The Ant and the Grasshopper W. Somerset Maugham

Category: Culture, Fiction, Tragedy
Last Updated: 18 Apr 2023
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There are some beliefs that everyone gets in their whole life, what they deserve, and it is based upon common sense. However, there are exceptions for each rule or statement in existence. One of these exceptions is described in Maugham’s story, the fable called “The Ant and the Grasshopper” which is about George and Tom’s experiences. In this case, the ant is George and the grasshopper is Tom. One of them, George, chose the part of being a responsible and sensitive person. It is he who has been working a lot for getting a special retirement for the end of his life.

Moreover, he has been helping his brother in all his whims. He is a role model for everyone. On the other hand, Tom is this kind of person who decides to live his life in order to satisfy his own wishes. He is a very nice and charming person, but he is constantly cheating on his brother and all his friends. Moreover, he has a lot of faults and he is always looking for luxuries. “For twenty years Tom raced and gambled, philandered with the prettiest girls, danced, ate in the most expensive restaurants, and dressed beautifully. He always looked as if he had just stepped out of a bandbox.

Though he was forty-six you would never have taken him for more than thirty-five”. It might be safely said that the villain of this story is Tom, the bad man, the person who has got everything that he desires by taking the easy way. And according to the fable he deserves a bad end or at least any that is not good enough. Nonetheless, this is not a classical story with a traditional ending. The end of it is really funny. It may be said that the writer wanted to emphasize the fact that Tom had achieved everything and it was out of the blue.

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In addition, it might be pointed out that the writer is criticizing the coherence between George’s principles and the way he acted when his brother obtained the fortune. He showed jealous. Besides, it can be said that he was not happy with his whole life. He always wanted more than he obtained. The moral is clear, life is not unfair. It depends on you, on everyone and on the way people see life’s opportunities. In conclusion, there are people with good luck and fortune. There are people who are not firm with their principles and there are people who are not happy due to their vision of living. It is called: life and its ironies.

Related Questions

on The Ant and the Grasshopper W. Somerset Maugham

What is the moral of Ant and the Grasshopper by Somerset Maugham?
The moral of Ant and the Grasshopper by Somerset Maugham is that it is important to be prepared for the future and to plan ahead. It is also important to be mindful of the consequences of one's actions and to take responsibility for them.
What is the short summary of Ant and the Grasshopper?
The Ant and the Grasshopper is a fable by Aesop about a grasshopper who spends the summer singing and playing instead of preparing for winter, while an ant works hard to store up food. In the end, the grasshopper finds himself without food or shelter when winter arrives, while the ant is well-prepared. The moral of the story is that it is important to plan ahead and work hard.
What is the theme of the story The grasshopper and the ants?
The theme of The Grasshopper and the Ants is the importance of hard work and planning ahead for the future. The ants are rewarded for their hard work and foresight, while the grasshopper is left to suffer the consequences of his lack of preparation.
What does the ant represent in The Ant and the Grasshopper?
The ant in The Ant and the Grasshopper represents hard work and preparation. The ant is diligent in its efforts to store food for the winter, while the grasshopper is content to play and enjoy the summer. The ant's hard work and preparation serves as a lesson to the grasshopper, and to readers, about the importance of planning ahead.

Cite this Page

The Ant and the Grasshopper W. Somerset Maugham. (2017, May 08). Retrieved from https://phdessay.com/ant-grasshopper-w-somerset-maugham/

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