Maugham's "abnormal" Research

W.S.Maugham is a popular writer in the twentieth Century, Maugham is good atobserving and describing humanity. British writer J.Aldridge once said thatMaugham is obsessed by the abnormal phenomenon in people’s behavior.Indeed, thereare many "abnormal characters" appeared in Maugham’ s novels, some of thesecharacters is crazy in pursuing a ideal which is completely different from theordinary people; and some of these characters are twist, devil,insane andpsychotic, they are addicted to something or obsessed by something, etc. On thebasis of text reading, I have these abnormal characters classified In this paper,and analyses the abnormal characters, summarize the causes and the cultural andphilosophical meaning behind the image, then, summarize Maugham’s own experienceand his view of human nature. Besides the introduction and conclusion, this thesisis consists of three chapters.The introduction is based on the reorganizing on Maugham’s research, and thensuggests the view of the research and the significance and value of it.In chapter one, I will classify the "abnormal characters" group in Maugham’s novels. These "abnormal characters" will be divided into two classes:"irrationalvictim" and "the rebel”, then analyses and summarizes their features separately.The first section analyses“irrational victim”, they are irrational, devil, insaneand psychotic, almost end in failure. The second section analyzes the other kindof“abnormal characters”"the rebel", they take the initiative in rebelling socialconvention, and they pursue freedom and self worth, but suffered ridicule andrejection by the others.Chapter two will analyze philosophy and literary meaning of the "abnormalcharacters". Maugham is influenced by the prosperity of irrational thoughts innineteenth and twentieth Century. The first section analyzes “irrational victim”and Maugham’s own irrationality with irrational thoughts and Nietzsche,Schopenhauer’s theory analysis. The second section analyzes "the rebel" with alienation theory and Foucault’s "discipline" theory. The third section explainsthe "abnormal characters"’s features. Maugham focused on showing multiple andcontradiction human nature, this is“abnormal characters”’feature.Chapter three will analyze the causes and conclusion of Maugham’s explorationof the "abnormal characters", and through these characters and his own experiencehe summed up the view of human nature. The first section explains why Maugham alwaysfoucos on the "abnormal characters","abnormal characters" is similar to Maugham’sown personality, experience and thought,"abnormal characters" is Maugham himself.The second section analyzes Maugham’s "primitivism" tendency combined withMaugham’s own experiences and thoughts, Maugham thinks that the tool rationalityand human civilization will alienate humanity, and found his ideal human naturein the original natural space.