The themes of outward appearance, class, resentment, materialism, equality, independence, and morality are explored in W. Somerset Maugham’s A String of Beads. The narrative, which is taken from his book Collection of Short Stories, is told in the first person by an unknown male narrator, and the reader realizes that Maugham may be examining the issue of physical appearance and how people perceive anyone who tends to be slightly different.
A String of Beads | Summary
The story “A String Of Beads” is about a poor lady, Miss Robinson. Despite being educated, Miss Robinson lived as a servant and worked for Mrs. Levington. The story starts when she was invited to a dinner party by Mrs. Levington. Since thirteen was seen to be a bad number by the host, she was invited to the dinner as a replacement when one of the other guests was unable to come.
One man observes Miss Robison’s pearls while the other guests are discussing another set that one of the members on the table, Laura is wearing. They find it hard to believe she is merely a governess and possesses a set of pearls that appear to be so expensive. When two men arrive to talk to Miss Robinson about the pearls she was wearing, the dinner is interrupted. She was then viewed as little more than a robber by those seated at the dinner table. She was not a thief, though; there had been a mix-up at the shop where she had bought the items. They demanded a fair amount of cash in exchange for the pearls. She used the funds to travel to the South of France, where she met and wed a man. All of the dinner guests believed Miss Robinson, who had always been impoverished, was foolish for spending the money on a vacation rather than saving it to improve her situation. But in the end, she made the decision she believed was best for her, as she should. But as time went on, Mrs. Livingstone and her visitors learned that Miss Robinson had met and wed a count while on vacation in the South of France. The count ended up being rich, and Miss Robinson was now living the high life in Paris as a countess. Miss Robinson’s confusion over a string of beads led to her ultimate reversal of fortune.
A String of Beads | Analysis
Through this short fiction, the author has investigated topics of the subtly existent class distinction in society. the separation between the servant and their cruel treatment or seeing them with disgust. It might also be crucial that Miss Robinson seizes the chance to live her life on her terms while she is on vacation. This emphasizes the topic of how Miss Robinson has spent her entire life listening to others and never having the opportunity to do the one thing she has always desired to do, which is take a vacation. And now that she got the chance, She did so. She shouldn’t be obligated to follow others’ suggestions about how to spend her own money. Through the development of Miss Robinson’s personality, the author emphasizes themes of uniqueness and self-reflection.
When Miss Robinson leaves her position as governess, she seems content. Although it is obvious that Miss Robinson only receives support from men. And perhaps that is the argument Maugham is making. He might be implying that Miss Robinson has turned into a target for potential suitors. Even still, Miss Robinson doesn’t seem to be bothered by this issue. Instead of remaining in her position as the Livingstones’ governess, she seemed to be content with possessing worldly possessions. This is maybe significant given that Miss Robinson lacked independence while working for the Livingstones. She might not be independent while residing in France. depending on affluent suitors to give her a life she has never known before.
As far as Miss Robinson is concerned, she appears to be leading a fulfilling existence. Although at the time the narrative was written, women were not regarded as equal to men but rather were viewed as their subordinates. As a result, Miss Robinson and many other women lacked independence, yet according to the social dynamics of the day, Miss Robinson’s situation was ideal. The story’s conclusion is equally intriguing. rather than appreciating Miss Robinson’s luck. The classes are divided from Laura’s perspective, and Miss Robinson is seen as having a difficult existence. The reader is left with the impression that Laura is once more envious of the life Miss Robinson has made for herself.
A startling turn of events for Miss Robinson characterizes the story’s resolution. The narrative finishes with a reflection on how Miss Robinson’s life was profoundly altered by an inconsequential string of beads, making her a countess and wealthy. It serves as a reminder of the illogic of life and the unforeseen chances that might come from even the most trivial circumstances. The themes of class distinction, societal expectations, and the transformative potential of accidental events are all explored in this short story. The story centers on Miss Robinson, a lowly governess who becomes mixed up in an incident involving a priceless strand of pearls. The incident serves as a lens through which the narrative explores the constraints imposed by societal structures and the possibility of unforeseen results. The disparity between social classes is one of the main themes.
Miss Robinson is portrayed as being smart and educated despite coming from a low-income family. As a governess, she serves as a servant to Mrs. Livingstone, a wealthy woman, and her visitors. When Count Borselli, a specialist in precious stones, praises Miss Robinson’s pearls, the wealthier attendees are shocked and outraged, emphasizing the obvious class gulf even further. By highlighting how appearances can be deceiving, the tale questions established norms. The fact that she acquired the priceless pearls by accident only serves to support the notion that one’s social standing is not necessarily a reliable indicator of their value or potential. The story also touches on the significance of random occurrences. Miss Robinson receives a string of pearls worth $50,000 instead of an inexpensive pair of beads due to a minor error at a jewelry store. Her life is thrust into an entirely unanticipated path by this twist of fate. The story implies that even a trivial incident can have tremendous effects and change the direction of a person’s life.
The narrative makes a reflection on the mutability of social positions and the possibility of unanticipated transformation. It casts doubt on the idea that social standing is immutable and places a strong emphasis on the significance of each person’s choices and environment. The story challenges readers to think critically about societal norms and the influence of luck in one’s life. Laura appears to be obsessed with Miss Robinson and the fact that she serves as the Livingstones’ governess. It almost seems as though Laura thinks Miss Robinson had no business attending the Livingstones’ dinner. This might be significant because Laura seems to be evaluating Miss Robinson exclusively based on her class. Laura does not consider Miss Robinson to be anything more than an unwanted extra at the Livingstones’ dinner because she is not middle-class or upper-class like Laura. Laura also seemed to find it annoying that Miss Robinson ended up taking center stage at the meal. In many ways, the reader gets the impression that Laura is envious of Miss Robinson and doesn’t enjoy the attention that Count Borselli and the other diners at the dinner are giving Miss Robinson. It feels unjustified for someone in Miss Robinson’s class to be the center of attention. Certainly not in Laura’s opinion. Mrs. Livingstone’s part in the narrative may also be significant because it seems as though she either gives or sells Miss Robinson the clothes she doesn’t want. It is challenging to say. The fact that Mrs. Livingstone is essentially molding Miss Robinson into the lady she believes Miss Robinson should be is what makes the clothes so intriguing, though. Miss Livingstone is shaping Miss Robinson into her ideal of what a woman should be, refusing to give Miss Robinson any independence. Something Laura also tries to do by evaluating Miss Robinson exclusively based on her socioeconomic status.
Overall, the setting of the story implies the narrative of the bourgeois class mindset where the character of Miss Robinson just seemed to be out of place. People, judge people on the basis of how much wealth they accumulate, and if that’s the case it doesn’t matter what the source of that wealth is. It could be sheer luck or marrying a rich man.
About The Author
William Somerset Maugham was born in Paris in the year 1874. A few critics credit the purity of his style to the fact that he spoke French before he spoke a word of English. As Maugham wrote, experimental modernist writing by authors started to grow and gain the attention of readers as well as critics. Some of his more famous works include the likes of Rain, The Verger and Salvatore, among others.
