Introduction to Maugham’s Modern Twist
Written in 1924, Somerset Maugham’s short story “The Ant and the Grasshopper” offers a unique and humorous reinterpretation of the classic fable by Aesop. In his story, Maugham presents a lively exploration of the characters George and Tom Ramsay, two brothers embodying the classic archetypes of the hard-working ‘ant’ and the carefree ‘grasshopper.’
Through their differences, Maugham invites readers to reconsider the conventional moral associated with the original fable. Rather than showing a clear division between diligence and laziness, Maugham’s portrayal of George and Tom reveals the complexities and nuances of human character, asking readers to ponder if life’s outcomes are truly as simple as ‘work leads to happiness’ or if luck and personality play their own roles in the unfolding of destiny.
The Original Fable: Aesop and La Fontaine’s Classic Tale
To better understand Maugham’s story, it is helpful to first look at the origins of the fable. The ant and the grasshopper is a well-known fable originally told by Aesop. Aesop’s fables, known for their concise yet profound moral lessons, often include animals representing different human traits. This particular fable contrasts industriousness with idleness through the characters of hardworking ants and a carefree grasshopper.
In Aesop’s version, the ants work diligently throughout the warm summer months, gathering and drying their store of corn. Their efforts are driven by their awareness of the coming winter, and they prioritize preparation and self-discipline. The grasshopper, however, spends her time singing and enjoying the summer’s warmth, never considering the need to prepare for harder times.
When winter finally arrives, the grasshopper finds herself without food and asks the ants for assistance. The ants refuse, scolding her for her lack of foresight and discipline, and leaving her to suffer as a consequence of her idle summer. The story’s moral typically stresses the value of hard work, often phrased as “An idle soul shall suffer hunger” or “Prepare today so you may eat tomorrow.”
This fable was also retold by French writer Jean de La Fontaine, who popularized it in European literature, adding his own literary flavor. La Fontaine’s version, like Aesop’s, emphasizes the importance of discipline, but he refrains from giving an explicit moral, leaving readers to interpret the story’s lesson independently.
Somerset Maugham’s Retelling: A Summary
In Maugham’s retelling, the story begins with a narrator who fondly remembers the fable but admits that he never liked its moral. The narrator feels more sympathetic toward the grasshopper, finding the lesson of constant hard work less appealing than the notion of enjoying life in the present. This perspective sets the stage for his portrayal of George and Tom Ramsay, two brothers who embody the traditional roles of the ant and the grasshopper in a modern, humorous context.
George Ramsay, like the ant, is dedicated and disciplined, devoting his life to work and financial security. He values stability and has worked consistently, saving money with the aim of retiring early and enjoying a quiet life in the countryside. George represents the ‘ant’ in Maugham’s retelling: he has sacrificed enjoyment and spontaneity to build a secure future for himself.
On the other hand, Tom Ramsay, the ‘grasshopper,’ represents the opposite: he is charming, spontaneous, and utterly uninterested in a conventional lifestyle. Tom abandons his job, leaves his family, and spends his time living on borrowed money and making new friends who are drawn to his charisma. Unlike George, Tom has no interest in stability or responsibility and lives life moment to moment, finding joy in experiences rather than possessions.
Despite George’s attempts to help his brother get back on track by loaning him money, Tom continues to squander what he receives. Eventually, George loses patience and refuses to help further, only for Tom to resort to more creative means of getting money. Tom even resorts to blackmail, taking up jobs around George’s favorite haunts, thus embarrassing his brother into paying him off to maintain his reputation.
Years go by, with George continuing his disciplined life while Tom enjoys his carefree lifestyle. At the story’s end, fate takes an unexpected turn: Tom marries an older wealthy woman who, shortly after, passes away, leaving Tom an inheritance that includes two houses and a yacht. This twist of fate surprises and amuses the narrator, who reflects on how Tom’s reckless behavior led him to financial success, while George’s hard work leaves him with little more than his savings and a modest plan for retirement.
Analysis of Maugham’s Take on the Fable
Maugham’s retelling serves as a critique of the simplistic morals found in traditional fables. By presenting George and Tom’s contrasting lifestyles, Maugham invites readers to question whether the original fable’s emphasis on hard work as the sole path to success holds true in real life.
Unlike the moral certainty of Aesop’s tale, Maugham’s story introduces ambiguity, as neither George nor Tom emerges as a definitive ‘winner’ or ‘loser.’ George is financially stable, but he appears joyless and aged, the toll of years of hard work evident in his worn appearance. Tom, in contrast, is youthful and carefree, even if irresponsible, and ultimately achieves financial success through circumstances beyond his control.
In Maugham’s story, the narrator, who sympathizes with Tom’s easy-going nature, refrains from judging either brother too harshly. This neutrality leaves room for readers to draw their own conclusions about the value of work versus the enjoyment of life. Instead of championing one lifestyle over another, Maugham presents a world where chance and charm can play just as significant a role in shaping one’s future as discipline and hard work.
The Symbolism of George and Tom Ramsay
In examining George and Tom’s characters, it becomes clear that they each represent different aspects of human nature. George’s commitment to work and saving represents caution and responsibility, traits often praised in society as hallmarks of success and maturity. His life is planned, stable, and secure, yet it lacks the joy and spontaneity that make Tom’s life so appealing.
Tom, on the other hand, symbolizes freedom, adventure, and a lack of concern for societal expectations. While George is bound by his sense of duty, Tom lives by his own rules, unburdened by the need to save or prepare for the future. His charm enables him to navigate life without facing the consequences that typically accompany irresponsible behavior.
This contrast underscores Maugham’s commentary on the unpredictability of life. George may appear to have the more respectable path, but Tom’s fortunes highlight how sometimes, success or happiness can arrive unearned or by chance, challenging the notion that hard work alone guarantees a secure future.
Reflecting on the Moral of Maugham’s Story
Maugham’s version of the fable brings to light a more nuanced perspective on life’s uncertainties. The twist ending, in which Tom inherits a fortune, implies that life does not always reward the diligent and punish the reckless, as traditional morals suggest. Tom’s sudden wealth, despite his idleness, contradicts the ‘work-to-survive’ message of the original fable, leaving readers to wonder about the fairness of fate.
Ultimately, Maugham’s story seems to propose that life’s outcomes can be as arbitrary as they are earned. Tom’s success is not due to any personal improvement or hard work, but rather a stroke of luck, showing that chance can play as much of a role as effort in determining one’s fate. This insight resonates with the narrator’s own view, as he admits to sympathizing with Tom’s carefree approach, seeing life as a mix of fate, charm, and individual choice.
Conclusion: Revisiting the Moral Landscape
In the end, “The Ant and the Grasshopper” invites readers to reconsider their beliefs about hard work and happiness. Maugham’s retelling doesn’t glorify idleness or criticize industriousness; instead, it questions the rigid moral framework of the original fable and encourages readers to view life as a balance between responsibility and enjoyment.
By presenting characters who embody both sides of this balance, Maugham reveals the unpredictability of success and the limitations of any single moral viewpoint. Through George and Tom, he challenges us to appreciate the complexities of human nature and to accept that, sometimes, success is less about how hard we work and more about the hands we are dealt.
Maugham’s humorous, thought-provoking take on the classic fable is a reminder that there is no universal formula for happiness or success. Life is filled with surprises, and while some may find fulfillment in discipline, others may discover it in freedom and chance. This layered, ambiguous moral leaves readers with more questions than answers, offering a timeless reflection on the varied paths one may take to find contentment.
