Tuesday, June 6, 2017
An Analysis of the Setting in Mr. Know All by W. Somerset Maugham
By : Elvera Yuniarsih
Abstract
In this paper, the writer tries to analyze “Mr. Know
All” by W. Somerset Maugham. The purpose of this writing is to analyze the setting
of this short story. The writer uses theory of setting and close reading
method. The short story consists of setting of time, setting of place, and
setting of social environment. To conclude, the setting is dominated by setting
of place.
1. Introduction
"Mr.
Know All "is written by W. Somerset Maugham. The main character is Mr. Max
Kelada who is known as Mr. Know All. The short story shows a message from the
debate between Mr. Kelada with Mr. Ramsay about the authenticity of the
necklace used by Mrs. Ramsay.
2. Theoretical Framework
Michael Meyer in his The Bedford Introduction to Literature
stated that,
“Setting is the context in which the action of story occurs. The major
elements of setting are the time place and social environment that frame the
characters. These elements establish the world in which the characters act.
Settings can be used to evoke a mood or atmosphere that will prepare the reader
for what is to come.” (1990:107).
The quotations above show that setting is consists of
setting of time, setting of place, and setting of social environment.
3. Research Object
The objects
of research in this paper consist of material and formal object. Material
object in this study is “Mr. Know All” by W. Somerset Maugham. Formal object of
this study is setting in the short story.
4. Biography of W. Somerset
Maugham
W. Somerset Maugham was born on January 25, 1874 and he
died on December 16, 1965. He is an English writer who since birth lived in
France. He lived for 91 years in luxury. He can be regarded as the highest-paid
writer in the 1930s.
5. Summary of “Mr. Know All”
The
short story shows that the narrator does not like Mr. Kelada at first because
he seems arrogant. There is a message from the debate between Mr. Kelada with
Mr. Ramsay about the authenticity of the necklace used by Mrs. Ramsay which
finally shows that Mr. Kelada is actually a good person. The moral of the story
is that we must not judge a book by its cover.
6.
Discussion
6.1 Setting of time
“One evening
at dinner the conversation by chance drifted to the subject of pearls.”
The
quotations above shows that this story occurs in the evening. The writers
thinks that W. Somerset Maugham choose
the evening time because the it is the perfect time to do dinner.
6.2 Setting of place
“It was bad
enough to share a cabin for fourteen days with anyone,.."
From
the quotations above, it shows that the setting takes place in the cabin
of the ship. It can be proved by the narrator who stating that he must share a
cabin or room with strangers for a fourteen days in the ship.
“I made my way into the smoking-room.”
From
the quotations above, it shows that the setting takes place in the smoking-room.
It can be proved by a statement where they met Mr. Ramsay for the first time
and then talked about the authenticity of the necklace from Mrs. Ramsay.
“We sat at the doctor's table.”
From
the quotations above, it shows that the setting takes place in the restaurant.
It can be proven by a statement where they sit at the doctor's table to have
dinner together and play cards afterwards.
“The story
spread over the ship as stories do,...”
From
the quotations above, it can be concluded that the story take place in the
ship. It can be proved by the narrator's journey which is mentioned at the
beginning of the story that he was crossing by ship from Europe to Japan.
6.3 Setting of social environment
“The war had just finished and the passenger traffic
in the ocean going liners was heavy.”
From
the quotations above, it can be concluded that this story happens in the era
after the World War. Therefore, accommodation for traveling became very
difficult to find. It is cause the people from different social classes placed
in one cabin, including the narrator and Mr. Kelada.
7. Conclusion
The analysis
of the setting can help the reader to have a deeper understanding about the
story. In this short story, W. Somerset Maugham using setting of
time which is happen in the evening, setting of place is at the cabin and
ship, and setting of social environment is the atmospehere after the World War
happens. The setting of places dominated the story line.
References
Meyer, Michael. 1990. The Bedford Introduction to Literature.
Second Edition. United States of America: Bedford Books of St. Martin’s Press.
Mr.
Know-All
(http://drnissani.net/mnissani/world/Mr%20Know-All.htm
accessed on June, 6 2017)
W.
Somerset Maugham
(https://www.britannica.com/biography/W-Somerset-Maugham
accessed on June, 6 2017)
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