Line By Line Explanation Of Somerset Maugham’s The Kite

Posted on September 8, 2023 at 10:15 pm in Explanations, Others 0 Comments

“He left his wife and the court ordered him to pay so much a week in alimony and he is absolutely refused to pay it. I have argued with him till I was blue in the face.”

These lines have been taken from ‘THE KITE’ a remarkable English short story written by William Somerset Maugham. Maugham occupies a significant place in the realm of modern short stories writers. Here, he tries to give explanation of the abnormal conduct of Herbert Sunbury. Betty Bevan is the wife of Herbet Sunbury. She couldn’t encourage kite flying. Herbert Sunbury was, very found of kite flying. That is why kite flying is his wild crage. To give up kite flying would be to deny himself freedom and adventure. His wife dislikes it. Herbert Sunbury reacted violently against his wife, when she smashed his kite. In these lines Herbert felt it seriously and left his wife. Further, she complained to a magistrate who ordered Herbert to give weekly money to his deserted wife. But he did not comply to the order. At the same time, Herbert did not give any money to his wife as was instructed by the magistrate. At last he would be sent to jail. Then he thrill in life. Here he inherited his father’s blue eyes.

These lines are remarkable because they give us an insight into the atmosphere of the mind of Herbert Sunbury. The language of Maugham is highly imaginative and forceful. It deals with the complication of human nature.

Evil communication corrupt good manners; she said. I always have kept myself to myself and I always shall keep myself to myself.”

These lines occur in ‘THE KITE’ written by Somerset Maugham. Maugham occupies a significant place in the realm of modern short story writers. Here, he deals with the development of the amorous relationship of Herbert with Betty Beva, leading to hasty marriage. Mrs. Sunbury, the mother of Herbert Sunbury is the speaker of these lines. She was an obstinate and silly woman. She had no psychological insight into child development. Thus, Mrs. Sunbury did not allow her son Herbert to play the children in the street. She said that Evil communication corrupts good manners. She did not like Herbert being thrown into contact with a lot of rough boys at the school. Mrs. Sunbury taught her son to table manners and use knife and fork to eat dishes. She has always kept herself to this bad communication.

These lines are remarkable because they give us the complication of human nature. The language of Sommerset Maugham here, is highly forceful and imaginative..

Perhaps it gives him a sense of power as he watches it soaring towards the cloud……….it were an escape from the monotony of life.

These lines form the part of “THE KITE’ written by Somerset Maugham. Maugham occupies a significant place in the realm of modern English short story writers. In these lines, he is trying to give explanation of the abnormal conduct of Herbert Sunbury. Herbert is the central character of this story. Mrs. Sunbury the mother of Herbert Sunbury presented his son kite on his birthday. Thus, kite-flying became passion with Herbert. As he grew older, his mother bought him larger kite. Sometimes he challenged another kite flyer. He would move his kite to wind ward and become very happy. Whenever his kite sears high in the sky he thinks that the wind of heaven to his will. He devoted his whole attention to kite flying. Here, he compares his kite and boast of his accomplishment. It is an escape from the monotony of life.

These are the important lines because they give us an insight into the atmosphere of the mind of Herbert. The language of Maugham here is highly forceful and imaginative.

Mrs. Sunbury, disapproving of her make up………first things went well.

The above mentioned lines have been taken from the short story entitled “The Kite’ written by W. Somerset Maugham. Through these lines the story writer gives us an insight into the inner being of Mrs. Sunbury by the way she reacts at the sight of luxuriously dressed Miss Betty Bevan.

Mrs. Sunbury and Miss, Betty Bevan hails from two different culture having different perspective about the way of life. Mrs. Sunbury being a simple lady, believes in simple living. She wears informal dresses and does not use cosmetic articles to make her physical appearance attractive and charming. On the other hand Miss Betty Bevan is very luxurious in her taste for dress and physical look. She wears modern thinking and her choice for dress and physical look is in accordance with her age and mentality.

Also Read :

When Miss Betty appears before Mrs. Sunbury in luxurious dress and lavished use of cosmetics, she grew an instant dislike for the girl. But she remains cool and behaves sensibly because belonging to a culture of value she knows that if she doesn’t behave well nobody else can. But internally she burns with jealousy because she apprehends that the gorgeous and luxurious looking Betty may snatch her son away from her.

These remarkable lines serves two purposes at a time-first gives information about the likes and dislikes of Mrs. Sunbury and second gives a rare opportunity to the reader to keep into her heart to know that she is not what she looks outwardly..

On principle the Sunburys were total abstainers……a glass of beer.

The above mentioned satiric and humorous lines have been taken from the short story entitled “The Kite’ written by Somerset Maugham. Through these lines the story writer tells us about some peculiar habits of the Sunbury family in order to disclose how their actions differ from what they say.

The author says that in principal the Sunbury were total abstainers. But their Sundays were festive occasions for them but they spent the rest of the week in a simple way. Rather charitable on Sundays, making up for the frugal lunches in order to allow a rich food to the family which consisted of roasted beef and Yorkshire pudding. She went a step further and even allowed them to have a glass of beer. It is really ridiculous because the Sunbury were total abstainers. On principle they took neither meat nor drink but in practice they make a little departure from their set principles. They took even meat and drink on Sundays. Giving the reason for this disparity between principle and practice the author says that Mrs. Sunbury wanted to make up for the economised lunches on the week days. The Sunbury did not mind the discrepancy involved in their act. They just did what they liked as if to suggest that principles were made for men and not men for principles.

These lines are remarkable because they add to the interest of reading story and pleases the mind of readers with the touch of humor.

He no longer bothered to have contests………fortune flyers.

Taken from the short story “The Kite’ written by Somerset Maugham, these lines refer to Herbert Sunbury’s kite-flying passion and the excellence he has achieved in it.

The author says that in course of time Herbert Sunbury had acquired such a mastery in the art of kite-flying that none could excel him. He had beaten all his rivals and there was none to challenge him. He was no longer worried about any of his rivals in this field. A superb kite flyer, Herbert took delight in flying kites on Saturdays afternoons. These were the moments of his glories. When Herbert saw others admiring his rare skill he felt glorified The standers were greatly impressed by his art and even felt jealous of him. But Herbert felt elated. He was pleased to arouse a sense of jealousy in the heart of the standers by his rare skill.

These lines written in simple language tell us about Herbert’s addiction of kite flying who had surrendered himself completely to this habit. He was so much under the domination of the kite flying passion that he ruined his life.

But On Sundays when he went to the chapel……..the pubs opened.

These lines have been taken from the short story “The Kite’ written by Somerset Maugham. Through these lines the story writer tells us about Mrs. Sunbury who had some special traits.

Besides being a serious worker and a sensible head of his family. Mr. Sunbury was a man of religious convictions, too. On every Sunday he used to go to church with his wife, Mr. Sunbury was particular about his dress for attending the church: He did not dress negligently. He wanted to show on discourtesy to religion and would not trifle with the idea of church going. That’s why he dressed splendidly. He wore his morning court and bowler hat. Mr. Sunbury did not like people who want to attend the church on bicycle because in his opinion going to church on bicycle was an ungodly act. He also did not like people who lounged about the streets before the opening of the public houses. Thus, Mr. Sunbury was a self disciplined person. He believed in doing things without violating their norms. The language is simple. There is no distortion of ideas anywhere.

Herbert Sunbury was his name, and his mother…..her foot down family.

These lines occur in Somerset Maugham’s short story ‘The Kite”. Through these lines the story writer introduces Mrs. Sunbury. Mrs. Sunbury was the mother of Herbert Sunbury. She was a refined lady. She did not like short name as people normally do. Therefore, she always called his son by his real name. She never allowed him to be called Herb or Bertie. She followed this part of the culture rigidly. So, she did not even call her husband Sam’. She called him Samuel. Mrs. Sunbury’s Girl name was Beatrice. When she got married Mr. Sunbury, he once called her Bea. But she reacted sharply and opposed him against her calling in such unrefined language.

These lines are remarkable because it tell us about strange notions of culture followed by some people. Such a notion is based on a particular whim of preconception. Mrs. Sunbury was, infact, a complacent lady and her conception of culture was based on frivolities of manners.