go back to America with Eliot’s money and start a new life again.
Isabel, who grew up in a rich and luxurious family, has different goals and life style that fit her personalities. One of her personality traits is that she is dignified. During her life, she has been surrounded by wealth and there is nothing more she desires. In front of people, she is full of self-pride, because she possesses beauty and a gorgeous body. Another personality trait of Isabel is that she is very selfish and jealous. When Larry, whom she could not have, announces that he is going to marry Sophie, who is addicted to drugs and alcohol and has been sleeping with any men, she becomes so jealous that the green-eyed monster inside her wakes up. She makes Sophie run away from the town by tricking her to start drinking again, even though Sophie used to be her best friend. Also, Isabel’s life style is distinct when Isabel broke up with Larry; she married Gray who was a millionaire. They lead a wealthy life with two daughters. Isabel’s life is full of luxury, for she has all the expensive clothing and jewelleries. Also, she considers entertainment important in her life. She often invites rich and famous guests to her house or throws large parties. She often goes to theatres or parties to enjoy people’s attention to her beauty. Even in difficult times, her aim in life does not weaver. When the American Stock market broke, Gray, the stock broker, loses everything. Isabel, who once had everything she wanted, leads the life of poor people. Isabel’s uncle Elliott provides an apartment to Isabel’s family, yet Isabel’s aim is to become rich again. She wants the luxurious life of her own without help from her uncle. She wants to be popular among people again without being acknowledged as a beggar.
Elliott, the snob has a different lifestyle, aims and personalities from Isabel or Larry. Because Elliott is a snob, he is very prejudiced about class states. He is very nice to noble people because he thinks he belongs among them. On the other hand, he despises the ordinary people who he considers unimportant and powerless. Elliot’s personality is not all negative. He shows affectionate feelings to his family members: for instance he is very attentive to his sister because when she was sick, he travelled a long way just to be with her and talk to her. He would often visit his sister and have tea or dinner. He also helped Isabel when she lost everything during the Great Depression by providing her and her family with shelter. Also, he gave another chance of a luxurious life to Isabel by bequeathing his fortune to her before he died. With regard to his lifestyle, Elliott Templeton lives an ostentatious life, hosting high-class people and collecting expensive arts. Elliott is a snob who believes that money is a solution to everything. He leads a wealthy life by giving large parties for celebrities, hoping that they would remember him. Elliott’s goal in his life is to be respected and renowned. He would give anything to be accepted as one of high-class people. He often hosts famous, rich and interesting people and spend his money and time to be acknowledged. For example, he converted to Catholicism and donated a large sum of money to church.
The central character of the play is Larry Darrel who displays unique characteristics that are prominent in the story. Larry is a kind young man with tender voice. He is lovable and amiable to others around him and he is pleasant to talk to. He is also so unselfish. Although he almost had a serious relationship with Isabel, he realized that he could not really make her happy and rich. Larry seeks the meaning of life by forsaking wealth, security, and personal relationships. He could not marry Isabel and have a family because Isabel could not live on his low income. Moreover, Larry leads an intellectual lifestyle by reading books and traveling around the world, learning and experiencing different cultures and religions. Also, Larry searches for peace by spending time at the quiet places like a farm, a beach, or a cottage in the forest. He does not show any kind of materialism obsession. He does not drink or smoke, and he has no interest in money. Larry wants to find a reason for his life. After he returns from war, he knows that he could have been killed if had he not been rescued by his friend soldier who sacrificed his life for Larry. As a result, everything around him is meaningless to him. After loafing in Europe, he travels around the world to clarify his thoughts. He worked in a mine and a farm to understand life through hardship. After he visits a Yogi in India, he finds himself a cottage in the forest. He relaxes and spends time among nature when he finally finds an answer to why he lives. As he sees the grand sun rise, he realizes that there is immense beauty and profound truth in nature. It dawns on him that God is not in the religious institution but within oneself and that true happiness comes from harmony with the universe. Nevertheless, he realizes that the human being is a novial creature and belongs among people. Therefore, he decides to return to the society ad live an ordinary life first in Paris and ultimately as a taxi driver in New York where he can meet ordinary humans.
The Razor’s Edge contains extraordinary lives of people who difficultly find different meaning in their lives. Elliott, Isabel and Larry are all human beings, but they have different life styles, goals, and personalities. Although the three characters seek different purposes in their lives, they all obtain happiness at the end each in their own way. Isabel became rich again, Elliott was invited to a grand party before he died, and Larry finds true spiritual happiness and goes to America to enjoy his life.
Contributed by Daniel Oh
The Razor’s Edge by Somerset Maugham (New York: Doubleday, 1944) is the story of a boy named Larry, who seeks meaning in his life. After he returned from World WarⅠ, he realized how meaningless everything had become, and he did not want to live an ordinary life. Other characters like Larry’s girlfriend, Isabel and her uncle, Elliott seek their meaning of life in different ways. The Razor’s Edge shows how finding one’s reason for life is like walking on a razor’s edge. This book interests readers because it makes them think about the purposes of their lives. Larry struggles to lead a different life from Isabel and Elliott Templeton because the three characters have different life styles, aims and personalities.
Somerset Maugham recalls when he was invited to lunch with his friend Elliott and his family. Elliott is a snob and an art collector, and he enjoys his life hosting high-class people. Elliott has a beautiful niece named Isabel, who is in love with Larry. When Maugham is invited to the party again, he meets a kind girl named, Sophie. Sophie introduces Larry and his best friend Gray, who secretly loves Isabel. Elliott always tells Maugham that he disapproves of Larry marrying Isabel, for Larry does not work hard to earn enough money. Maugham hears that since Larry returned from the war, he has been spending all his time loafing or going out with Isabel. Even when Gray’s father offered a great job to Larry, he refused it. Larry leaves his home, love and, family, to loaf in Paris. Larry’s lover, Isabel, on the other hand, does not understand Larry’s intentions. She does not understand why Larry wants to loaf in Paris when he can be with her. As a result, she marries the other man, Gray and lives like a queen. During the Great Depression, Isabel and Gray lose everything. Elliott tells Maugham that he has rented an apartment in Paris, so Gray and Isabel could have a break. Gray started having a horrible headache after the stock market broke. Maugham accidentally meets Larry on the street and tells him what has been happening since he left America. When Larry hears about Gray’s headache, he comes over and cures him miraculously with a single coin. Mr. Maugham talks about the time when he meets Larry again. Larry tells him why he left America and why he has loafed. Larry has been thinking about the purpose for his life. He almost died in the war, and he does not understand why he should live. Larry said, "You think of a fellow who an hour before was full of life and fun, and he's lying dead; it's all so cruel and so meaningless. It's hard not to ask yourself what life is all about and whether there's any sense to it or whether it's all a tragic blunder of blind fate." (51) As Larry travels around the world, he sees lives of different people. Larry goes to India and finds his answer when he sees the beautiful sun rise. He lives because he wants to enjoy its beauty. Elliott’s health deteriorates and he does not receive any invitations because he was getting old. Elliottt is really angry when he is not invited to the grand party. Elliott regrets spending all his money for higher people when they do not even remember his existence. Elliott dies leaving all his possessions to his family and friends. Isabel and Gray go back to America with Eliot’s money and start a new life again.
Isabel, who grew up in a rich and luxurious family, has different goals and life style that fit her personalities. One of her personality traits is that she is dignified. During her life, she has been surrounded by wealth and there is nothing more she desires. In front of people, she is full of self-pride, because she possesses beauty and a gorgeous body. Another personality trait of Isabel is that she is very selfish and jealous. When Larry, whom she could not have, announces that he is going to marry Sophie, who is addicted to drugs and alcohol and has been sleeping with any men, she becomes so jealous that the green-eyed monster inside her wakes up. She makes Sophie run away from the town by tricking her to start drinking again, even though Sophie used to be her best friend. Also, Isabel’s life style is distinct when Isabel broke up with Larry; she married Gray who was a millionaire. They lead a wealthy life with two daughters. Isabel’s life is full of luxury, for she has all the expensive clothing and jewelleries. Also, she considers entertainment important in her life. She often invites rich and famous guests to her house or throws large parties. She often goes to theatres or parties to enjoy people’s attention to her beauty. Even in difficult times, her aim in life does not weaver. When the American Stock market broke, Gray, the stock broker, loses everything. Isabel, who once had everything she wanted, leads the life of poor people. Isabel’s uncle Elliott provides an apartment to Isabel’s family, yet Isabel’s aim is to become rich again. She wants the luxurious life of her own without help from her uncle. She wants to be popular among people again without being acknowledged as a beggar.
Elliott, the snob has a different lifestyle, aims and personalities from Isabel or Larry. Because Elliott is a snob, he is very prejudiced about class states. He is very nice to noble people because he thinks he belongs among them. On the other hand, he despises the ordinary people who he considers unimportant and powerless. Elliot’s personality is not all negative. He shows affectionate feelings to his family members: for instance he is very attentive to his sister because when she was sick, he travelled a long way just to be with her and talk to her. He would often visit his sister and have tea or dinner. He also helped Isabel when she lost everything during the Great Depression by providing her and her family with shelter. Also, he gave another chance of a luxurious life to Isabel by bequeathing his fortune to her before he died. With regard to his lifestyle, Elliott Templeton lives an ostentatious life, hosting high-class people and collecting expensive arts. Elliott is a snob who believes that money is a solution to everything. He leads a wealthy life by giving large parties for celebrities, hoping that they would remember him. Elliott’s goal in his life is to be respected and renowned. He would give anything to be accepted as one of high-class people. He often hosts famous, rich and interesting people and spend his money and time to be acknowledged. For example, he converted to Catholicism and donated a large sum of money to church.
The central character of the play is Larry Darrel who displays unique characteristics that are prominent in the story. Larry is a kind young man with tender voice. He is lovable and amiable to others around him and he is pleasant to talk to. He is also so unselfish. Although he almost had a serious relationship with Isabel, he realized that he could not really make her happy and rich. Larry seeks the meaning of life by forsaking wealth, security, and personal relationships. He could not marry Isabel and have a family because Isabel could not live on his low income. Moreover, Larry leads an intellectual lifestyle by reading books and traveling around the world, learning and experiencing different cultures and religions. Also, Larry searches for peace by spending time at the quiet places like a farm, a beach, or a cottage in the forest. He does not show any kind of materialism obsession. He does not drink or smoke, and he has no interest in money. Larry wants to find a reason for his life. After he returns from war, he knows that he could have been killed if had he not been rescued by his friend soldier who sacrificed his life for Larry. As a result, everything around him is meaningless to him. After loafing in Europe, he travels around the world to clarify his thoughts. He worked in a mine and a farm to understand life through hardship. After he visits a Yogi in India, he finds himself a cottage in the forest. He relaxes and spends time among nature when he finally finds an answer to why he lives. As he sees the grand sun rise, he realizes that there is immense beauty and profound truth in nature. It dawns on him that God is not in the religious institution but within oneself and that true happiness comes from harmony with the universe. Nevertheless, he realizes that the human being is a novial creature and belongs among people. Therefore, he decides to return to the society ad live an ordinary life first in Paris and ultimately as a taxi driver in New York where he can meet ordinary humans.
The Razor’s Edge contains extraordinary lives of people who difficultly find different meaning in their lives. Elliott, Isabel and Larry are all human beings, but they have different life styles, goals, and personalities. Although the three characters seek different purposes in their lives, they all obtain happiness at the end each in their own way. Isabel became rich again, Elliott was invited to a grand party before he died, and Larry finds true spiritual happiness and goes to America to enjoy his life.
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