The Hero

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

27063

Title

The Hero

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In this poignant tale of honor and heartbreak, W. Somerset Maugham explores the collision between rigid moral codes and human passion. Following a disgraced soldier's son, the story delves into themes of duty, suicide, and the harsh judgment of society, offering a melancholic yet compelling critique of Victorian propriety.

Summary up to 500 words

In W. Somerset Maugham's *The Hero*, the narrative explores the destructive power of reputation and the rigid moral codes of Victorian society. The story centers on Colonel Parsons, a man of unshakeable integrity whose life is shattered when his beloved son, Jamie, is disgraced following a disastrous military expedition in India. Although the Colonel believes he acted with honor and humanity, the failure of the campaign leads to his dismissal and a deep, isolating depression. He views his son's subsequent disgrace as a reflection of his own shame. Jamie returns from South Africa to find his engagement to Mary Clibborn strained by his parents' disapproval and his own lingering, forbidden love for Mrs. Wallace, a woman he met in India. Haunted by the belief that he has brought shame upon his family and unable to marry a woman he does not love, Jamie resolves to end his life. On the day of his intended wedding, while cleaning a gun with his uncle, Major Forsyth, he accidentally shoots himself. The tragedy is accepted by the community as a tragic accident, a convenient narrative that preserves the family's honor and avoids the scandal of a broken engagement. However, the true cost of this obsession with reputation is revealed in a private letter from Mrs. Clibborn to a friend. She confesses that she believes Jamie committed suicide to avoid marrying her daughter, whom she felt he did not love. She expresses deep guilt, comparing his death to that of another man who died for her sake. The story concludes with Mary accepting a proposal from the local curate, fulfilling her parents' wish to restore the family name. While the household mourns, the true cost of their obsession with reputation hangs heavy, revealing the hypocrisy of a society that values public honor over genuine human emotion and truth.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• History
• Fiction