"A Philosophical Response To Somerset Maugham's"
The Razor's Edge

by Uri Brito

The Razor's Edge is often described as the story of Larry, a war veteran who forsakes a comfortable life in Chicago "society" for a vague spiritual quest. It is better appreciated as a portrait of his acquaintances, whose conventional lifestyles are starkly contrasted to the path walked by the seeker. Some readers have wished to know more of Larry and criticize the space and attention Maugham gave upon the other characters. Maugham had an extraordinary keen eye both for the observance and retention of even the minutest fact and detail combined with a superb ability to translate those observations, facts, and details into the written word. Written words that, in turn, holds the reader's interest and desire to find out more. The author has a very insensitive way of approaching such topics as Christianity and of course the God of Christianity. Sometimes, even to the point of abusing of his liberty. The Razor's Edge reveals much about the spiritual path by focusing on people who are more like the typical reader, people who do not give up materialistic Western striving. The best way to understand Larry is to look at what he is not. It seems to be of great importance to the author to focus on different characters and as many details as he could.

The author W. Somerset Maugham is outstanding in his narrative. Rather than simply laying out the details of Larry's explorations and development, which, being spiritual and internal would be rather dull to watch, Maugham reveals Larry by dissecting the contrasting behavior of his associates. So, now begins the journey of a young man who has seen all the brutalities of a war; and reality becomes very real to him. The reality of evil and the why of evil befuddle his mind, and he is not in agreement with that happening. From that moment on begins the search for meaning in life.

Larry refuses to objectify himself and is able instead to follow the path of the seeker, even without knowing what he seeks or rejecting what he has had. He is at the ideal state for a student: perfect as he is, yet willing to grow, on the way to his quest. Larry is now officially in search for meaning, though he does not know where to start. From the beginning, Larry seems to be genuine and always willing to learn more and more about life and his surroundings. There must be something in his mind that calls him to such a search. He is consumed by it. He has no other goal, but to understand why he has not yet found meaning. Certainly, he is not interested in finding meaning through the lifestyle of his upper-class friends, for in that life he sees no significance.

If Maugham had told us the story of Larry without the contrast of his conventional friends, the novel's entire message would have been lost. Ancient mystics, quantum physicists, and existentialist philosophers are all giving us that same message. For instance, the atheistic philosopher Jean Paul Satre says there is no "thing" at all, except as we create it in our minds. It is the relationship between figure and ground that gives rise to an experience, and neither can exist without the other. What the author reveals is that there is no need to explain Larry unless the reader can first see the immense difference between Larry and every other character. Maugham has certainly established that as the narrative goes on. Hence, he feels no necessity to explain every little detail about Larry and his search, but rather feels free to explore the other characters as well and their particular experiences. Larry never objectifies his quest.

Here Larry continues by stating the vagueness of his quest when he says “I don't think I shall ever find peace till I make up my mind about things,' he said gravely. He hesitated, ‘It's very difficult to put into words. The moment you try to you feel embarrassed. You say to yourself: "Who am I that I should bother my head about this, that, and the other? Perhaps it's only because I'm a conceited prig. Wouldn't it be better to follow the beaten track and let what ‘s coming to you come? And then you think of a fellow who an hour before was full of life and fun, and he's lying dead; it's all so cruel and so meaningless. It's hard not to ask yourself what life is all about and whether there's any sense to it or whether it's all a tragic blunder of blind fate.'

In this clear statement, Larry tells the reader why he is seeking for meaning in life. He simply cannot understand and cope with the problem of evil. Indeed, Larry has all the reasons to seek for an answer. He has been told of the existence of a superior being and now after the war is over he is confronted with what seems to be a contradiction in thought. In other words, how can there be a just and loving God if the blood shed was so inexplicably out of proportion? A fair question one would say when asked by an honest seeker.

Now, Larry begins to search for answers through the reading of numerous philosophical works. He is so determined to find true meaning in life that in one occasion he begins his quest by spending ten consecutive hours reading a book on Psychology by an atheist author. Certainly that took away the thought from the other characters as to doubting Larry’s seriousness in the matter.

In the words of the author: "What I’m trying to tell you is that there are men who are possessed by an urge to do some particular thing so strong that they can’t help themselves, they’ve got to do it. They’re prepared to sacrifice everything to satisfy their yearning." … Without a doubt that is what is consuming Larry. In fact he is so consumed that he is able to sacrifice his life and his love for this search. Here Larry gives a vague definition of who God is; "A god that can be understood is no God. Who can explain the infinite in words?" The truth is that absolute cannot be fully explained. Indeed, it goes beyond human reasoning, but certainly not beyond logic. However, it can be understood once the element of faith is brought into action. One cannot live life without the presupposition that there is somewhere an infinite being. He is born and grows with the assumption that there is an outside force controlling the universe. However, some prefer to assume that they are copies of a superior being, while others see the impossibility of such an assumption. The truth, however, is established by the very assumption that either man is god or God is not like man. The Razor’s Edge in some way makes this assumption otherwise there would be no reason for Larry ever leaving his bright future in Chicago for poverty in the search for meaning. Once again, while outward poverty is mentioned, certainly Larry is in full contentment inwardly with the possibility of finding his answers.

In this particular description of Larry’s experience in the East he shares the emptiness of his joy. Many years of search and involvement with eastern mysticism Larry tells of his Awakening experience in the Eastern world and written by Maugham as follows: "How grand the sight was that was displayed before me as the day broke in its splendour...I was ravished with the beauty of the world. I'd never known such exaltation and such a transcendent joy. I had a strange sensation, a tingling that arose in my feet and traveled up to my head, and I felt as though I were suddenly released from my body and as pure spirit partook of a loveliness I had never conceived. I had a sense that a knowledge more than human possessed me, so that everything that had been confused was clear and everything that had perplexed me was explained. I was so happy that it was pain and I struggled to release myself from it, for I felt that if it lasted a moment longer I should die; and yet it was such rapture that I was ready to die rather than forego it. How can I tell you what I felt? No words can tell the ecstasy of my bliss. When I came to myself I was exhausted and trembling" This is an incredible description of a belief that has intrigued the human mind for centuries. It is based on nothing else than on an esoteric experience that cannot be proven. If true, the source of this power cannot be explained by human mind. If possible to be proven, it would only prove that there is an outside source more powerful than human power. All is part of the law of karma. Without having to deal with the theological perspective the author has to deal with one major argument against his character Larry. This is the humanitarian argument against the law of karma. It generates no social compassion. Anyone who helps the thousands of poor, crippled, maimed, homeless, and starving people on the streets of India is working against the law of karma. People suffer to work off their karmic debt and if you helped them, then they would have to come back again and suffer even more to work off the debt. That in itself contradicts the author’s desire to have the reader understand that Larry found meaning in his pursuit for wisdom and esoteric experiences.

It is very interesting that Somerset Maugham (an atheist) who in his own worldview finds meaning in that which he thinks is meaningful and what anyone else thinks is meaningful makes an interesting statement. He speaks of Elliot, a man who lived all his life participating in noble parties with princes and queens. Elliot had found his meaning in being a part of these noble events. Now Elliot has just died and the author makes this amazing statement. He says: “ An old, kind friend. It made me sad to think how silly, useless and trivial his life had been.” What an incredible statement by a man who has no basis for making any claim of what true meaning is because he has no moral absolute to base his view.

Now, to prove to his reader that Larry has found meaning, he concludes his book by summarizing the result of his search, “ and Larry found happiness.” These are his final remarks. What began with a search now has ended in happiness. But has it really? The question is: “what has Larry found?” Larry has found worldly wisdom. Larry has found mystical experiences. In the end Larry has found nothing. His entire search has been an exploration to the world of nothingness. He is right back where he started. Though more knowledgeable, yet he has found nothing more than a worldview that contradicts itself in logic. By doing so, he will continue in an endless and vague search for meaning. Meaning can never be found unless one is willing to presuppose that the Creator is God and God alone.