Certainly, here are some notes on "The Luncheon" by W.
Somerset
Maugham:
Plot Summary
• The story recounts a lunch the narrator, a young and
struggling writer, shares with an admiring female fan.
• The woman, despite initially claiming to be a light eater, orders
an extravagant and expensive meal at a renowned Parisian
restaurant.
• The narrator, caught o guard and concerned about the cost,
endures the meal with increasing anxiety.
• The experience leaves him nancially strained and emotionally
unsettled.
• Years later, the narrator encounters the woman again, now
signi cantly overweight, and nds a strange sense of
satisfaction.
Key Themes
• Appearances vs. Reality: The woman's initial claims of being
a light eater are belied by her extravagant orders, highlighting
the gap between appearances and true intentions.
• Social Manipulation: The woman, through attery and subtle
manipulation, induces the narrator to pay for an expensive
meal he cannot a ord.
• Class and Social Status: The story subtly explores the
dynamics of social class and the anxieties associated with
maintaining appearances.
• Irony and Humor: The story is laced with irony, particularly in
the narrator's initial relief at the woman's claims of being a
light eater and his later encounter with her. Maugham's dry wit
adds a layer of humor to the situation.
Literary Devices
• First-person narration: Provides a personal and intimate
perspective on the events.
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• Flashback: The story is narrated retrospectively, allowing the
narrator to re ect on the past event with greater insight.
• Irony and satire: Used to subtly critique social conventions
and human behavior.
• Symbolism: The extravagant meal can be seen as a symbol
of the woman's deceptive nature and the narrator's nancial
and emotional burden.
Signi cance
• "The Luncheon" is a classic short story that continues to
resonate with readers due to its witty observation of human
nature and its exploration of universal themes like social
anxiety, manipulation, and the gap between appearances and
reality.
I hope these notes provide a helpful overview of "The Luncheon"!
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