Skip to main content

What is ironic in the line, 'I never eat anything for luncheon' in W. Somerset Maugham's "The Luncheon"?

This is dramatic irony. It is based on the strong contrast between what the woman keeps saying and what she actually does. The narrator is fooled into taking the woman to the expensive Foyot's restaurant because he thinks she is telling the truth when she says, "I never eat anything for luncheon." What is she thinking when she says this? She must mean that she is trying to lose weight and has been sincerely trying...

This is dramatic irony. It is based on the strong contrast between what the woman keeps saying and what she actually does. The narrator is fooled into taking the woman to the expensive Foyot's restaurant because he thinks she is telling the truth when she says, "I never eat anything for luncheon." What is she thinking when she says this? She must mean that she is trying to lose weight and has been sincerely trying "not to eat anything for luncheon." She may be telling the truth, but, like many people who have a weight problem, when she actually does start eating she finds it difficult to stop. Foyot's was undoubtedly a tempting establishment full of the odors of rich food. Once the woman saw all the important people eating delicious and expensive delicacies, she could have easily have gotten carried away. Although she keeps repeating, "I never eat anything," she keeps ordering more and more. And because she really believes she is a light eater, she orders everything a la carte, which makes everything more expensive. The other part of the dramatic irony is that the young man keeps smiling as she continues to order more delicacies, when the reader knows how much he must be suffering as the bill mounts higher and higher.


What is the difference between "lunch" and "luncheon." "Luncheon" sounds light, whereas "lunch" might be a full-course meal. Somerset Maugham may have meant the title of his story to be ironic when he called it "The Luncheon," and it turned out to be something of an eating binge.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

In Martel's Life of Pi, how does writing a diary help Pi Patel build on his leadership skills?

At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can... At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can do this by writing down events, problems and solutions, and reflections to look back on when confronted with repeated problems. It can ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Why did Tybalt attack and kill Mercutio instead of Romeo, who he had originally been targeting?

Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio... Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio and Benvolio, Mercutio responds "And but one word with one of us?/ Couple it w...
Post a Comment
Read more