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Literature Book Reviews Book Review: The Razor's Edge
Literature Book Reviews Book Review: The Razor's Edge
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Title: The Razor’s Edge
Author: William Somerset Maugham
Publication: Vintage Classics
Pages: 341
The title of this brilliant novel by Maugham- arguably, one of his best- owes itself to a couplet of the Katha Upanishad, which runs thus:
“The sharp edge of a razor is difficult to pass over;
Thus the wise say that the path to salvation is hard.”
It is perhaps a reference to the path that the novel’s protagonist, Larry Darrell chooses for himself.
The story is told by Maugham himself, in fact, he plays a substantial role within the story; weaving the tale of singular characters with his inimitable wit and his dry, sometimes sarcastic humor. We are introduced foremost to Elliot Templeton, the charmingly debonair and snobbish American- a man, although, vain, pompous and obsequious to the last degree; has enough charm to make one overlook most of his other faults.
Indeed, as Maugham himself points out, “If I have given the reader an impression that Elliot was a thoroughly despicable character, I have done him an injustice.” His love for giving and spending lavishly, and latest scandals of the French Aristocracy and Nobility; soon grows on you- and one does not grudge him the twinge of sadness one feels at his deathbed, ignored and forgotten by his entire social circle.
For an insufferable snob that he was, he did have quite a kind heart; an attribute which is evinced several times in the novel. Elliot’s sister, Mrs. Bradley and her daughter Isabel are two other characters worth mentioning. Mrs. Bradley, a shrewd lady having “enormous sense” is a woman, who, although concerned for her daughter’s future; is fully aware (and has come to terms with) the fact that at the end of the day, she wouldn’t be able to force her daughter to do anything.
Isabel Bradley is a young girl (at the opening of the novel) of twenty; a pretty, vivacious thing with a penchant for the joys of life. While one couldn’t call her particularly greedy for money, she did know quite well that money and joy were inextricably linked in her world. Now we come to pièce de résistance of the entire novel- the young man, Larry Darrell.
The reader first meets him in a dinner comprising of, Maugham, Elliot, Mrs. Bradley, Isabel and Larry. From the start, one feels drawn to him and his singular qualities, for instance, at the same party, Maugham observes, “I was interested in the fact that though, so far as I could remember, he hadn’t said half a dozen words since entering the house, he seemed perfectly at ease and in a curious way, appeared to be taking part in the conversation without opening his mouth.”
Although he used to be a “nice, normal boy”, his experiences as a soldier in the war changed him deeply. Upon coming back home, although he remains the same to all outward appearances, there is a deep feeling of restlessness within him, a yearning for peace, for salvation. As Somerset says, “For God.” We find the reason for this change sometime later in the novel, a close friend of his in the Army died right in front of his eyes. Presumably, it is this reality of death which transforms him thus; and causes him to come to realizations such as, “The dead look terribly dead when they’re dead.”
And so he embarks upon the arduous road to salvation, or at least to spiritual happiness- what Larry calls light-heartedly, ‘loafing’. However, his unconventional ambitions take a toll on his relationship with Isabel, and eventually they break off their engagement. Interestingly, while Isabel feels curiously relieved about it at times and pained during others; Larry’s feelings about their break-up remain indiscernible. That indeed, is another peculiarity of this character- his motivations and emotions remain, for the most part, an enigma.
It is only to Somerset, that he opens his heart to some degree of frankness; perhaps his shrewd nature can see that here is a man who is reasonable without being judgmental. A decade rolls by, with Larry fading in the background; and Isabel eventually marries a mutual friend Gary, the son of an influential banker.
When Larry, Isabel and Gary do meet again, it is in the background of the Great Depression, which finds an utterly ruined Gary installed in one of Elliot’s apartments in Paris with his wife, Isabel and two daughters. While Gary, having long since lost his youth; looks almost haggard, and is afflicted with crippling headaches- a repercussion of the incredible stress of his bankruptcy, and the ensuing death of his beloved father.
Larry, in stark contrast, looks as young as he did ten years ago, if not more beautiful than before. His face seems aglow with energy, with, as the author puts it, “goodness”. During this interval of time, Larry had gone through myriad experiences, from the back-breaking labor in a French coal mine to the farms of Germany.
Somerset does a splendid job of narrating the emotions that Larry’s presence evokes in Isabel. Particularly moving was an incident that occurred when the four, that is, Isabel, Gary, Somerset and Larry were driving on the streets of Paris.Larry sat with Gary at the front, while Isabel was with Somerset on the back seats.Larry stretches out his arm on the back of the front seats, and the sleeve of his shirt rides up to reveal a muscular hand.
At this precise moment, Somerset, chancing a glance at Isabel beside him, is stunned- the woman’s face is a mask of pure lust.
She becomes herself a moment later, and says softly, “I feel quite ill.” Larry goes on to travel the world in his quest for spirituality and mysticism.
Ultimately, he decides to give away his entire fortune and become a cab driver in the States- a plan which he divulges only to Somerset. He remains firm in this decision, in spite of the many arguments Maugham provides against it; and does exactly what he intends to.
At the end, Maugham says that after Larry’s departure, he never got into an American Cab without hoping that the driver may be Larry.
That hope, however, remains unfulfilled.
Altogether, a wonderful read, with steadfast, witty and unpretentious writing and wonderfully crafted characters.
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