Humor in "The Luncheon"

Humor is something that is funny, comical, or amusing. There are many types of humor, and what appears humorous to one person may not be humorous to another. Humor can also describe as a mood or a state of mind. Which we found in Somerset Maugham’s short story “The Luncheon” that derives from the fact that the narrator is trying to appear sophisticated, urbane and gallant, whereas he really can’t afford to be entertaining this woman in such an expensive restaurant as Foyot’s. He feels relieved initially because she tells him, “I never eat anything for luncheon, “ and then he is appalled when she orders some of the most expensive items and she does not even think a bit about the costs the speaker would have to pay for the lunch.

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Central Message – APPEARANCE VS. REALITY

         While “The Luncheon” is certainly a light and amusing story the narrator tells of a past experience, a message can also be found in the story and it is called APPEARANCE VS. REALITY

         The speaker, in 'Luncheon', wishes from the beginning that his date would be a beautiful woman. He imagines a portrayal of a graceful lady in his mind. But, when he goes to have a lunch with her, she appears as a surprising blast, a total opposite to his imagination. Not only her appearance but also her dialogues express that she is an extremely fat, food-loving and ravenous woman who does not even think a bit about the costs the speaker would have to pay for the lunch. She has a very good appetite and gobbles a lot of money also. The most interesting part is the verbal irony hidden in the lines she utters to the speaker like she does not eat too much etc. The irony concealed in her speeches helps to develop the main theme. These ironies make 'Luncheon' a comic story in the true sense.

        The lesson that can be found in the humorous short story is that flattery and pride hamper the young man’s ability to be truthful with his guest. Instead of explaining his financial situation, he allows her to continue to order expensive items from the menu. The narrator expresses his pleasure in seeing the woman after twenty years and realizing she has gained a substantial amount of weight.

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Irony in "The Luncheon"

Irony

Irony is a figure of speech in which words are used in such a way that their intended meaning is different from the actual meaning of the words.

Use of Irony in the story: 

First of all, I'd like to say some words about the title of the text "The Luncheon". The title of the text is rather ironical. If we consult a dictionary, we can find out that the word "luncheon" means a "light snack", but as we can see hereinafter a light snack turns to be an abundant and expensive meal. 

Secondly, In the letter the lady flattered the writer in such a way that she is very interested on his writing. But actually it is not.

Thirdly, this is a dramatic irony. It is based on the strong contrast between what the woman keeps saying and what she actually does. The narrator is fooled into taking the woman to the expensive Foyot's restaurant because he thinks she is telling the truth when she says, "I never eat anything for luncheon.

And at the same time, Maugham, who was twenty years younger at the time of the luncheon he is describing, is pretending to be urbane , gallant and sophisticated. He has to keep up a smiling , insouciant façade while inwardly he is suffering agonies when his guest, who claims she never eats anything for luncheon, orders some of the  most expensive things Foyot’s has to offer, including salmon, caviare, and champagne and she does not even think a bit about the costs the speaker would have to pay for the lunch.

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