The story under consideration entitled Mabel was written by William Somerset Maugham. William Somerset Maugham is one of the best known English writers of the 20th century. He was not only a novelist but also one of the most successful dramatists and short-story writers.
Maugham travelled widely to all parts of the world. He visited Russia, America, Africa, Asia. The technique of short-story writing always interested Maugham. De Maupassant and Chekhov influenced him but he adopted his own unique technique, which is characterized by realistic and psychological presentation of the events.
The story in question “Mabel” develops the following plot. The author recalls the story of a man whose name was George whom he once met on his way to
And Mabel answered him “Quite understand. Don’t worry. Mabel”. Mabel was a wise woman: she pretended not to show she knew he didn’t want to marry.
To show that George was panic-stricken the author resorts to the semantic field of fear again: “terror made him quick-witted”, “he broke into a cold sweat”. George decided to escape from Mabel. And again the tempo is increasing. George changed nine transport means but for him the events are changing rapidly. He uses a boat, a ship, a train, a tramp, rickshaws, a steamer, a junk, chair-bearers and coolies. And to show that George was changing places rapidly the author uses a great number of toponyms: Rangoon, Singapore, Bangkok, Saigon, Hong Kong, Manila, Shanghai, Yokohama, Yangtze, Chungking, Hankow, Ichang.
His last travelling point was Cheng-tu. George thought Mabel wouldn’t find him there. To underline that George calmed down the author uses the semantic field of relief: safe, rest, sigh of relief, comfort, enjoy, idleness, divine security. George could relax after his nervous state at last. The time slows down for him again. To emphasize this idea the author uses the following sentences: “he saw at last the crenellated walls of the lonely Chinese city”, “he enjoyed the comfort of the luxurious house”.
The story reaches its climax when George heard loud