The Impact of Societal Expectations among Characters in the Novels of Somerset Maugham: Feminine Attributes

This research paper intends to examine the complexity of female characters in five selected novels of William Somerset Maugham and their evolution against their historical, social, and psychological contexts. The prominent themes of personal freedom vs struggle behind perfection, survival vs stability from inner strength, feminine consciousness of working women, self-prioritization vs others’ wellbeing, and superficiality to reality, have been uncovered by comparing the motives and characters of the female characters of "Cakesand Ale," "The Painted Veil," "Of Human Bondage," "Liza of Lambeth," and "The Razor's Edge.” The results highlight how the evolution of female characters are correlated with Maslow’s need hierarchy and how the complex interaction among characters shed light on the expression of female emotional needs in defiance against the accepted Victorian moral codes. The paper notes through textual analysis that the social pressures prompted evolution of these female characters between different stages of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Despite being stereotyped, these female characters exhibit an unfathomable resilience and an incomparable survival instinct inviting a re-definition of femininity.