Дистанційне навчання 10-A (14.04.2021)
Lesson
Wednesday, the fourteenth of April
Theme: William Somerset Maugham
W.
Somerset Maugham, in full William Somerset Maugham, (born Jan. 25,
1874, Paris,
France—died Dec. 16, 1965, Nice), English novelist, playwright, and short-story
writer whose work is characterized by a clear unadorned style, cosmopolitan settings,
and a shrewd understanding of human nature.
Maugham
was orphaned at the age of 10; he was brought up by an uncle and educated at
King’s School, Canterbury. After a year at Heidelberg, he entered
St. Thomas’ medical school, London, and qualified as a doctor in 1897. He drew
upon his experiences as an obstetrician in his first novel, Liza of Lambeth (1897),
and its success, though small, encouraged him to abandon medicine. He traveled
in Spain and Italy and in 1908 achieved a theatrical triumph—four plays running
in London at once—that brought him financial security. During World War I he
worked as a secret agent. After the war he resumed his interrupted travels and,
in 1928, bought a villa on Cape Ferrat in the south of France, which became his
permanent home.
His
reputation as a novelist rests primarily on four books: Of
Human Bondage (1915), a semi-autobiographical account of a young
medical student’s painful progress toward maturity; The
Moon and Sixpence (1919), an account of an unconventional artist,
suggested by the life of Paul Gauguin; Cakes and Ale (1930),
the story of a famous novelist, which is thought to contain caricatures of Thomas Hardy and
Hugh Walpole; and The
Razor’s Edge (1944), the story of a young American war veteran’s quest
for a satisfying way of life. Maugham’s plays, mainly Edwardian social
comedies, soon became dated, but his short stories have increased in
popularity. Many portray the conflict of Europeans in alien surroundings that
provoke strong emotions, and Maugham’s skill in handling plot, in the manner of Guy de Maupassant,
is distinguished by economy and suspense. In The Summing Up (1938)
and A Writer’s Notebook (1949) Maugham explains his philosophy of
life as a resigned atheism and a certain skepticism about
the extent of man’s innate goodness and intelligence; it is this that gives his
work its astringent cynicism.
·
W. Somerset Maugham was one of
the most popular writers in the 1930s.
·
·
The success of his first
novel, Liza of Lambeth (1897), persuaded him to quit medicine for
writing.
·
He is most famous for four
novels, Of
Human Bondage (1915), The
Moon and Sixpence (1919), Cakes and Ale (1930), and The
Razor’s Edge (1944).
·
His plays were popular in
their day and at one time four of them ran simultaneously in London.
·
His novel Cakes and
Ale had very unflattering characterizations of the authors Thomas Hardy
and Hugh Walpole
·
His short stories are
considered among the best in English.
·
The book "Theater" (Somerset Maugham -
author of the novel) was written after the First World War, when many families
suffered a crisis and decay. The author, as a participant in hostilities and a
connoisseur of human nature, reflected this in the novel.
But once Michael introduced her to a young clerk
Tom Fennel. William Somerset Maugham unfolds the story in English society,
divided into classes. And if Julia, the daughter of a veterinarian, managed to
take his place in the aristocratic environment thanks to his talent, then Tom
has very few chances to get into high society. He was an accountant and helped
Michael disassemble papers. Unexpectedly, as an easy fun (“… the boy will
remember this for life and will tell his grandchildren”), Julia invited him to
dinner. She could not remember his name, but she liked the role of noble Julia
Lambert - the great actress she played at dinner.
Life on stage, theater in life
The book "Theater" (Maugham Somerset) tells about the
liberation from illusions, false notions and freedom of choice. Driven by
“better feelings” (or fear of losing profits), Dolly de Vries decided to open
Julia’s eyes to her young lover. She said that he promised young actress Evis
Crichton a patronage in the theater, mentioning that "old woman"
Lambert would do everything for him. Indeed, Tom turned to Julia with a request
to give Evis a role in the new performance. This actress could not forgive. And
it was not a matter of trampled female vanity, and certainly not of love (at
that moment Tom Fennel was no longer loved). But he betrayed talent and art in
her face. It was impossible to forgive!
Evis Crichton got the role, but her career died on the day of the premiere. Playing half the power at rehearsals, the great Julia Lambert let all the power of her talent unfold at the premiere performance. It was her triumph, her revenge, her glory and happiness! The whole world was again at her feet, and the hapless actress was broken. Accidentally meeting Tom near the dressing room, she saw even more admiration in his eyes, but she didn’t care. In the novel “Theater” Somerset Maugham revealed the character of not only a talented actress, but also an intelligent woman. Passing through crises, betrayals and difficulties, we become stronger, and the weaker sex is sometimes more dangerous.
The novel shows a slice of society and relationships within it, and also tells in a concentrated way about the peculiarities of the female view of the world, the author acts as a connoisseur of souls and characters. Perhaps you will be fascinated by the full narrative, then the book is at your service - Somerset Maugham, "The Theater." You already know the summary, now it’s time to read the full version of the novel.
The novel “Theater” Maugham Somerset, an
English writer, was released in 1937. Maugham received a brilliant education.
In addition to the successful activity of the playwright, he managed to work as
an agent of British intelligence during the First World War, traveled a lot and
easily reflected his talent in his literary works. Many of his novels and short
stories turned into the status of classical literature, including the ironic,
light novel “Theater”.
Julia Lambert and her husband
In the novel "Theater" (Maugham Somerset - author) the main
character - Julia Lambert, the famous British actress. Having achieved success
thanks to her talent when she was young, she kept her palm at forty-six.
“Brilliant, famous, beautiful, talented, ” she hears these epithets every time
after the performance. Julia is successful, her life is successful. She has
many admirers, and Lord Charles Tamery does not hopelessly love her all her
life, not counting on reciprocity at all.
The husband of the great actress is Michael, “the
most handsome man in London, ” as Julia says about him. She loved him
passionately when she was nineteen years old; he became a fan of her talent. In
their youth, they played together in the same troupe, but a weak temperament
did not make him an actor, and in life he was distinguished by a calm and very
even temper. They wanted to get married, but Michael's parents were against
marriage. Only thanks to the acting talents, put into play by Julia, did she manage
to please his parents. In World War I, Michael went to the front, and Julia
suddenly realized that she no longer loved him. But her husband was still
handsome, practical, calm, reliable, and he knew that he was a useless actor.
This knowledge did not torment him, he believed in Julia and, going to the
front, convinced her not to leave the stage.
Several years passed for mental agony, during which
time the son Roger was born in the family, the name of Julia Lambert became
famous, she became famous as an actress of rare talent. The secret of acting
was that Julia played in life and lived on stage.
Little history of relationships
When Michael's parents died and left a small capital inheritance, he
decided to use it and rented a small theater, the star of which was the great
Julia Lambert. Co-founder of the company agreed to become an old fan of talent
Julia - a wealthy "old woman" and aristocrat Dolly de Vries. Michael
became the administrator and director of the theater, and it turned out he had
a much better acting craft. The theater was doing well, thanks to its position
in society, Dolly brought Julie and Michael into the circle of the aristocracy.
The son grew up and studied away from his mother. Julia was bored.
Homework:
Follow the link
and read the novel.
https://content.ikon.mn/banners/2015/4/9/1472/william-somerset-maugham-theatre.pdf
Analyze the novel
and write a short character sketch.
You are free to ask questions
