Also, i couldnt fully comprehend the significance of the title, though the passages about the unrelenting harshness of the rain in pagopago. He was not only a novelist, but also one of the most successful dramatists and shortstory writer. Stylistic analysis of louise by william somerset maugham essay william somerset maugham 18741965 is one of the best known writers of the present day. The rain community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical. His parents died early and, after an unhappy boyhood, which he recorded poignantly in of human bondage, maugham. Somerset maughams rain with extended analysis, commentary, and discussion. Review of somerset maughams short story rain a writers. In addition both the female characters are prostitutes for at least some of the narrative, and marked something of a departure for davis and crawford. Macintosh is my very first venture into the vast world of w. He was born in paris because he father was an attached to the english embassy in paris. Somerset maugham, in full william somerset maugham, born jan.
Somerset maugham is a fishoutofwater story, in which characters wholly unsuited to their environment become marooned. Rain kindle single a vintage short kindle edition by. The trembling of a leaf little stories of the south sea islands author. He was young and good looking and naturally fell in love with sally, the native girl in an island of south sea, like adam fell in love with eva.
The primary plot details how one of the characters, an arrogant and selfrighteous christian missionary, attempts to reform another character, whom he. No doubt much of this popularity is due to the fact that very soon after its first publication 1921 it was adapted for the stage 1922 and the screen 1928. Apr 11, 2016 maugham reassured him that the handshake still counted. This is made easier by the fact of human bondage and rain contain several parallels. Rain is commonly regarded as one of somerset maugham s most popular short stories.
Many critics consider rain to be maugham s finest short story and it has proven to be wildly successful for an essay that is less than 16,000 words, eventually earning him over a million dollars. The project gutenberg ebook of the trembling of a leaf, by. One of the ongoing projects that i have started is to collect performances of w. Somerset maugham s writing for most of my life but, somehow, have never got around to reading his most famous and successful short story, rain. Rain by somerset maugham comment on the significance of. Both are based on somerset maugham stories and were produced at a similar time 1932 and 1934. What is on at the moment is an adaption of maughams short story rain into a musical by michael john lachiusa and barry eldelstein. Doc an analysis of mr know all william somerset maugham. Rain is what makes the story work, more than any other thing, and the emotional atmosphere it creates in the house is what maugham wants you to retain as the first memory youll have when you recall the story. Somerset maugham 1874 1965 one of maugham s most famous short stories, rain unfolds in a soggy tropical paradise marred by selfrighteous hypocrites trying to force their moral beliefs on a girl who basically just wants to have fun. The film also features walter huston in the role of a conflicted missionary who insists that sadie end her evil ways, but. Rain, based on story by somerset maugham somerset maugham was the best writer ever, along with marcel proust, in the view of this reader cinephile anyway, and therefore rain has all the ingredients for an outstanding, brilliant motion picture.
An instinctive and magnificent storyteller, somerset maugham was one of the most popular and successful writers of his time. Because of the war that was going on, the choices of sanatorium were limited. What is the analysis of the static character miss sadie thompson in somerset maugham s short. In truth, her only mistake in making rain was flying in the face of her stock casting. The setting is perfectly beautiful and innocent, two happy lovers would write the. Rain, as the primitive power of nature, on one hand, can give life and on the other, death. Rain by somerset maugham comment on the significance of the.
Introduction by an excerpt from wikipedia first page. Free essays on analysis of rain by somerset maugham. With carroll baker, michael bryant, gordon jackson, stella tanner. The plot of the film is based on the 1922 play rain by john colton and clemence randolph, which in turn was based on the short story miss thompson later retitled rain by w. Somerset maugham is a fishoutofwater story, in which characters wholly unsuited to their environment become marooned somewhere due to external circumstances. In this collection of his finest short work maugham takes the listener to the sundrenched pacific islands where the governor mercilessly abuses the inhabitants.
Somerset maugham, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. It was originally published as miss thompson in the april 1921 issue of the american literary magazine the smart set. The first part of the story that introduces us to the story have no relevance to rain, or any other weather feature for that matter. The project gutenberg ebook of the trembling of a leaf, by w. I took it that miss thompson seduces the reverend, but it somehow didnt make sense to me. Somerset maugham 18741965 rain 1921 it was nearly bedtime and when they awoke next morning land would be in sight. Rain, by somerset maugham seems to have a rather irrelevant title when first looked at. Somerset maughams rain audiobook by david christopher. Somerset maugham s plays, which are more robust than i would have imagined what is on at the moment is an adaption of maugham s short story rain into a musical by michael john lachiusa and barry eldelstein, performed at the old globe theatre in san. Rain is probably the best short story written by somerset maugham in its length and characterization it is more like a novella but of course it. Rain is a 1932 precode drama film that stars joan crawford as prostitute sadie thompson. Analysis of rain by william somerset maugham in terms of postcolonial terms mehmet cem odacioglu 2 muge uysal 3.
Somerset maugham s plays, which are more robust than i would have imagined what is on at the moment is an adaption of maugham s short story rain into a musical by michael john lachiusa and barry eldelstein, performed at the old globe theatre in san diego. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading rain kindle single a vintage short. Somerset maugham, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis a summary of the best tips given on writing and other stuff from w. Rain the play was a rage, and subsequently it was made into a movie several times, turned into musical, and even a ballet was contemplated, according to selina hastings the secret lives of somerset maugham, london. Somerset maugham 18741965 rain 1921 it was nearly bed. Somerset maugham 18471965 rain charts the moral disintegration of a missionary attempting to convert a pacific island prostitute named sadie thompson. Somerset maugham s story about a south seas prostitute reformed then raped by a missionary, her worst film, which would suggest that a she was swayed by her fan mail and b she never got a chance to see reunion in france 1942 or trog 1970. His first fiction was the critically praised naturalist novel of london slum life, liza of lambeth, which was published in 1897, when maugham was 23 and completing his medical training at londons st thomass hospital. You may copy it, give it away or reuse it under the terms of the project gutenberg license included with this ebook or online at. He spoke french even before he spoke a word of english, a fact to which some critics attribute the purity of his style.
An analysis of mr know all william somerset maugham. No amount of human effort towards untainted holiness can eradicate our human propensity to sin. Actress jeanne eagels had played the role on stage. The length of his literary career alone makes him a special case. Somerset maugham, english novelist, playwright, and shortstory writer whose work is characterized by a clear unadorned style, cosmopolitan settings, and a shrewd understanding of human nature.
We are human beings and we will remain so as long as we live. Somerset maugham we have the theme of justice, trust, fear, morality, embarrassment, happiness and struggle. Somerset maugham s rain with extended analysis, commentary, and discussion. I like maugham s short stories more than his novels. Actually, it is more of a novella and first appeared in 1921 in the american literary magazine, the smart set, under the title, miss thompson. Taken from his collected short stories collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that maugham may be exploring the. Fernandez a group of travelers find themselves stranded on an island in samoa.
The short story rain relates the events transpiring within a twoweek period between a small group of english and american travelers in the. Somerset maugham s short story rain charts the activities of two groups of people. Free essays on analysis of rain by somerset maugham through. Somerset maugham 1874 1965 one of maugham s most famous short stories, rain unfolds in a soggy tropical paradise marred by self. Jul 18, 2014 somerset maugham reads the three fat women of antibes duration.
Jul 24, 2015 i like maughams short stories more than his novels. It freezes them all in time, cuts them off from the rest of humanity, and lets the passions clash. Somerset maughams writing for most of my life but, somehow, have never got around to reading his most famous and successful short story, rain. The complete short stories first published in three volumes in great britain by william. Somerset maugham this study guide consists of approximately 33 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of rain. Review of somerset maughams short story rain a writer. Maugham centers the narrative on one major plot that consists of the relationship between a christian missionary and a prostitute.
Comment on the significance of the recurrent image of rain in this short story. Rain is a very controversial story that revealed the ugly side of christianity. Louise by william somerset maugham essay 933 words. After two years at the front and a wound that had taken longer to heal than it should, he was glad. What makes the story standout, besides its exotic setting in the south pacific, is the archetypal conflict between the pull of the flesh and the. Review of somerset maugham s short story rain may 1, 2015 wordsmith 12 comments rain is probably the best short story written by somerset maugham in its length and characterization it is more like a novella but of course it conforms to maugham s formula for a story it has a beginning, a middle and an end. As a result, they undergo many trials and change as a result or they dont, if its a tragedy. A missionary, his wife, and a prostitute are among the guests stranded at a. Somerset maugham, storyteller par excellence, is a master of the character flaw. It was originally published as miss thompson in the april 1921 issue of the american literary magazine the smart set the story is set on a pacific island. Rain by william somerset maugham on free audio book download. The descriptions of characters are excellent and ashendens own feelings towards the shabbiness of the situations in which he finds himself ordered are captured superbly. What is the analysis of the static character miss sadie thompson in somerset maugham.
The painted veil study guide contains a biography of w. Etsy is the home to thousands of handmade, vintage, and oneofakind products and gifts related to your search. William somerset maugham is one of the best known english writers of the 20th century. The short story rain relates the events transpiring within a twoweek period between a small group of english and american travelers in the south pacific island of tutuila. Summary of discussion on rain melodrama research group. Rain summary and analysis like sparknotes free book notes. One of maugham s most famous short stories, rain unfolds in a soggy tropical paradise marred by selfrighteous hypocrites trying to force their moral beliefs on a girl who basically just wants to have fun. Directed by lewis milestone and ostensibly set it the south seas, the production was filmed in part at santa catalina island and what is now crystal cove state park in california. Joan crawford always considered rain, the 1932 adaptation of w.
Somerset maugham based the character on his own experiences of spying for britain, and you get the feeling the author went through many of the events he describes in the book. The schooner which is supposed to bring them to their destination has been quarantined because one of the crew has contracted measles a serious and often fatal disease in that place and time. It was originally published as miss thompson in the april 1921 issue of the american literary. Somerset maugham 1874 1965 rain charts the moral disintegration of a missionary attempting to convert a pacific island prostitute named sadie thompson.
William somerset maugham was born in paris in 1874. He published seventyeight books including the undisputed classics of human bondage and the razors edge which sold over 40 million copies in his lifetime. Somerset maugham became a patient there in november 1917, when he had to stop his intelligence service activities due to a severe attack of tb. In his short story rain somerset maugham gives prominence to the natural phenomenon rain. The analysis of short story mabel by william somerset maugham 1164 words 5 pages. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. The primary plot details how one of the characters, an arrogant and selfrighteous christian missionary, attempts to reform another character, whom he mistakenly assumes is a common prostitute. Somerset maugham is one of the bestloved short story writers of the last 100 years. At a running time of approximately 1 34 hours, it is too long for inclusion in a short story collection. Maugham is best known now for on humane bondage and the razors edge.
408 998 493 431 1618 488 456 690 1244 595 1140 1413 225 1410 162 1443 528 1682 968 527 49 638 883 558 843 1117 1653 1532 469 397 1012 415 219 1216 306 1207 1199 936 415