Generosity In 'The Razor's Edge'

Mainghor Tang
Dimitri Keriotis
English 101
20 June 2018
Elliott Templeton: A Charitable Snob Why are people generous? Why are some humans much more generous than others? Generosity and kindness make an immense difference in the quality of human social and personal life, both for the benefactors and the recipients. By “generosity,” I mean the readiness to give more of something that has value such as money or time than is strictly expected or necessary. In the novel The Razor’s Edge, W. Somerset Maugham tells a story and analyzes the complexities of several characters. Among them is a character by the name of Elliott Templeton who is a successful art dealer and the biggest snob. He surrounds himself with people of the highest social class and

While speaking with the narrator about Larry’s journey to France to discover his purpose in the world, Elliott mentions, “ I’ll keep an eye on [Larry]. I’ll introduce him to the right people; he has nice manners and with a hint or two from me he’ll be quite presentable; I can guarantee to show him a side of French life that very few Americans have a chance of seeing” (43). It is apparent that he is excited give Larry a tour of France, but this statement also shows that he is generous, so much so that he is willing to go out of his way to ensure the well being of Larry. Maugham states, “I had then, after some years of travel, bought a house on Cap Ferrat and thus saw a good deal of Elliott. I had risen so high in his good graces that sometimes he invited me to his very grandest parties” (135). It may be due to his elitist nature but it is nevertheless a gesture of friendship and kindness. Elliott spends a great deal of his time in the French Riviera and at some point formed a strong friendship with a local bishop. “[The bishop] approved of Elliott for his pious generosity to the Church and liked him for his amiability and the good food he provided; and two became good friends” (136). Elliott’s magnanimity does not stop there. After his death, he bequeathed a large amount of cash to the Bishop to be spend on charitable purposes. Nothing is more indicative of generosity than an act of