The Luncheon

Short Story | W. Somerset Maugham

But I was flattered and I was too young to say no to a woman

Premium

Why does Maugham say But I was flattered and I was too young to say no to a woman William Somerset Maugham shows a young writer s early innocence in The Luncheon He meets a lady admirer in a theatre She smiles gently She speaks softly She reminds him of Foyot s in Paris Her charm weakens him Her words trap him He cannot refuse He was Young and Innocent The writer was very young when he first met the lady admirer in Paris She wrote to him and asked for lunch at Foyot s the costly restaurant where French senators ate He lived in the Latin Quarter and had little money Still he felt honoured He says But I was flattered and I was too young to say no to a woman He means that her praise affected him Her polite words and her kind smile made him feel

important He did not know how to refuse politely His youth made him weak before her charm He Felt Admiration for Her The lady spoke with confidence She talked about art books and music She asked for a luncheon at Foyot s This made the young writer feel responsible He believed he must accept her request He wanted to appear generous and polite He feared he might hurt her feelings So he agreed even though Foyot s was far too expensive for him He Did Not Yet Understand People s Tricks The young writer believed her when she said I never eat anything for luncheon He trusted her gentle voice He did not understand her hidden greed He did not see her tricks When she later ordered salmon caviar asparagus champagne and even a peach he realised the truth But he could not escape His lack of life experience kept him silent Maugham s words show a young heart easily moved easily fooled The lady s charm controlled him His youth blinded him He learned that politeness without wisdom brings trouble cost and quiet suffering

Continue Reading

Sign in and subscribe to unlock the full content