The Creative Impulse

Maugham is an incomparable story teller. I enjoyed reading Maugham’s “The creative impulse” because of his brilliant style and his acid irony. His slow derisive narration of events in the story captured attention. For many years Mrs. Forrester had been writing essays and novels which regularly grunted critics’ awards. Unfortunately critical prose doesn’t mean public success. In fact, it was her husband Albert, a merchant, who gave her idea to write a new detective novel. He prefers cops and robber stories. A passion he shared with Mrs. Bullfinch the cook. When she was 57 years old she became popular with readers even abroad. At last she earned money by writing the book and she could live on this profit till her old age. She gave literary parties on Tuesday and only a few people were invited. Besides this, she was proud of inviting eight persons for breakfast on Saturday. She chose guests thoroughly. Her husband was always present at these breakfasts. Mrs. Forrester respected high society and never placed her husband next to a noble man. It was destiny for older and close friends. Her friends called her husband “The Philatelist” although he had never collected stamps. Her guests praised her breakfast. Her husband treated all her guests to good cigars. Her guests considered Albert a bore and often asked each other how she had ever married him. However, Mr. Albert supported Mrs. Forrester and he rented a flat. She didn’t know any household chores. For this reason she appreciated him and put to shame anyone who tried to make fun of him in her presence. Maugham describes Mrs. Forrester, guests with lucidity and ostentations simplicity. Her husband deserted her because he was sick and tired of the literature and art. Although she was insulted, she had to listen to her friend’s advice. First of all, she couldn’t make her living by writing the sort of the book she did. Secondly, her husband left her for the sake of her cook. It would do her name harm. The author shows vanity and hypocrisy of bourgeois society.