Moving Tale of "Gigolo and Gigolette
Explore the poignant story of Syd Cotman and Stella, who entertain at a casino amidst struggles and sacrifices. Witness the depths of human cruelty and love in Maugham's captivating narrative, "Gigolo and Gigolette".
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Gigolo and gigolette by William Somerset Maugham ARSEN KADYROV
Main information Title: Gigolo and gigolette Author: William Somerset Maugham Date: 1935 Genres/Subgenres: Realism Screen versions: Encore (1951)
Author William Somerset Maugham was born and spent his childhood in Paris. W.S. Maugham s mastership as a short story writer is universally acknowledged. His skill in creating original human characters is combined with beauty and refinement of style and language. Yet, Maugham s outlook is limited. His attitude towards what he describes is that of a detached observer. His best books are certainly marked by social significance, but the fact can hardly be ascribed to any conscious effort of the author who always insisted that he had no other aim in view but entertain his reader.
Plot Syd Cotman, a cockney, worked as a dancing gigolo in hotels in France until the slump came; he married Stella, a swimming instructress; they took part in dance marathons. Now they are at a casino on the French Riviera, drawing customers: Stella dives sixty feet into a tank of water five feet deep, flames coming from petrol on the surface. Customers come to see if she will kill herself. She hates doing this and tells Syd she wants to stop; he acquiesces, since he loves her, although they might starve. But she gets ready for the next dive.
Vocabulary Admiration Haggard - Battered - Countess - Affably smiling - Concealed - Asparagus - Dozen - Feat - Vague - Frocks -
Favourite quotes It s the most sick making thing I ve ever seen. I wouldn t do that stunt of hers for a thousand pounds. That filthy public. Swine who eat too much and drink too much. A pack of chattering fools with more money than they know what to do with. I can't stick them. What do they care if I risk my life? Tell them who I am, Carlo, she said. The human cannon-ball, he announced.
Questions What is the real profession of Stella? Why did Stella refuse to do the show second time? What did Syd use to do when he was young? Does Syd really love Stella?
Message The short story "Gigolo and Gigolette" is moving and remarkable on many levels; how cruel people appear that base their lives on the entertainment of others. Then Maugham painfully lays out the previous career of Stella and Cotman, desolate, as marathon dancers...conjuring up images of grueling scenes from They shoot horses , don't they?
