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.