The Razor’s Edge by W. Somerset Maugham is a novel that takes the audience on a journey into self enlightenment. This novel takes place in the early 1900s before, during, and after the crash of the American stock market. Within this tale the reader is introduced to several characters that are all acquainted with one another. Among those characters is one of particular depth, Isabel Bradley. Isabel is a complex character because she experiences several conflicts and takes various courses of action in times of crises. Isabel’s personality is greatly affected by the people in her surroundings. Seen by the audience as one that exemplifies resilience and at times reprehensible behaviors, the highs and lows of Isabel’s life is dictated solely around
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Gray adores Isabel, “he’s so much in love with Isabel, he can’t see straight” (Maugham 29) and Gray strives to spoil her at any cost. Isabel appears to be at her best because she fools everyone, even herself, into thinking she is happy and in love. Gray provides Isabel with the attention and materialistic goods she craves in a relationship. Isabel ends her relationship with Larry because he cannot provide for the type of lifestyle she wishes to pursue. Larry goes on to “loaf” around the world leaving Isabel to focus solely on Gray, which is beneficial to their relationship. Following the American stock market crash, Gray is diagnosed with tremendous headaches that leave him incapable of doing even the simplest of tasks. Taking command of this situation, Isabel assumes her wifely duties of caring for her husband and children during this time of distress. With Larry out of the picture, Isabel is able to force herself into thinking her and Gray can satisfy each other for the rest of their lives. This notion perpells Isabel into a healthy state of mind, one that assists in providing her with an angelic …show more content…
Isabel never stops loving Larry, granted he is not in her life for years at a time, but reuniting together makes Isabel realize how much she cares and how much she will always care for him. The mere thought of Sophie and Larry engaging in holy matrimony is enough to make Isabel vilely ill. In a desperate plot to rid of Sophie forever, Isabel purposely dangles alcohol in the face of a recovering alcoholic. Sophie has issues with alcohol and is very open about her struggles from the moment the characters run into to her at a nightclub. With the reality of Larry forming an intimate relationship with a female other than herself, Isabel takes action, showcasing her most reprehensible behaviors. Acting as if she is Sophie’s friend, Isabel invites Sophie over to her house prior to picking up Sophie’s wedding dress. Out of spite and love for Larry, Isabel ditches Sophie for a fake dentist appointment in order to place a bottle of alcohol out in the open to tempt Sophie into having a relapse. Unfortunately, Sophie caves into her desires, like a creature of habit, and leaves Larry on a whim for these dangerous addictions. The narrator finds Sophie awhile after her breakdown, still abusing the same substances as before. The only other interaction the characters have with Sophie is anything but pleasant. Sophie is found “stark naked with her throat cut” (Maugham 288) according
Gray adores Isabel, “he’s so much in love with Isabel, he can’t see straight” (Maugham 29) and Gray strives to spoil her at any cost. Isabel appears to be at her best because she fools everyone, even herself, into thinking she is happy and in love. Gray provides Isabel with the attention and materialistic goods she craves in a relationship. Isabel ends her relationship with Larry because he cannot provide for the type of lifestyle she wishes to pursue. Larry goes on to “loaf” around the world leaving Isabel to focus solely on Gray, which is beneficial to their relationship. Following the American stock market crash, Gray is diagnosed with tremendous headaches that leave him incapable of doing even the simplest of tasks. Taking command of this situation, Isabel assumes her wifely duties of caring for her husband and children during this time of distress. With Larry out of the picture, Isabel is able to force herself into thinking her and Gray can satisfy each other for the rest of their lives. This notion perpells Isabel into a healthy state of mind, one that assists in providing her with an angelic …show more content…
Isabel never stops loving Larry, granted he is not in her life for years at a time, but reuniting together makes Isabel realize how much she cares and how much she will always care for him. The mere thought of Sophie and Larry engaging in holy matrimony is enough to make Isabel vilely ill. In a desperate plot to rid of Sophie forever, Isabel purposely dangles alcohol in the face of a recovering alcoholic. Sophie has issues with alcohol and is very open about her struggles from the moment the characters run into to her at a nightclub. With the reality of Larry forming an intimate relationship with a female other than herself, Isabel takes action, showcasing her most reprehensible behaviors. Acting as if she is Sophie’s friend, Isabel invites Sophie over to her house prior to picking up Sophie’s wedding dress. Out of spite and love for Larry, Isabel ditches Sophie for a fake dentist appointment in order to place a bottle of alcohol out in the open to tempt Sophie into having a relapse. Unfortunately, Sophie caves into her desires, like a creature of habit, and leaves Larry on a whim for these dangerous addictions. The narrator finds Sophie awhile after her breakdown, still abusing the same substances as before. The only other interaction the characters have with Sophie is anything but pleasant. Sophie is found “stark naked with her throat cut” (Maugham 288) according