Interpretation from “Louise” by W. Somerset Maugham: References to Conversations that Takes Place Between the Narrator and Louise

“I could never understand why Louise bothered with me. She disliked me and I knew that behind my back she seldom lost the opportunity of saying a disagreeable thing about me.”- 

“Louise” by W. Somerset Maugham

Introduction: # 

William Somerset Maugham (1874-1965), a celebrated writer of his time, showcased his versatility as a novelist, playwright, and short-story writer. His 1936 short-story "Louise" revolves around a woman who manipulates others with her supposed "weak heart" to fulfill her desires. Titled with a woman's name and written in the first person by a male author, the story hints at a captivating female protagonist. With its gripping narrative, emotional depth, and pervasive irony, the story exposes the intricate dynamics of human relationships. Maugham's central message highlights the alarming capacity of some individuals to sacrifice the well-being of others, including their own family members, for personal gain. 

Hidden Irony # 

As a perceptive observer of human nature and relationships, the author narrates the story of Louise in his own words, with a hidden twist of irony. He describes Louise as delicate and gentle, though she subtly conveys her dislike for him through her ladylike gestures. Surprisingly, despite her opinion of him as coarse, brutal, cynical, and vulgar, she inexplicably takes an interest in him. She invites him frequently for meals and even to her country house for a weekend, leaving the author perplexed. However, the twist reveals that Louise's true motive is not to deceive the author, but rather to win his belief in her sincerity and ultimately succeed in convincing him.

The prevailing moods of the story are ironical and emotional. This story is realistic in style. It is reveals human virtues and vices. The story “Louise” has a gripping and fast-moving plot. The plot of the story is complicated. The story has the following composition: there is no exposition. The development of the plot begins from the first paragraph. The climax is logically reached in dialogue between the narrator and Louise. The denouement is shown in the last paragraph. The elements of plot ordered chronologically. There are two main characters: Louise and the author himself, where Louise is a antagonist and the author is protagonist. There are also some flat characters such as Tom Maitland, the first husband of Louse; George Hobhouse, her second husband, and her daughter Iris.

A Second Marriage # 

During a sailing trip, Tom Maitland, selflessly giving all the rugs to Louise, succumbed to the cold and passed away. Surprisingly, Louise, despite the expectation of her demise, survived the tragedy. With a daughter named Iris and a substantial inheritance, people feared for her well-being. Restricted from strenuous tasks, Louise initially declined remarriage due to her weak heart. However, a year later, she wed George Hobhouse, a devoted soldier. Unfortunately, George left the military to care for Louise's health, leading them to spend winters in Monte Carlo and summers in Deauville.

Outlived #

The entire story shows Louise’s usual behavior and produces the necessary effect on the reader. And even that fact that she always repeated to her husband that she wouldn’t live long and the fact that she “outlived” both of them produces an ironic effect. For example, “She had too much delicacy ever to make a direct statement, but with a hint and a sigh and a little flutter of her beautiful hands she was able to make her meaning plain”. 

 It is possible to say that all Louise’s life is one big antithesis, because she has lived more than forty years softly making other people do what she wants but constantly repeating “I hate the thought of anyone sacrificing themselves for me.”

She might have a heart-attack!!

Despite Louise's frailty and delicate heart due to scarlet fever, she defied expectations in her marriage to Tom Maitland. Although Tom showered her with care and treated her as the most submissive wife, Louise possessed an unconquerable spirit. The author, witnessing her unexpected strength during an eight-mile walk and lively parties, admired her resilience. However, Louise disliked such comments, as they challenged the notion of her fragility. Her story is one of inner strength, hidden behind the appearance of weakness, reminding us that true strength often lies beyond what meets the eye.

Louise-antagonist and the narrator -protagonist #

Coming to the point, there are two main characters: Louise and the narrator himself, where Louise is an antagonist and the narrator is a protagonist. There are also some flat characters such as Tom Maitland, the first husband of Louse; George Hobhouse, her second husband, and her daughter Iris. Maugham was a shrewd observer of life and keen student of human nature, he was a highly intelligent man of the world, cherishing few illusions, and rarely admitting any trace of sentimentality into his works. As a playwright, his best plays are the ironical comment of a cynically humorous observer, aiming to present life as it really is.

A True to Life #

This is a true to life story , which can happen anywhere (the author does not even point to a place where the actions have been developing).  we can easily presume that he decided to write this story because Louise really had impressed him much. It seems to me that in some cases he even admires the ability of this woman to make everything in a way she wants it to be done. It produces such effect that she dies at the day of her daughter’s wedding only because she wants to show that she is really ill and has had right that her daughter’s wedding will kill her.

Hospital for Convalescent Officers# 

Louise, in spite of her weak heart, enjoyed the next two or three years- dressed beautifully, attended parties, gambled heavily. When war broke out, George Hobhouse rejoined his regiment and was killed after three months. Louise kept herself busy by turning her house at Monte Carlo, to a hospital for convalescent officers. The strain did not kill her, as her friends and Louise herself thought it would. Her hospital became most popular in France.

A Monstrous Woman?

The author took the opportunity to speak to Louise about it. He blamed her for being so selfish. He told her that for twenty five years, she had been fooling people—she buried two husbands, and now she, was about to ruin her daughter’s life. She was a monstrous woman. He thought that these words would give her a heart attack but it didn’t. She gave him a ‘gentle smile’ and said very soon he would be dreadfully sorry to have said that to her. Finally, on the author’s insistence, she agreed to get them married within a month, even though it would kill her She blamed the author for having no pity for her weak health and that she would die Louise kept her word. On the day of the wedding, in the morning, at ten o’clock, Louise died due to heart attack. “She died gently, forgiving Iris for having killed her.”

  When she was proposed by Tom Maitland, they thought that their daughter was much too delicate for the strenuous state-of marriage. But when Tom was determined to do everything for her, they handed her to him ‘as a sacred charge.’

No Submissive# 

Actually, Louise was not submissive. She pretended to be submissive and whenever there was a difference in opinion or a tussle about anything with her husband, initially she would yield:: But then her heart would fail her and then she would be laid up, in her usual sweet nature, without any complaints, for a week. Tom would be frightened to cross her and at last would persuade her to have her own way.  One day, when they were sailing, Louise needed all the rugs that were there to keep herself warm. Therefore, poor Tom died due to cold.

Stronger than One# 

Seeing Louise walk eight miles on an expedition the narrator remarked that she was stronger than one would have thought. Louise said that she would pay for it the next day and be at death’s door. The narrator told her that he thought she was strong enough to do what she wanted to; Louise retorted that he should not expect her to fall down dead just to please him. After the death of her second husband the narrator asked her if her heart was much better. She said that it was not, and that a specialist had told her that she must be prepared for the worst. The narrator commented that she had been prepared for that for nearly twenty years. Apparently the narrator was sarcastic, and Louise did not like him because she suspected that he did not believe in her.

Conclusion# 

"Louise" by W. Somerset Maugham illuminates the paradoxical nature of strength and fragility. Louise, despite her weak heart, displays an indomitable spirit that defies societal expectations. The story serves as a reminder that true strength cannot always be measured by physical attributes alone, but rather resides within the depths of one's character. It urges us to reconsider our assumptions and recognize the resilience that can be found in the most unexpected places.

Points of Analysis:

👉Exploration of Loneliness: Through their conversations, the narrator discovers Louise's profound loneliness, highlighting the emotional isolation she experiences in her life.

👉Search for Meaning: The discussions delve into Louise's search for meaning and purpose, as she grapples with existential questions and the desire for a more fulfilling existence.

👉Socioeconomic Divide: The conversations reveal the stark contrast between the narrator's privileged background and Louise's working-class struggles, shedding light on the societal divide and its impact on their perspectives.

👉Loss and Regret: The discussions touch upon Louise's past choices and the subsequent feelings of loss and regret, underscoring the consequences of one's decisions and the longing for what could have been.

👉Themes of Desperation and Hope: The conversations depict Louise's moments of desperation, yet also offer glimpses of hope and resilience as she seeks solace and understanding in her interactions with the narrator.

Ardhendu De

References

1. (PDF) Louise by William Somerset Maugham - DOKUMEN.TIPS. (n.d.). dokumen.tips. https://dokumen.tips/education/louise-by-william-somerset-maugham.html