W. Somerset Maugham: Four Short Stories (1970) - Plot & Excerpts
The Consul by Somerset MaughamA few days ago I had the exquisite pleasure to read The Point of Honor, where Maugham was describing the culture, magnificence of Spain.In The Consul, we are more than ten thousand miles away, in China.China represents both an irresistible attraction and an anxiety, a fear mixed with repulsion.I hate what the official policy is, albeit it is very far from Mao’s communism. They bully their neighbors from Taiwan to the Philippines, from Japan to Vietnam. All those smaller players, compared with the giant dragon are afraid of the increasing aggressiveness of the Chinese.The official doctrine is focused on economical policies, but dissent is forbidden, and when people come out to protest, well…there’s the infamous Tianmen massacre waiting for them.About twenty years ago, I had to accompany a group of Chinese big shots from Guangzhou and did not appreciate their manners. Some of the infatuation and stupidity displayed had to do with the mentioned totalitarian habits and customs which promote people based on who they know and not what they know and the skills they may or may not have.Other reflexes had to do with cultural differences: spitting or burping and …farting.Their ways are not our ways.This is proved in the consul, where an English woman marries a Chinese man, only to find that he has two other wives. The woman is complaining to the British consul, about her life with the rather large Chinese family, where there are other relatives besides the wives.The consul says that her marriage is void under English law, but the woman is hesitating, to the exasperation of the consul.This is an entertaining, humorous short story which can teach us a few lessons. The most important would be- Before you move to China, make sureYou know about the body noises that are acceptableLook on the net for the place where you’re going- is it visible, or is it covered by a man made cloudForget your convictions, the Communist party will teach you new onesCruelty to animals bothers you…forget about it thenIn the end, why on Earth would you move to China anyway…they may be right outside your door…just now
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