THE SOCIAL SENSE, a Short Story by Somerset Maugham

In W. Somerset Maugham's "The Social Sense," the narrator reluctantly attends a dinner party at the Macdonalds', feeling burdened by the engagement. He arrives to find a large, formal gathering and is relieved to see familiar faces, particularly Mary Warton. Mary, once a renowned concert singer, now fifty-three and sharp-tongued, engages the guests with her wit and intelligence. Throughout the evening, the narrator observes the strained relationship between Mary and her husband, Thomas, a once-promising portrait painter.... won't reveal more here.

[@samsum3738]

Magnifecent . Thank you , an oasis in a mad world .

[@arthuroldale-ki2ev]

These audios of the great S. M. are just to good!

[@patsysmothermon7861]

I agree !! Too Good !!❤

[@winsomemargaretpienaar608]

What a treat to listen to these stories. So like real life. He had a gift of dissecting life situations.

[@58christiansful]

The best reader of Maugham’s on TH-cam.

[@helenamaria710]

AI unfortunately! 😂

[@58christiansful]

@@helenamaria710 Yes, I realized that when the French town Nice was pronounced as nice. But a finely -nuanced voice otherwise.

[@VickersDoorter]

The AI delivery is terrible. Flat, characterless and monotone. Nearly as bad as the gloopy AI graphic.

[@Grace.allovertheplace]

Thank you 🙏

[@stevegerth7044]

I enjoyed that. 😊

[@venetia6296]

Thank you! ✌️

[@Sassafras30]

A lovely sensitive story of feelings and love.

[@ellen823ful]

I’m just becoming familiar with Somerset. I’m reading 📖 Of Human Bondage and Summing Up
He and I think 🤔 alike.

[@JudeNance]

I was traded to my husband and he was given $100. It was loveless for too many years. My youngest son was the one who saved me by telling me that we must get out of this marriage. He was correct. 🎉

[@marysoldner5788]

Wow. Quite a life. God bless you.

[@kellym.9453]

What a joy🌬⛲️💙💦🥀🙏❣️✨️

[@Edo9River]

Makes me wonder if they were real people in Somerset’s environment 😮

[@Shineon83]

Of course they were; that man was the “head grape” on the grapevine….

[@Edo9River]

I went on Copilot searching various name combinations, historical contexts. Nothing, but then stepping back the Lord MountDrogo’s character is a trope. Just wish I knew which one.

[@JoanKentBible]

An anecdote relating some observations of Somerset Maugham's whilst living among real people with real human weaknessess, possibly. I think the image is brilliant. Congrats to the artist! 🎉

[@patriciamay6396]

Life is always so joyless in Maugham stories

[@chrisoneill3999]

Maugham specialises in characters who make the mistake of living in someone else' perception of them. Jean Paul Sartre called this 'le regard des autres', and most of his short stories (and Huis Clos) focus on it. But Maugham got there first, and did it better.

[@c.a.savage5689]

​@@chrisoneill3999Maugham also had the advantage of knowing he was not a well-known existentialist philosopher.

[@ruthojen]

@@c.a.savage5689 he didnt have to take himself so seriously

[@thecapn1000]

Oh yes they are real alright!

[@emmahardesty4330]

Another fine one (with hilarious AI illustration), thank you. This situation--marriage, truth, untruth, perseverance--not uncommon in our world. Maugham digs out everything in human nature.

[@bobbystewart9671]

Sounds like a true story.

[@mattneillninasmom]

Such a sad story, I couldn't help but think of two wasted lives and four miserable people!

[@EulerToiler]

Stuck in a loveless marriage is not a life. The kids, the finances, the social context appear to hold you fast. Children never respect a parent who doesn't love their life, all real wealth derives from self respect. Live your real life, leave the hollow pantomimes to life's losers, only they need them.

[@kauffrau6764]

There are many reasons a person would be stuck in a loveless marriage, and one can make a life of it if they choose to. People have overcome worse fates.

[@billdauphine951]

I'd never heard of this writer before a week ago... he's ,a little antiquated..but great !!

[@harbinger2838]

This writer is famous.

[@rheinhartsilvento2576]

Antiquated compared to what 😋?
He is of his time.
He is also, as an observer of human behavior across social classes and ethnic groups, beyond his time.
Like all good writers are...

[@dianal.clausen8118]

You're in for a treat. I envy you, just discovering him for the first time. Enjoy!

[@Nannas-cp5nd]

​@@rheinhartsilvento2576
Definitely!

[@maurizioferrante3585]

Antiquated? But he is a man of the XIX century, or the beginning of the XXth!

[@melodymacken9788]

Excellent.

[@VickersDoorter]

Somerset Mum😂 Ha, good old AI voice bot!

[@Failte630]

Yes, it's sad to hear AIs reading these and other great stories. They lack soul and feeling for the story and don't bring it alive like a good experienced narrator would. It's monotone.

[@SunnySmile-fr5yg]

@@Failte630 You can find human-read stories on other platforms, and pay for them.

[@user-wq7hw2ow9l]

What was the point of this story? A man who feels he is too good to bother with boring people at social events, a woman who cheats on her husband for years and doesn't love him because he is not a success, a husband who loves his wife who doesn't reciprocate and lives a life of torment rather than letting go? Is this a character study, or how not to live your life?

[@francislarv3012]

Agreed. Not one of Maugham’s best. Unlike the narrator, I went into this with higher hopes that were not quite realized. He had low expectations that were lifted in the event Oh well

[@britbyname3620]

the point id , it reflects true life …good or bad

[@carolcamp4828]

Somerset Mum??

[@maurizioferrante3585]

What is the point of Chekov novels, then?

[@ritar.7836]

Or Chekhov's plays or short stories?​@@maurizioferrante3585

[@PatriciaCarolan-yh8pq]

His intention

[@chrisoneill3999]

14:11

[@LazyIRanch]

WTH? Sounds like someone got goosed in the groin!😫