Mayhew
In the heart of British colonialism, Mayhew plunges into the world of two officers stationed in a far-flung corner of the Empire. Maugham paints a portrait of pride and rivalry as Mayhew, an earnest and idealistic officer, faces off against the seasoned and cynical Major Templeton. When the men’s philosophies collide, each is forced to question his values and ambitions. With biting wit and a profound sense of irony, Maugham reveals the disillusionment lurking beneath duty and honor in this tale of moral tension and personal conviction.
A Bad Example
In A Bad Example, Maugham weaves a powerful character study of Dr. Saunders, a competent yet morally ambiguous physician navigating the mysteries of human nature. Set in the lush, almost oppressive tropics, the story follows Saunders’s interaction with a once-distinguished but now disgraced friend who has lost himself to vice. As their encounter unfolds, Maugham explores themes of corruption, respectability, and the pull of self-destruction, crafting a tale that subtly challenges the reader’s assumptions about right and wrong, hinting that perhaps a person’s “bad example” can offer as much insight as virtue itself.