comment on narrator's interaction and perception of tom.
Answers
In The Ant and the Grasshopper by W. Somerset Maugham we have the theme of justice, trust, fear, morality, embarrassment, happiness and struggle. Taken from his Collected Short Stories collection the story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the reader realises that Maugham may be exploring the theme of justice or rather the lack of it. George Ramsey has worked all his life and has set aside some money to provide for his retirement. He has been diligent and astute unlike his brother Tom. However rather than being satisfied that he will have a peaceful retirement George can’t believe that Tom has inherited a half a million pounds. There is a sense that George feels as though there has been an injustice done. It is very much the ant (George) versus the grasshopper (Tom). Just as the grasshopper made no provisions for the winter. Tom too made no provisions for his future though he still appears to have landed on his feet. The narrator’s reaction to Tom’s success in life is also interesting as it mirrors his feelings towards the ant. Whether it is insensitive of the narrator to laugh there is no disputing that he likes and supports Tom Ramsey. Something that is noticeable by the fact that the narrator attends dinners with Tom. If anything the narrator has been true throughout the story favouring the grasshopper over the ant.