Comment on Somerset Maugham’s narrative
style with reference to “The Lotus Eater”.
Answer: An intrusive narrator is a common device in many
18th and 19th century novels.One who interrupts the story to
provide a commentary to the reader on some aspect of the
story or on a more general topic is called an intrusive narrator. In Somerset
Maugham's story 'The Lotus Eater' we get such an example of narrative intrusion
when the narrator describes his purpose of writing the story. It is the
extraordinary life of Wilson whose life is not like a tram car. It is
exceptional. This narrative intrusion in the opening of the novel makes the
rest of the story redundant. The intrusion is a kind of prologue to the story.
It guides the readers about the purpose of the story. But there is another type
of narrative intrusion also. The Fly of Katherine Mansfield contains one. The
omniscient narrator in this story comments that Woodifield clings to the
last pleasures of life, as trees cling to their last leaves. This is a comment
on the character of Woodifield. Such comments help the readers understand the characters
better. But at the same time such comments prevent the readers from
thinking in their own way. The writer intrudes upon their way of thinking. This
affects the aesthetic autonomy of fiction.
