The Kite By Somerset Maugham involves Herbert who was controlled by his mother. This story involves the complexities that are found in human psychology. The main character of the story went through difficulties in his relationship.
In this blog, I am going to elaborate following things:
- Author
- Characters
- Summary
- Analysis
- Themes
- Life Lessons
- Conclusion
Author
The Kite was written by William Somerset Maugham back in the 2nd century. He is popular among readers because of his amazing novels and short stories. I have reviewed many works of Somerset Maugham on my website. Some common are:
Characters
The reading involves the following characters:
Samuel Sunbury And Beatrice Sunbury
It’s a couple in the story. Mr.Sunbury lived with his wife Beatrice. They both had a son named Herbert.
Herbert
He is the main protagonist of the story. He is the only son of a Sunbury couple.
Betty Bevan
She was Herbert’s lover. The only thing that she disliked was Herbert’s addiction to kite flying.
The Kite By Somerset Maugham Summary
Somerset Maugham had portrayed the confused nature of Herbert in this storybook. The plot starts with Mr.Sunbury and his wife Beatrice. The couple had a son named Herbert. Mrs. Sunbury was very strict with her son. She controlled every aspect of his life. The author elucidated her as an obsessed mother. When Herbert turned 21 and got a job, she still controlled his spending, indicating he had little autonomy.
His father tried to talk about Herbert’s marriage but his mother rejected the suggestion. “Herbert needs to mature and reach the age of 35 before he can start his life, as that’s what she wants.” The family found pleasure in flying kites on Saturday. It was their therapy. Soon, Herbert fell in love with Betty. Her mother didn’t like Betty. Both women had a heated argument. Herbert left his parents and moved with Betty.
Betty left her job. This worsened their financial status. Their relationship went through ups and downs. Herbert tried to join kite flying but Betty disliked it. Their relationship collapsed when Betty tore Herbert’s kite. This angered Herbert and he stopped paying alimony to Betty.
She challenged it in court.The jufge sdend Herbert to prison.Herbert was delusional and enjoying his imprisonment, believing he had succeeded in his plan to avoid paying alimony to Betty.
Literary Analysis
This story was penned by Somerset Maugham when his friend told him such a story. It was about a man who was in prison just for refusing to pay dues to his wife. He was enjoying his revenge. His wife tore his kite and that’s why he stopped paying alimony.
If we read this literary work, we will see the dominance of Herbert’s mother on him. She expected her son to follow her. She wanted him to act according to her suggestions. She seems a possessive women. She didn’t want her son to move far from them. Moreover, she expected that Herbert would fly kites with them till the end.
On the other side, Betty was the opposite. She didn’t like kite flying. This led to her breakup with Herbert. It looks like Herbert was stuck between two women. He wanted to make both happy but it was not possible for him.
Themes Explored
The major themes are:
Confusion
The author portrayed Herbert as a confused man. He was confused in choosing sides. On one side, he had his mother while the other side was occupied by his lover.
Human Nature
This work sheds light on the human psyche.His mother influenced Herbertr. She groomed him in a way that both had a deep bond.
Hobby
Kite flying was a hobby of the Sunbury family. They enjoyed it on weekends.
Symbolism
Herbert loved kite flying. This activity was developed because of his parents. “The act of flying a kite symbolizes Herbert’s fondness and devotion towards his mother.” He challenged Betty who disapproved of his hobby.
Life Lessons
This story offers the following informative lessons:
- It is important to maintain our individuality and not let go of our personality.
- We must know how to make our decisions.
- We can solve our problems with discussion.
Conclusion: Somerset Maugham’s The Kite
The Kite By Somerset Maugham explores themes like complexities in human nature. The story was written by Maugham after listening to one of her friends. The plot was about a man Herbert who was in jail. He enjoyed it as he believed he was getting revenge on his wife.
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