The Luncheon

By William Somerset Maugham

William Somerset Maugham (1874-1965) was a British playwright, novelist, and short story writer, celebrated for his keen observations of human nature and his skillful storytelling. His works often explore themes of love, desire, and the complexities of human relationships, with a focus on the quirks and vulnerabilities of his characters.

“The Luncheon” is a short story that humorously recounts an encounter between the narrator and a woman he once knew, who invites him to lunch at an expensive restaurant. Despite her assurances that she “never eats much,” the woman orders a lavish and costly meal, leaving the narrator to cover the bill with his modest income. The story captures Maugham’s wit and his ability to depict irony and social dynamics.

Q: Although the author was not a vindicative man, he was very happy to see the twenty-one stone lady who had impoverished him twenty years ago, and he says finally had his revenge. What makes him say this?

Ans. The author says this because, when he meets the woman twenty years later, he finds that she has become extremely overweight. This is ironic because, during their lunch years ago, she had claimed to eat very little and only ordered expensive dishes, all the while pretending to be a person who cared about her figure. Seeing her in a state that contrasts her previous assertions feels like poetic justice to the author, and he finds satisfaction in the thought that life has “avenged” him for the financial burden she caused him. He feels that this change in her appearance is his revenge, even though he did nothing to cause it.

Q: There are quite a few places where the author uses the expressions ‘my heart sank’, ‘panic seized’ etc. What was the reason for this?

Ans. The author uses expressions like “my heart sank’’ and ‘’panic seized’’ to convey his anxiety and dread as he realizes that the woman is ordering increasingly expensive items during their lunch. The author, being a modestly-earning writer at the time, is constantly worried about the bill’s mounting cost. These expressions reflect his internal turmoil and fear of financial ruin as each of her orders escalates his expenses beyond what he can comfortably afford.

Q: Locate instances of irony in the story.

Ans. There are several instances of irony in the story like the following:

Ø  Situational Irony: The woman claims she “never eats more than one thing,” but proceeds to order an extravagant amount of food. Her behavior contradicts her self-proclaimed restraint.

Ø  Verbal Irony: The lady repeatedly insists on how simple her tastes are while she continuously orders some of the most expensive items on the menu.

Ø  Dramatic Irony: The narrator knows he cannot afford the meal but is too embarrassed to say anything. The woman remains oblivious to financial distress throughout the luncheon.

Ø  Irony of Fate: Twenty years later, the narrator feels vindicated when he sees that the woman, who once claimed to be so careful about what she ate, has become overweight.

Q: People with foibles are often not conscious of them. Discuss.

Ans. People often fail to recognize their flaws or peculiar habits, as demonstrated by the woman in the story. She continuously orders expensive dishes under the guise of “eating lightly” and “having a small appetite,’’ without realizing how contradictory her actions are to her claims. This suggests that people can be quite blind to their own faults or eccentricities, which may sometimes cause discomfort or inconvenience to others.

Q: Discuss the author’s attempt at keeping up his pretense of friendliness while he was mentally preoccupied with the expense of the luncheon.

Ans. The author tries to maintain a polite demeanor throughout the luncheon, even though he is inwardly panicking about the cost of the meal. His constant attempts to engage in polite conversation or humor are underscored by his growing anxiety about the bill. This pretense becomes a source of irony and humor in the narrative, as the reader is aware of the contrast between his external calmness and his internal distress.

Q: The author is a humorist. Keeping this in view answer the following;

1. a)How does the story reflect his sense of humor?

Ans. The story reflects the author’s sense of humor through its irony, wit, and self-deprecation. The humorous depiction of his own predicament, the dramatic irony of the woman’s obliviousness to his financial anxiety, and his light-hearted reflections on the past all contribute to the comedic tone. The writer uses humor to portray a potentially stressful situation in a way that is entertaining and engaging for the reader.

1. b)What makes his lady friend remark – ‘you are quite a humorist’?

Ans. The lady makes this remark when the author humorously comments on the smallness of the portions of the dishes she is ordering. She perceives his ironic statements and mild jabs as witty and humorous, not realizing that he is subtly expressing his discomfort at the rising expense of the meal.

1. c)Give instances of the author’s ability to laugh at himself.

Ans. The author is able to laugh at himself when he recounts how naive he was to accept the luncheon invitation, knowing he could not afford it, and how he was too polite to object to her extravagant orders. Even in his reflection on how he had been impoverished by that one meal, there is a tone of self-mockery and amusement, rather than bitterness.

Q: How does the first-person narrative help in heightening the literary effects of the story?

Ans. The first-person narrative allows readers to experience the author’s inner thoughts and feelings directly. It adds an element of intimacy and immediacy, helping readers to feel his anxiety, frustration, and later, his sense of ironic revenge. This perspective enhances the humor of the situation, as the audience gets a clear view of the discrepancy between what the narrator is thinking and what he is saying, which creates a comedic contrast and deepens the irony.