The Luncheon is a short storybook that explores themes of humor and fun. The story is all about the encounter of the author with a middle-aged woman on lunch. She said that she doesn’t eat much but the extravagant cost shocked the author.
Overview
In this article, you’ll learn:
- Author
- Characters Sketch
- Summary
- Analysis
- Themes
- Pros & Cons
- Conclusion
Author
The Luncheon was written by William Somerset Maugham. He was a famous British novelist. One can find themes of human nature, social complexities, and relationships in his works.
Characters: The Luncheon
The story has two characters:
Narrator
He is a major character. He narrates his meeting with the women twenty years before. He saw her again after a long time in a different shape.
The Women
She was a fan of the narrator’s writings. She requested him to meet her. The author met him at an expensive restaurant. Her eating habits shocked the narrator.
The Luncheon Summary And Analysis
Author Lifestyle
The story starts with the lifestyle of the author. He lived in a house and afford his living by writing. One day, he received a letter from one of her fans. She was a huge fan of the author’s writing & wanted to meet him. She added in the letters that she’ll meet him when she comes to France. They must have lunch at Fayot. It is an expensive restaurant in France.
The author had eighty francs. He calculated that lunch was going to cost around fifteen francs. He will manage his expenses after lunch by reducing coffee consumption.
Meeting
The lady entered the restaurant on Thursday. The author received her. She wasn’t attractive to the author. He asked her what she’d like for lunch. She said she would not eat more than one thing at a time and would eat less.
Food Orders
She ordered salmon fish while the narrator ordered mutton chops for himself as they were cheap. After she finished the fish, she ordered white champagne. She was eating as well as talking about art at the same time. The author was thinking about the bill all the time. She ordered asparagus afterward. Then, she ate peaches and ice cream. She even said author that try to eat less heavy food like her.
Ending
In the end, the waiter handed the bill to the narrator. It was a total of 77 francs. The author paid three francs as a tip. He afterward spent a month with difficulty. The story ends when the author sees that lady after 20 years and it makes him happy that he got revenge as the lady was now weighing up to one hundred and thirty kilos.
The Luncheon Analysis
William had shared the humorously eating habits of the middle class. Women said she would not eat more than one thing but her eating style amazed the author. Further, readers would laugh when women told the author to have a healthy eating habits.
Further, the author thought that the women would be young and beautiful but the reality was different. This idea lesson that sometimes outward appearances may be deceiving.
The Luncheon Themes
What are the main themes in The Luncheon? The story explores the following themes:
Social Class & Wealth
The story explores the difference between social classes and their behavior towards money. The author was the one who spent money on care while the woman was unconcerned about bills.
Humor
The way the author described the characters of women surely makes readers enjoy this book.
Reality is Different
The author’s hopes shattered when he saw women. He learned that reality is the opposite of appearances.
Personal Integrity
Although, the narrator wasn’t wealthy still he still treated his guest well. This element defines his integrity.
Review:
Overall, the story was funny and can be helpful for readers. Some of the important aspects are:
Pros
This story explores:
- Humor
- Fantastic themes of materialism.
- Simple writing style
Cons
- Limited depth of story
- Food names are complex for some readers
- Overall, it relies on readers’ taste
Conclusion: The Luncheon Summary And Analysis
In a nutshell, the luncheon is all about the meeting of the author with women who loved his work. She proclaimed that she must have a soft meal but her eating style amazed the author. Overall, the story had fascinated many readers. You can share your feedback with us in the comments.
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FAQS
What is the character sketch of the lady in The Luncheon?
The author narrated that she looked around 130 kilos after twenty years. This was because of her eating habits. When the author met her for the first time, he found her unattractive having big teeth.
What is the main lesson in The Luncheon by William Somerset Maugham?
The story has a central message of social differences in a funny tone.