"Theatre" by W. S. Maugham. Chapter 14

TASKS for Chapter 14

I.       Find in the text the following words and phrases and translate them into Russian:

on one excuse and another to confess to oneself that was all to the good shrewd vanity to have an affair with sb. sallow to feel compassion for sb. eminent persons to lay no claims on sb. to use all her arts of cajolery stale food to overcome one's scruples to find someone a trifle dull to have no inclination a man of the world she was modest about herself a smack in the face sulkily Julia's heart was wrung chivalrous courtesy a vile disposition alacrity wistful to act with great naturalness to make a scene she was in a black rage she'd get even with him to rack one's brains

под разными предлогами признаваться себе это было всем на пользу проницательный тщеславие иметь дело с кем-либо болезненный чувствовать сострадание к к-л выдающиеся люди не предъявлять претензий к-л использовать все ее искусство лести несвежая еда преодолеть сомнения считать кого-то мелочным занудой не иметь никакой склонности светский человек она была скромна в суждениях о себе пощечина мрачно Сердце Джулии сжалось галантная любезность мерзкое расположение живость задумчивый действовать с большой естественностью устраивать сцену она была в черной ярости она бы ужались и с ним ломать голову

II.     

1.         Was Julia really in love with Tom Fennell? And he?

Yes, she was: “It was not till after that night when they had first supped together that Julia confessed to herself that she had fallen in love with Tom. It came to her as a shock. But she was exhilarated.” “she knew very well that Tom was not in love with her. To have an affair with her flattered his vanity.”

2.         How old was Tom? What did he do? Why was he a success with women?

He was 22 years old:“since he was seventeen he had had a great many women. He loved the act rather than the person. He looked upon it as the greatest lark in the world. And she could understand why he had so much success. There was something appealing in his slightness, his body was just skin and bone, that was why his clothes sat on him so well, and something charming in his clean freshness. His shyness and his effrontery combined to make him irresistible. It was strangely flattering for a woman to be treated as a little bit of fluff* that you just tumbled on to a bed.”

3.         How can you characterize Roger? Where was he educated? What were his relations like with his parents? Did he know what he wanted to be? Did he want to go on the stage?

He was 17 and he was educated, as he attended Eton college:“Roger was seventeen. He was a nice-looking boy, with reddish hair and blue eyes, but that was the best you could say of him. He had neither his mother's vivacity and changing expression nor his father's beauty of feature. Julia was somewhat disappointed in him. As a child when she had been so constantly photographed with him he was lovely. He was rather stolid now and he had a serious look. Really when you came to examine him his only good features were his teeth and his hair. Julia was very fond of him, but she could not but find him a trifle dull. When she was alone with him the time hung somewhat heavily on her hands. She exhibited a lively interest in the things she supposed must interest him, cricket and such like, but he did not seem to have much to say about them. She was afraid he was not very intelligent.”  

Roger didn’t accept what his parents did, he was a really good boy.

 “He told Julia at once that he desired to leave Eton at Christmas, he thought he had got everything out of it that he could, and he wanted to go to Vienna for a few months and learn German before going up to Cambridge. Michael had wished him to go into the army, but this he had set his face against. He did not yet know what he wanted to be. Both Julia and Michael had from the first been obsessed by the fear that he would go on the stage, but for this apparently he had no inclination.”

4.         How did Tom and Roger get on together?

They spent much time together, they were peers and had much in common.

5.         Was Julia as successful in the movies as in the theatre? Did she envy the film-stars?

“At one time people had compared her unfavourably with some actress or other who at the moment enjoyed the public favour, but now no one disputed her supremacy. It was true that she had not the world-wide notoriety of the film-stars; she had tried her luck on the pictures, but had achieved no success; her face on the stage so mobile and expressive for some reason lost on the screen, and after one trial she had with Michael's approval refused to accept any of the offers that were from time to time made her. She had got a good deal of useful publicity out of her dignified attitude. But Julia did not envy the film-stars; they came and went; she stayed.”

6.         Describe in detail how Julia managed to play different characters on the stage. What thrilled her? Why did she sometimes fell like God?

“The critics admired her variety. They praised especially her capacity for insinuating herself into a part. She was not aware that she deliberately observed people, but when she came to study a new part vague recollections surged up in her from she knew not where, and she found that she knew things about the character she was to represent that she had had no inkling of. It helped her to think of someone she knew or even someone she had seen in the street or at a party; she combined with this recollection her own personality, and thus built up a character founded on fact but enriched with her experience, her knowledge of technique and her amazing magnetism. People thought that she only acted during the two or three hours she was on the stage; they did not know that the character she was playing dwelt in the back of her mind all day long, when she was talking to others with all the appearance of attention, or in whatever business she was engaged.”

“She could step into a part, not a very good one perhaps, with silly words to say, and by her personality, by the dexterity which she had at her finger-tips, infuse it with life. There was no one who could do what she could with a part. Sometimes she felt like God.”

7.         How did Julia revenge herself on Tom?

She left the money in the envelop.

“She got the Dennorants to come for the week-end. Charles Tamerley was staying at Henley and accepted an invitation to come over for Sunday and bring his host, Sir Mayhew Bryanston, who was Chancellor of the Exchequer. To amuse him and the Dennorants, because she knew that the upper classes do not want to meet one another in what they think is Bohemia, but artists of one sort or another, she asked Archie Dexter, her leading man, and his pretty wife who acted under her maiden name of Grace Hardwill. She felt pretty sure that with a marquess and marchioness to hover round and a Cabinet Minister to be impressed by, Tom would not go off to play golf with Roger or spend the afternoon in a punt. In such a party Roger would sink into his proper place of a schoolboy that no one took any notice of, and Tom would see how brilliant she could be when she took the trouble.”

She also gave him money to pay servants to hint that he hadn’t got enough money.

III. Make up a list of words and phrases describing Tom Fennell. Comment on the repetition of "a young man" in the text. First "he was a blushing young man" for Julia. Did her attitude change when she was better acquainted with him? Prove it by giving examples from the text.

Her attitude changed. His young age attracted her.

("My God, I wish it could have choked them.")

“Selfish, stupid and common, that's what he was. She almost wished he wasn't going tomorrow so that she could have the pleasure of turning him out bag and baggage.”

“That showed what a fool he was. You would have thought he'd have some gratitude. Why, the very clothes he had on she'd paid for. That cigarette-case he was so proud of, hadn't she given him that? And the ring he wore. My God, she'd get even with him. Yes, and she knew how she could do it. She knew where he was most sensitive and how she could most cruelly wound him.”

IV. Find in the text epithets and similes which characterize Julia and Michael and say what effect the author achieves by using them.

Julia : she was exhilarated; looked very pretty and young; Julia was irritated; Julia, radiant, sank back into a chair;

Similes: she lapped them up as a kitten laps up milk.; She read his mind like an open book.

Michael: so damned good-natured about it; Michael was prosy, near with his money, self-complacent, but how extraordinarily kind he was and how unselfish! He was devoid of envy.

Julia and Michael are a binary opposition. The author uses these epithets and similes to demonstrate their strange and different nature which each of them have.

V. What stylistic device did Maugham employ at large to characterize Julia? Illustrate your answer with the examples from the text. Comment on the lexicon used by Julia. To what stylistic layer of the vocabulary does it belong? How does it characterize Julia?

("Bloody fool, bloody fool")

"If I haven't cooked Roger's goose I'll eat my hat," she thought

"Idiots!" she said to herself crossly.

("I must keep my temper. I must keep my temper. Why was I such a fool as to give him a racing punt?")

("Blast his eyes. No, I mustn't show I mind. Thank God, I can act.")

("Lucky I'm a good actress.")

SD: parenthesis (introduction to her inner world).

She used vulgarisms. It characterizes her as an impatient woman, she can control herself outside, but her inner world is impatient.

VI. Give a summary of chapter 14. (in written form)

Julia’ s family and Tom spent time together in the villa in the countryside. Tom and Roger found much in common. Julia didn’t like Tom’s attitude to her, as he didn’t spent time with her and treated her as the mother of his friend. She didn’t want to lose Tom, but at the same time she wanted to revenge him. 

"THEATRE" by W. S. Maugham (Chapters 11-13)

I.       Find the following words and phrases in the text and translate them into Russian:

a profound contempt to have first nights to be exemplary a pattern of conjugal fidelity to separate be ingenuous to cry almost at will common sense to elope with sb. Preposterous curtain calls prudish in for a penny in for a pound this was all a put-up job indecent in a flash to take liberties with sb. a matinee amiably well-chosen words to have no sequel to erase the episode from her memory pleasant reveries sauntered through her mind hectic flush to see in the flesh to hurt one's pride to have an inkling to pawn

глубокое презрение премьерные показы быть достойным подражания образец супружеской верности отделяться быть бесхитростным кричать  по своему желанию, усмотрению здравый смысл тайно сбежать с кем-либо нелепый вызовы актёра ; выходы на поклон ханжеский, излишне щепетильный за пенс за фунт это была заранее заданная схема неприличный в один миг, в мгновение ока позволять себе вольности с к-л дневной спектакль дружелюбно хорошо подобранные слова не иметь никакого продолжения стереть эпизод из ее памяти приятная мечтательность крутилась у нее в голове чахоточный румянец видеть во плоти ранить гордость иметь подозрение заложить

II.      Answer the following questions:

1.         How did Julia and Lord Tamerly get acquainted? Was Julia his mistress? What did Julia owe to Charles Tamerly?

“Charles Tamerley’s  father, the Marquess of Dennorant, had married an heiress and he had inherited a considerable fortune. Julia often went to the luncheon parties he was fond of giving at his house in Hill Street. There she got acquainted with Lord Tamerly. Julia wasn’t his mistress. He loved her but she didn’t.

“In those days Julia did not think it necessary to go to bed in the afternoons, she was as strong as a horse and never tired, so he used often to take her for walks in the Park. She felt that he wanted her to be a child of nature. That suited her very well. It was no effort for her to be ingenuous, frank and girlishly delighted with everything. He took her to the National Gallery, and the Tate, and the British Museum, and she really enjoyed it almost as much as she said. He liked to impart information and she was glad to receive it. She had a retentive memory and learnt a great deal from him. If later she was able to talk about Proust and Cezanne with the best of them, so that you were surprised and pleased to find so much culture in an actress, it was to him she owed it.”

2.         Describe Julia's acting when Lord Tamerly declared his love to her. How can you prove that it was only make-believe?

“Then Julia did a disgraceful thing. She sat down and for a minute looked silently at the miniature. Timing it perfectly, she raised her eyes till they met Charles's. She could cry almost at will, it was one of her most telling accomplishments, and now without a sound, without a sob, the tears poured down her cheeks. With her mouth slightly open, with the look in her eyes of a child that has been deeply hurt and does not know why, the effect was unbearably pathetic.”

Julia felt exhilarated. She is an actress and she only plays her role, she is an actress even in life.

3.         Why do you think Julia agreed to have tea with the young man? What was his name? Did Julia know it or not?

He was so young and she saw and imagined herself as a young. It was rather delicious for her that this young man tried to create an impression on her. His name was Tom. She didn’t know his name.

4.         Was the young man as shy as he seemed to be?

Firstly, he was shy.”He seemed shy, much shyer than he had seemed over the telephone “ .But then he wasn’t.

5.         How did he show his admiration for Julia?

He phoned her and offered her tea with a biscuit. Then he began to kiss her. “He put his arm round her waist and kissed her full on the lips. No woman was ever more surprised in her life. She was so taken aback that she never thought of doing anything. His lips were soft and there was a perfume of youth about him which was really rather delightful.” He was emphatically (настойчтв).

6.         What feelings did Julia experience after the date with the young man? How did she act after that? How old was Julia at that time? What's your opinion of Julia's behaviour?

She was extremely happy, it was a new adventure for her. Her eyes shone brightly and wonderfully. "I feel like a two-year-old.“

“Julia acted as though it was the first time. Her performance was brilliant. She got laughs that she had never got before. She always had magnetism, but on this occasion it seemed to flow over the house in a great radiance." She was 40 year old.

Your surrounding always reflects on you. She can’t refuse to Tom. She remembered her previous life and how happy she was. Her husband didn’t give her that passion and love that Tom gave. But she is older him and it is wrong to my mind to have an affair with him.

7.         Describe the episode of Julia's adventure on the train to Cannes. What was Julia's attitude towards this accident? Give quotations from the text and comment on them. What do you think of this adventure?

The trains south were so crowded that she had not been able to get a sleeper. One man, Spaniard, offers her his place. She agreed. They had a conversation, but that man didn’t want to leave her. When they began to say goodbye, the man kissed Julie and they had an affair. She didn’t want to sleep with him. But his beard attracted her.

-"He can hardly expect me to ask him to come and sleep in here," Julia said to herself. "I'm beginning to think this was all a put-up job. Nothing doing, my lad." And then aloud. "Romantic, of course, but uncomfortable."   Her thoughts are right at first. She understands how she mustn’t act. But her actions are so different from her thoughts. She yielded to temptation.

-"If you think that because you've given up your compartment to me I'm going to let you sleep with me, you're mistaken."

"Just as you say, of course. But why not?"

"I'm not that sort of terribly attractive woman."

"What sort of woman are you then?"

"A faithful wife and a devoted mother."

He gave a little sigh.

"Very well. Then I'll say good night to you."  She quietly told about the man’s wish, she understood that many men wanted her. But she couldn’t think that she could sleep with a stranger.

"But as time passed Julia's indignation was mitigated, and she had often thought of the adventure since with a good deal of pleasure. After all it had been fun.”  She perceived all this as an adventure. As she didn’t make something terrible. On the one hand, she had the right because her husband didn’t give her passion. He loved only himself. On the other hand, she is married. She must save her condition. I think she was wrong. It isn’t proper to sleep with a stranger, especially she is married. Moreover, she thought bad about such women, but anyway slept with that man.

8.         When did Julia see Tom Fennell again? Under what circumstances?

Tom called her and they agreed upon to meet in the theater

9.         What do you think attracted Julia to Tom? How old was he?

“But when she saw him, so slight, with his hectic flush and his blue eyes, so charmingly boyish, she felt a sudden pang.” He was about 18. As her son Roger was seventeen . “she  was old enough to be his mother.”

10.       Why do you think Tom was interested in grand people?

They were so bright, beautiful and famous. They can do everything. He wants to be like they.

11.       Do you approve or disapprove of Julia's love affair with Tom Fennell?

I disapprove her actions. It is ridiculous to my mind at her age to meet with so young man.

III. Make up a list of words and phrases which the author uses to show Julia's attitude towards Tom Fennell. Comment on their semantics and stylistic value.

 “She was troubled. It seemed to her that her voice did not sound quite natural.("What the devil's the matter with me? God, I can hardly breathe.")”   Her interior monologue helps to see her emotional experience, how she is afraid of her feelings.

("I'm a fool. I'm a bloody fool.") the repetition of the word “fool” strengthen her fear to him.

“kissed him as passionately”

 “She could have taken him in her arms then and there and kissed his blue eyes. She adored him.”

She has contradictory feelings. Her mind and her soul think differently. When she is without Tom, she understands all her consequences, she thinks reasonably. But at his present her exciting and loving feelings to him win.

IV. The author uses a number of theatrical allusions. Find them in the text and say what you know about them. (Consult the Oxford Guide to British and American Culture or any other culture dictionary).

Siddons- was a Welsh actress, the best-known tragedienne of the 18th century.

Ellen Terry- was an English stage actress who became the leading Shakespearean actress in Britain.

Farquhar - was an Irish dramatist. He is noted for his contributions to late Restoration comedy, particularly for his plays The Recruiting Officer (1706) and The Beaux' Stratagem (1707).

Goldsmith- was an Anglo-Irish novelist, playwright and poet, who is best known for his novel The Vicar of Wakefield (1766), his pastoral poem The Deserted Village (1770), and his plays The Good-Natur'd Man (1768) and She Stoops to Conquer (1771, first performed in 1773).

Alfred de Musset. - was a French dramatist, poet, and novelist.[1][2] Along with his poetry, he is known for writing La Confession d'un enfant du siècle (The Confession of a Child of the Century, autobiographical) from 1836

Clairon- French actress, whose real name was Clair Josèphe Hippolyte Leris, was born at Condé-sur-l'Escaut, Hainaut, the daughter of an army sergeant.

Bal de l'Opera

Verlaine-  Paul-Marie Verlaine (French pronunciation: [vɛʁˈlɛn]; 30 March 1844 – 8 January 1896) was a French poet associated with the Symbolist movement. He is considered one of the greatest representatives of the fin de siècle in international and French poetry.

Madame Recamier - known as Juliette (French pronunciation: [ʒy.ljɛt]), was a French society leader, whose salon drew Parisians from the leading literary and political circles of the early 19th century.

V. In chapter 11 you can find the following phrase: "... like Venus rising from the waves." What is the source of this allusion? Comment on it and its stylistic effect.

“Julia tore off her clothes, and flung them with ample gestures all over the room. Then, stark naked, she skipped on to the bed, stood up on it for a moment, like Venus rising from the waves, and then throwing herself down stretched herself out.”

Venus is the second planet from the Sun. The planet is named after the Roman goddess of love and beauty. After the Moon, it is the brightest natural object in the night sky.  Julie is full of love and beauty. Tom makes her to feel younger than she is.

VI. Give a summary of chapters 11-13. (in written form)

Julia recollected her love affairs. A young man Tom, who admired Julia, insisted on the meet with the actress and invited her to have a cup of tea.  She agreed. Then in his flat they had their love affair for the first time. After that she remembered one Spaniard, with whom she had a fleeting affair in the train some years ago. Soon, Julia and Tom met again in the theater. Thus, Julia understood that she loved Tom and couldn’t refuse him. Shortly after, Tom invited Julia to the restaurant and after their supper they went to his flat one more time.