A Friend in Need is mind-blowing writing that emphasizes the judgments. The plot revolves around the narrator and a man named Edward. The narrator was deeply inspired by Edwad but soon life taught him an important lesson. This storybook makes you eligible to make the right choices.
In this article, I am going to discuss these topics related to this masterpiece:
- Author
- Characters
- Summary
- Analysis
- Themes
- Lessons For Readers
- Conclusion
Author
A Friend in Need is a short story that was written by William Somerset Maugham back in 1924. The story was published in his collections of 1936. The best thing about his writing style is that he pointed down his life experiences. Some famous works of William Somerset Maugham are’:
Characters
Narrator
He is the main character who narrates his encounter with a man named Edward in the past. The narrator was deeply motivated by him. They both met in a club while playing cards.
Edward Hyde Burton
He was a man who was good at playing cards. If you read this work, you will get Edward’s sketch. He seems an old man in his sixties with blue eyes having white hair.
Lenny Burton
Lenny was the pro player in the cards. Edward told the narrator about Lenny.
A Friend in Need Short Story Summary
I am just providing a summary of this story. The setting takes place in Japan during the 20th century. The narrator was reading some sort of newspaper and learned about the death of a man named Edward Hyde Burton. The narrator knew this man and introduced us to his reality.
Who was Edward?
Edward is a gentleman in the narrator’s eyes. They both met each other at the club playing cards. The man looked fascinating to the narrator. Edward introduced Lenny Burton to the narrator. Lenny was the best card player ever Edward had witnessed. He was a man around thirty-five. He was loved by many women.
Lenny Downfall
Lenny had a few bad habits that astray him away from success. He was wasting most of his prize money on drinks and other bad habits. His life slowly witnessed the downfall and soon Lenny became bankrupt. He was hopeless and needy. He was looking for a job. He approached Edward and asked for a job.
Edward asked Lenny about the skills except for playing cards. He informed him that once he was a swimmer. Edward sets a notice that he has to swim a river of three miles in one hour and fifteen minutes. Lenny was not ready for this task. His body was not healthy to tackle such a workload but he said yes.
Ending
The next time, Lenny came for the swimming. He died while swimming because of drinks that destroyed him. The story ends when the narrator is in shock. He always considered Edward a gentle and kind man, but his real personality shocked the narrator.
Literary Analysis
The main central point behind this story is never to judge based on looks or appearance. The narrator was impressed with the appearance, look, and style of Edward but his true nature shocked the author. He introduced the narrator to the hypocritical nature of society.
Edward had no job for Lenny. He knew Lenny’s physical condition but still allowed him to swim. He made fun of Lenny’s poverty.
Further, another great lesson from the story is that you never waste money freely. If we invest freely, our financial condition would be similar to Lenny’s.
Major Themes
- The major themes from the story are:
Hypocrisy
The narrator is shocked after finding the true color of Edward. He looked like a gentleman but was a bad guy who couldn’t help anyone.
Judgment
The narrator judged Edward on his looks but soon learned the lesson.
Saving Money
If Lenny had used his talent or skills effectively, he would have been a lucky man. Further, he wasted money and tolerated the results.
Lessons for Readers
This storybook provides the following lessons:
- We should never judge people on their looks.
- If someone asks you for help, do it.
- Try to save your money and use it effectively.
Conclusion: A Friend in Need By William Somerset Maugham
This article elaborated on A Friend in Need by William Somerset Maugham’s Summary and Analysis. The plot was about a man Edward who impressed the author. They both met at a club. Soon, the Author unveiled the hidden nature of Edward.
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