To take the risks that Mayhew took and tackle life full on. Rather than joining the crowd Maugham may be suggesting that in life people need to be more individualistic.
#William somerset maugham short stories free
That freedom is something that is attainable by all should the individual attempt to free themselves from the lives they are living. Without living in fear of the consequences. That each man or woman should chose to live their life as they would like to. He may be suggesting that the journey in life is more important than the destination. Which might be the point that Maugham is attempting to make. However he paid a high price and was left with nothing to show for his endeavours. He may have lived his life as he wished and how the narrator had wished Mayhew to live his life. So involved was Mayhew with his book that he did not see that his own health was declining. Whereas someone who lived their life with a little more balance may have been successful. Though some critics might agree with the narrator it might be important to remember that Mayhew did not achieve his goal of writing his book. Considering it better that he died as he did rather than living his life as others might live theirs. The end of the story is also interesting as the narrator fully supports Mayhew’s actions. He may have wealth and an appetite for study but the reality is Mayhew is killing himself and he does not seem to realise this. It is as though he is unable to manage his life. What should have been an idyllic adventure for Mayhew turns out to be burdensome. Socially he has withdrawn from others and mentally he appears to be more concerned about writing his book than he is his with his physical health. However he does nothing about it due to the fact that his mind is so stimulated by his desire to write the book. There appears to be an internal conflict within Mayhew. It is as though he is fighting his body without realising that he needs his body just as much as he needs his mind. The fact that Mayhew goes from being a healthy man to a frail one may also be important as Maugham may be suggesting that Mayhew is not looking after himself physically. He does not have his gentleman’s club nor does he have the friendships that he had while he was living in Detroit. In reality life is very different for Mayhew in Capri. Mayhew cannot see a world around him that does not involve him writing his book. It is as though his book and researching the book is more important to him than anything else. Though he does make attempts on occasion to socialise with others for the main Mayhew isolates himself. So engrossed is he in writing his book that he forgets the importance of socialising with others.
If anything he isolates himself from others when he is living in Capri. However there is one noticeable downside to how Mayhew decides to live his life. It would appear that nothing intimidates Mayhew such is his high level of confidence. Unlike the other people that Maugham mentions in the story. This may be important as it suggests that Mayhew had an element of confidence about him. Particularly his belief in himself and his ability to survive in Capri. If anything Mayhew is firm in his beliefs. Though he made his decision to move to Capri while under the influence of alcohol. It is also noticeable that Mayhew is prepared to live in a world that he is not accustomed to. Hence his ability to move so quickly from Detroit to Capri. At no stage in the story is there a sense that Mayhew is reliant on anybody else. Which suggests that Mayhew may be independent of others. There is nothing to tie Mayhew down to Detroit. However he knows that he can make the move to Italy due to his financial circumstances and the fact that he is prepared to change the course of his life. Mayhew doesn’t give the matter much thought. Something that is noticeable when he decides to move from Detroit to Capri. Where most people don’t have the freedom they would like in their lives. Something that the narrator considers to be a rarity. Mayhew lives his life as he would like to.
Taken from his The Collected Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Maugham may be exploring the theme of freedom. Somerset Maugham we have the theme of freedom, change, independence, bravery, confidence, isolation, conflict and individualism.