the theme greed in 'The Phantom luncheon'
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Saki uses satire to highlight idiosyncrasies of human behavior. In 'The Phantom Luncheon' the women, Lady Drakmanton and the three Simithly Dubbs, display a behavior quite awkward for their rank and status. Though unwillingly Lady Drakmanton agrees to her husband's proposal to have lunch with the sisters and be their host. Sir Drakmanton, as a politician wants them to be pleased so as to have their votes. Greed for votes compels him to convince his wife for something she doesn't like to. So, Lady Drakmanton connives to make Dubbs pay for the grand luncheon after they have a lavish multi-course lunch. She feigns short term memory loss and hiding her identity makes her invitees take the role of her hosts who invite her to dine at Carlton. The sisters also feel themselves well on the delicacies they won't afford if they were to pay for it. The luxury of dining for free would have been very different from what comes to them as an unnerving experience with Ellen Niggle (Lady Drakmanton in real). Their greed results in a set back they are not able to recover from. On the other hand the greed of Lady Drakmanton leads her to stoop to unethical ways which leave the reader questioning as well as amused.
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