An Analysis of the Setting in Mr. Know All by W. Somerset Maugham
1. An Analysis of the Setting in Mr.
Know All by W. Somerset Maugham
Elvera Yuniarsih
13020114120007
2. Abstract
In this paper, the writer tries to analyze “Mr.
Know All” by W. Somerset Maugham. The purpose of
this writing is to analyze the setting of this short
story. The writer uses theory of setting and close
reading method. The short story consists of setting
of time, setting of place, and setting of social
environment. To conclude, the setting is dominated
by setting of place.
Keywords: W. Somerset Maugham, setting of time,
setting of place, setting of social environment
3. Introduction
"Mr. Know All "is written by W. Somerset
Maugham. The main character is Mr. Max Kelada
who is known as Mr. Know All. The short story shows
a message from the debate between Mr. Kelada with
Mr. Ramsay about the authenticity of the necklace
used by Mrs. Ramsay.
4. Theoretical Framework
Michael Meyer in his The Bedford Introduction to
Literature stated that,
“Setting is the context in which the action of story occurs.
The major elements of setting are the time place and
social environment that frame the characters. These
elements establish the world in which the characters act.
Settings can be used to evoke a mood or atmosphere that
will prepare the reader for what is to come.” (1990:107).
The quotations above show that setting is
consists of setting of time, setting of place, and
setting of social environment.
5. Research Object
The objects of research in this paper consist of
material and formal object. Material object in this
study is “Mr. Know All” by W. Somerset Maugham.
Formal object of this study is setting in the short
story.
6. Biography of W. Somerset Maugham
W. Somerset Maugham was born on January
25, 1874 and he died on December 16, 1965. He is
an English writer who since birth lived in France. He
lived for 91 years in luxury. He can be regarded as
the highest-paid writer in the 1930s.
7. Summary
The short story shows that the narrator does not
like Mr. Kelada at first because he seems arrogant.
There is a message from the debate between Mr.
Kelada with Mr. Ramsay about the authenticity of the
necklace used by Mrs. Ramsay which finally shows
that Mr. Kelada is actually a good person. The moral
of the story is that we must not judge a book by its
cover.
8. Discussion
Setting of time
“One evening at dinner the conversation by
chance drifted to the subject of pearls.”
The quotations above shows that this story
occurs in the evening. The writers thinks that W.
Somerset Maugham choose the evening time
because the it is the perfect time to do dinner.
9. Setting of place
“It was bad enough to share a cabin for fourteen days
with anyone,..“
From the quotations above, it shows that the
setting takes place in the cabin of the ship. It can be
proved by the narrator who stating that he must
share a cabin or room with strangers for a fourteen
days in the ship.
10. “I made my way into the smoking-room.”
From the quotations above, it shows that the
setting takes place in the smoking-room. It can be
proved by a statement where they met Mr. Ramsay
for the first time and then talked about the
authenticity of the necklace from Mrs. Ramsay.
11. “We sat at the doctor's table.”
From the quotations above, it shows that the
setting takes place in the restaurant. It can be
proven by a statement where they sit at the doctor's
table to have dinner together and play cards
afterwards.
12. Setting of social environment
“The war had just finished and the passenger traffic in
the ocean going liners was heavy.”
From the quotations above, it can be concluded
that this story happens in the era after the World
War. Therefore, accommodation for traveling
became very difficult to find. It is cause the people
from different social classes placed in one cabin,
including the narrator and Mr. Kelada.
13. Conclusion
The analysis of the setting can help the reader
to have a deeper understanding about the story. In
this short story, W. Somerset Maugham using setting
of time which is happen in the evening, setting of
place is at the cabin and ship, and setting of social
environment is the atmospehere after the World War
happens. The setting of places dominated the story
line.
14. References
Meyer, Michael. 1990. The Bedford Introduction to
Literature. Second Edition. United States of America:
Bedford Books of St. Martin’s Press.
Mr. Know-All
(http://drnissani.net/mnissani/world/Mr%20Know-
All.htm accessed on June, 6 2017)
W. Somerset Maugham
(https://www.britannica.com/biography/W-Somerset-
Maugham accessed on June, 6 2017)
