Literary Analysis of “The Verger” by Somerset Maugham

The Verger by Somerset Maugham is a very neat story, with a bit of ironic humour. Albert
Edwards is a very observant, intelligent and hardworking man who knows how the world
runs. These are all qualities which may contribute to success, albeit without hardly any
formal education.

Symbolism & Figures of Speech

Somerset Maugham uses figures of speech effectively to convey meaning and create effect.
For instance, he uses a series of metaphors to demonstrate the depth of Forman’s sorrow
when he is confronted with the fact that he must quit his job: “the blow inflicted upon him”,
“his heart was heavy’’, and personification in, “He sighed as he thought of all the grand
funerals and smart weddings it had seen.”

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Imagery and symbolism are also used to good effect in the long paragraphs describing how
Albert Edward never throw away his worn out gowns because they symbolized a job he
valued and respected. And in the description of the way he walked slowly deep in thought
after receiving the bad news of his dismissal.

[The Verger’s gown] was the dignified symbol of his office, and without it (when he took it off
to go home) he had the disconcerting sensation of being somewhat insufficiently clad. He took
pains with it; he pressed it and ironed it himself. During the sixteen years he had been verger of
this church he had had a succession of such gowns, but he had never been able to throw them
away when they were worn out and the complete series, neatly wrapped up in brown paper,
lay in the bottom drawers of the wardrobe in his bedroom.

Hyperbole is also used to good effect in the words used by the vicar and the two
churchwarden. `It's the most amazing thing I ever heard,' cried the general. “I have the highest
opinion both of your character and of your capacity”, said the vicar.

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 Litotes
Definition:

The use of a negative statement in order to emphasize a positive meaning, for example "a
not inconsiderable amount of money (= a considerable amount of money)" Litotes is a form
of understatement, always deliberate and with the intention of emphasis.

Litotes is a figure of speech and a form of understatement in which a sentiment is expressed

ironically by negating its contrary. For example, saying "It's not the best weather today"
during a hurricane would be an example of litotes, implying through ironic understatement
that the weather is, in fact, horrible.

Litotes examples embrace colorful sentiments to express an otherwise bland statement. A

litotes is a roundabout way of saying something, using the opposite of your intended
meaning to illustrate what you're trying to say. The negative of one thing is used to express
the positive of its opposite.

Again, literary devices are smart ways to spice up our literary lives. It’s a gentler, seemingly
ironic, way to say something without having to “come right out with it.”

A litotes is a nice way for authors to “beat around the bush.” They can touch upon the
indelicate in an unobtrusive and inoffensive way. Let’s explore more examples:

“I can’t be blind to what I can’t help seeing and I’ll put up with it no more.”

“Tony was a good fellow, but he could hardly be described as intelligent.”

“Nobody knew who she was, and people referred to her simply as “the lady with the dog.” “If
she’s here without her husband, and without any friends,” thought Gurov, “it wouldn’t be a
bad idea to make her acquaintance.”

“It was a source of subdued pride to him that he could nearly always quiet a whimpering infant
by the manner in which he held it and he was not unconscious of the amused admiration with
which mothers and nurses watched him settle the baby in the crook of his surpliced arm. The
verger knew that it pleased him to be complimented on his talent.”

“The verger’s face betrayed no sign of embarrassment.”

***

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 “That’s the most extraordinary thing I ever heard”
In his short story “The Verger”, Somerset Maugham uses the phrase ‘most extraordinary’
cleverly to produce a double blow effect. At the early stages of story, we find the new vicar
using the phrase to explain his bewilderment on learning that Albert Edward Foreman is an
illiterate. He uses the phrase to make out the situation to be far worse than it actually is.

The vicar began briskly. `Foreman, we've got something rather unpleasant to say to you. You've
been here a great many years and I think his lordship and the general agree with me that you've
fulfilled the duties of your office to the satisfaction of everybody concerned.' The two
churchwardens nodded.

`But a most extraordinary circumstance came to my knowledge the other day and I felt it my
duty to impart it to the churchwardens. I discovered to my astonishment that you could neither
read nor write.'

***
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Again, towards the end of the story, the bank manager is surprised when he learns from
Foreman that he is an illiterate. He exclaims, “that’s the most extraordinary thing I ever
heard”. The manager could not believe that Foreman built up a business empire and
amassed a fortune of thirty thousand pounds without being able to read or write.

The manager smiled. 'We'll do everything. All you'll have to do next time you come in is just to
sign the transfers:
'I could do that all right,' said Albert uncertainly. 'But 'ow should I know what I was signin'?
`I suppose you can read,' said the manager a trifle sharply.
Mr Foreman gave him a disarming smile.
'Well, sir, that's just it. I can't. I know it sounds funny-like, but there it is, I can't read or write,
only me name, an' I only learnt to do that when I went into business.'
The manager was so surprised that he jumped up from his chair.
'That's the most extraordinary thing I ever heard.'

Towards the end of the story, the bank manager is surprised when he learns from Foreman
that he is an illiterate person. He exclaims, “that’s the most extraordinary thing I ever
heard”. The manager could not believe that Foreman built up a business empire and
amassed a fortune of thirty thousand pounds without being able to read or write. When the
stunned manager asks if he knew where he would be if he could read and write, Foreman
replies that he would be the Verger of St. Peter's. His answer is ironic in the fact that the
manager expected Foreman to be a greater business magnet had he been literate, while
foreman knows that he would still have been serving as a verger at St. Peter’s had he been
literate in the first place.

***

Alliteration & Simile

Edward Foreman still wore his verger's gown. He kept his new one, its folds as full and
stiff as though it were made not of alpaca but of perennial bronze, for funerals and
weddings

“It's a matter of prudence as well as of principle.”

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Use of Dialogue/Cockney Accent

`All this 'ustle; said Albert Edward. `But give 'im time, he'll learn.'

`He's been naggin' them, he 'as,' said the verger to himself. `He's jockeyed them into
doin' something, but they don't 'alf like it. That's what it is, you mark my words.'

`The last vicar knew that, sir,' he replied. 'He said it didn't make no difference. He
always said there was a great deal too much education in the world for ‘is taste.'

`No, sir, I'm afraid I couldn't, not now. You see, I'm not as young as I was and if I
couldn't seem able to get the letters in me 'ead when I was a nipper I don't think there's
much chance of it now.'

***

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Themes & Global Issues
Albert Edward is a man of good character, but his impeccable record doesn’t help him to
retain his job. Albert Foreman is a man of self-respect. He has confidence in his capabilities.
He is not obsequious. He is honest, truthful and polite but does not allow others to take him
for a ride. He is hardworking and true to his job. In any field he worked, that is, from
domestic service to church service he puts his heart in everything he does. He is more
practical-minded. And he takes a rare lot of pride in his work.

“He looked, if not like a duke, at least like an actor of the old school who specialized in dukes'
parts. He had tact, firmness, and self-assurance. His character was unimpeachable. He knew
his value and he wasn't going to allow himself to be put upon.”

Albert Edward is a man who loves his job and does it well. He knows his value and accepts
his limitations. Foreman then goes on to start a successful business on his own and
continues to be happy with what he has.

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He doesn’t undertake missions which he finds either useless or he cannot do it. His
ingenuousness and ingenuity work for his success. He knew how to grab opportunities. He
was tall, spare, grave and dignified. He looked, if not like a duke, at least like an actor of the
old school who specialized in duke’s parts. He had tack, firmness and self-assurance. His
character was unimpeachable.

The verger spoke English in the manner of domestics and poorer people of London, that is,
with a Cockney accent. Thus he dropped all his ‘Hs at the start of words and the ‘Gs at the
end of words.

Albert Edward’s ability to see the ups and downs as part and parcel of life is what separates
him from others. He manages to convert the stones thrown at him into milestones and
stepping stones to success. Whenever he is confronted with a difficult situation he would
face them bravely and with equanimity. He transfigures a calamity into an opportunity and
as a result, his life is transformed dramatically. Yes, he is stubborn and obstinate, even
refusing to put a minimum effort into learning to read and write, but one cannot entirely
find fault with him for thinking so. He has managed remarkably well without being literate.
Moreover, despite his lack of formal education, his character is unimpeachable.

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Maugham's "The Verger" is a simple tale about a simple man who does his duties with great
joy and dedication. Foreman has been the Verger of his church for sixteen years, doing all
the menial and manual duties of the vicarage. He loved his job and there were no complaints
about him until a new pastor arrived and made a startling discovery--Foreman cannot read.
While that fact has never interfered with his duties, the new preacher is appalled and
immediately fires the verger. And so, he loses his low-paying job as a verger because it is
discovered that he is illiterate, but he adapts to his problem by becoming a successful
shopkeeper. He finds he is better off being illiterate. Maugham likes to write about the odd
diversity of human characters. In fact, he traveled the world in search of unique characters
who would provide inspiration for his stories and novels. "The Verger" is more of a character
study than anything else. What is true for the hero of "The Verger" is not necessarily true for
everyone; however, there are a lot of men like Maugham's Albert Edward Foreman who
have little book-learning but plenty of worldly wisdom obtained through intelligent
observation of the real world. Albert Foreman was happy because he did not aspire to social
success even after he made a lot of money. He and his wife were both content to lead
simple lives. Foreman goes on to start a very practical business, opening a tobacco store
where he sees a need, and is amazingly successful. Years later, when Foreman was asked to
sign some papers at the bank but could not read them, the banker was astonished at what
this man had accomplished without the ability to read. When he asked Foreman what he
would have done if he could read, Foreman gave a quick and simple answer: he would have
been a verger.

Theme of Appearance

In The Verger by W. Somerset Maugham we have the theme of appearance, opportunity,

dedication, independence and humility. Taken from his Collected Short Stories collection the
story is narrated in the third person by an unnamed narrator and after reading the story the
reader realises that Maugham may be exploring the theme of appearance. Albert Edward
doesn’t like wearing his new verger’s gown for christenings. He prefers to keep it for
weddings and funerals. Considering it more appropriate to wear the new gown for these
occasions. This may be important as Maugham may be suggesting that appearance is
important to Albert Edward. Similarly, the vicar seems to think appearance is important too.
Things like being able to read and write set a standard that the vicar believes everybody
should attain. This may also be significant as it suggests that the vicar believes that the
ability to read and write reflects on the good character of St. Peter’s. Since Albert Edward
can’t read or write and the fact that he is not prepared to learn goes against what the vicar
thinks is good for St. Peter’s. It also doesn’t help Albert Edward that he has never been in
trouble with the authorities of the church and that he has an impeccable record. As a

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representative of St. Peter’s, the vicar doesn’t believe that Albert Edward is good enough.
He does not have the skills that the vicar thinks a Verger must have.

Theme of Lost & Regained Opportunities

Maugham may also be exploring the theme of opportunity. Rather than being downcast
about the fact that he has lost his job. Albert Edward turns his loss into an opportunity by
deciding to set up a “Tobacconists and Newsagents”. From defeat Albert Edward manages to
grasp victory and eventually owns ten shops and becomes a self-made wealthy and
prosperous man. Which in many ways shows the dedication that Albert Edward has. It is this
same dedication that had previously made him a successful Verger. Once focused Albert
Edward appears to throw all his energies into whatever effort (Verger or Businessman) he is
undertaking. It is as though Albert is driven not by profit but by a desire to be the best that
he can be. Even if he can’t read and write. It may also be a case that Maugham is attempting
through Albert Edward’s success to ridicule the vicar. Someone who appears to be aloof and
disconnected from those around him. What the vicar considers to be important is not
necessarily the same for others. Something that is noticeable by the fact that Albert Edward
resigns his position from the church gracefully and with dignity.

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 Independence vs. Prestige
Though some critics might suggest that being a Verger is an important role in the church;
that it has an element of prestige. It is not the same as being self-sufficient something that
Albert now is with his ten shops. From being answerable to others (the Vicar) Albert Edward
has become his own boss. Answerable to nobody but himself. Which is a dramatic change in
circumstances for Albert Edward and again it is probably important to remember that Albert
Edward achieved everything he has without being able to read or write. If anything Albert
Edward has been an underdog throughout the story. Answerable to others. Forced to resign
and still managing to make a success out of his life. The fact that the vicar also gave Albert
Edward an ultimatum which Albert Edward decided against following shows that Albert
Edward has an independent streak. He does not conform just because he is told to by the
vicar. Rather Albert submits his resignation and continues on with the rest of his life. If
anything Albert Edward remains undefeated.

It may also be significant that Albert Edward does not allow the success he has go to his
head. If anything he remains as unassuming as he was when he was a verger. Where others
might use their success to live a dissolute life. This is not the case with Albert Edward. How
humble Albert might actually be is noticeable by his reply to the bank manager when the
bank manger wonders how successful Albert could have been if he did know how to read or
write. By telling the bank manager that he would be the Verger of St. Peter’s Church, Albert
Edward manages to show humility. He has not forgotten where he came from nor does he
wish to change his past. It is as though Albert Edward despite having to resign from a
position he enjoyed, he now holds no grudges or bad feelings against anybody (the Vicar).
Albert Edward is living a satisfied life, whereas others may not be as fortunate as Albert
Edward. He has shown ingenuity and flexibility in his life. Something that the vicar was
unable to do. If anything the vicar lived by a set of rigid rules that Albert Edward did not
comply with nor did he even pretend that he would change his ways in order to please the
Vicar. Albert Edward has made a success out of his life and remained humble throughout.
Whereas the vicar may have been driven by his own inflated ego.

A nice, quick story to make one think. We do not have to be the most intelligent in the world
to be successful. Success comes in many forms!

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