ПК 1 Англ яз 3,4 семестры / Louise

I’m analyzing the story «Louise », written by W. Somerset Maugham. The short story was written in an ironic style, in a form of narration. This story is about the woman who used to get everything what she wants using her “weak heart”. The main idea of the story is that some people can be so selfish that they ready to ruin the lives of others (even the members of their own family) in order to achieve their aims. The problem of this story is relationship between people.

Her parents cared about her very strongly, as the narrator said, they "worshipped her with an anxious adoration" because she had a weak heart. When Tom Maitland proposed marriage, they were dismayed because they thought that the role of wife was difficult, given her poor health. But Tom was rich, so eventually they agreed to the marriage.

Tom promised to do everything for Louise, he gave up gambling and hunting for the sake of her. Meanwhile, the narrator noticed she might walk for few miles, she might dance all night. Once the narrator said to Tom that Louse might be not so weak as it seemed. Tom shook his head and answered that the best heart specialists in the world concluded that her life hung by a thread.

Louise outlived her husband. He died from pneumonia. A year after Tom's death Luisa accepted a proposal to marry from George Hobhouse. He was an officer who resigned because of his intentions to care about his poor wife who suffered from heart disease. They lived in Monte Carlo. The narrator asserted that because of it, George allowed his wife "to go beautifully dressed to all the most lively parties, to gamble very heavily, to dance and even to flirt with tall slim young men." When the war started, he rejoined the army again and a few months later, he was killed in the First World War.

If anything Louise controls those around her and preys on their empathy for her. Each character, the two husbands and Iris are good natured people and do not mind putting Louise before themselves. However their own lives become affected. Particularly Iris’ who has to postpone her wedding as Louise does not feel well enough. However prior to hearing of Louise’s intentions to get married Louise was in good physical shape. This may be important as it highlights just how selfish Louise can be when the focus is not placed on her.

The end of the story is quite interesting, because as soon as Louise felt that the attention was not focused on her, she began her manipulations: "On the wedding–day, at ten o'clock in the morning, Louise, that devilish woman, had one of her heart attacks–and died. She died gently forgiving Iris for having killed her." Thus, Louise makes her daughter to blame for her death, which is another selfish act.

The number one person in Louise’s life has never been her husbands nor has it been Iris. The most important person to Louise is Louise herself. She has controlled the people who love her and ensured that they lived their life to suit Louise’s whims. Throughout the story Louise has acted selfishly.

The story contains an abundance of stylistic devices. It is permeated with irony: “in that gentle way of hers”,”by a coincidence ”, “devilish woman”.

The number of epithets such as: gentle way of hers; frail, delicate girl with large and melancholy eyes; anxious adoration; dreadfully delicate; pathetic little smile; large blue eyes; plaintive smile, gentle smile, devilish woman etc. are used by author in order to show the appearance and to express some inner qualities of Louise.

Repetitions: “Oh, I know, I know what you’ve always thought of me”; “If it kills me, it kills me”; I saw the face behind the mask and because I alone held out was determined that sooner or later I too should take the mask for the face; She did nothing of the kind; indeed, she would not leave me alone;

she was constantly asking me to lunch and dine with her and once or twice a year invited me to spend a week (anaphora). This stylistic device also makes the story more expressive and emotional.

There are some other stylistic devices such as metaphor: spark of humour, mistress of cold praise;

simily: look upon her as a comic figure, she fooled herself as thoroughly as he fooled the world, they entrusted her to him as a sacred charge;

hyperbole: do everything in the world for Louise, I’ve begged her on my bended knees and etc. I find this story interesting and I think that the end of the story is closed, because everything

happened as it should have been, and all the people who put Louise above themselves will begin to live their lives.