Short Story Lotus Eater

Synopsis -

Thomas Wilson is a strange person. He is a former bank manager who wishes to only live for twenty five years. He has enough money to live until sixty. Wilson wishes to enjoy his life
amidst the beauty in The Island of Capri. But when his money finishes, he is not able to kill himself. He continues living in the cottage by borrowing money from his landlord. When he is told to leave the cottage, he attempts to kill himself. But he fails to do so and becomes ill. He is a changed person. His life becomes meaningless and he lives like a wild animal. In the end, he dies under the moonlight on the hillside.

Theme -

Making Decisions

The story involves the theme of making decisions. Decision-making is part and parcel of living. Everyone needs to make decisions in life, whether it is major or minor. Throughout the story, the idea of making decision and facing the consequences or the effects of the decision is notable. We
notice that Wilson makes various decisions throughout the story. However, he is not determined or courageous to make the most important decision in his life; to commit suicide. Wilson fails to make the decision to take his life. The decisions that Wilson makes are giving up his job, selling his properties, leaving London, wanting to live for twenty five years, and choosing the way he would like to live. However, he makes the wrong decisions and his life turns out to be meaningless, empty and miserable. He is a pauper in the end.

Responsibility

The theme of responsibility is also present in the story. People have responsibility towards their family and friends. In "The Lotus Eater" Wilson runs away from responsibilities.
He does not wish to take any responsibility and live a simple live, where he does not need to be responsible to anyone or any organisation. On the other hand, the other characters show their responsibility. Responsibility is not only confirmed to the self, but also is extended to family, friends, and organisations. Responsibility entails making the right decisions in life too.

Making Judgment

The theme of making judgment about someone based on the actions of the respective person or character. While the readers may be judgmental of Wilson, the writer or narrator is not judgmental at all. He does not impose his judgment on the readers or influence them. The writer is neutral and says that everyone is entitled to make his or her decisions in life. However, they have to face the consequences of their decisions and actions. The writer fears that Wilson intends to do some irrational act, but does not bother about it as it is Wilson’s life, and he has absolute control over it. Making judgment is an important aspect that runs throughout the story.

Life is precious

The theme also deals with suicide. It is not easy to end one’s life. The moral issue on life is; no one has the right to take his or her life. Life is the gift of God and it is precious. Wilson wishes to end his life after living for twenty five years or when he reaches the age of sixty. But, in reality it is impossible to end one’s life by limiting the span of life. Even Wilson is unable to end his own life, as he has planned and decided. The value of life is discussed in the story as one of the themes.

Character -

Thomas Wilson
- unrealistic about life (after attempting suicide)
- emotional/sensitive
- impractical (wishes to live only for 25 years)
- unwise and not far sighted
- irresponsible
- irrational
- insistent, adamant
- undetermined
- indecisive
- selfish, self-centred, loner, loser, reserved,
- easy-going, simplistic, unbothered
- not ambitious
- disillusioned
- dishonest

Writer /Narrator
- realistic/practical (down-to-earth)
- responsible
- contented with life
- curious, interested to know people and about their lives
- friendly
- certain about things in life
- determined
- not judgmental of other people’s characteristics or
behaviours
- an avid traveller
- sympathetic
- assertive

Assunta
-sympathetic
- helpful/ kind
- generous/concern/caring
- wise
- assertive
- friendly
- hardworking
-attentive

Writer’s or Narrator’s Friend
- friendly and likes to socialise
- educated
-well-mannered
- responsible
- concern/caring

Assunta’s husband
- Opportunist
- strict /stern landlord
- money-minded

Plot -

The Introduction or Opening Stage (Exposition):

The story unfolds with the writer’s /narrator’s friend telling him about Thomas Wilson. Wilson plans to die when he reaches the age of sixty. The writer is surprised and wishes to meet Wilson. The writer meets Wilson and learns about him and his strange intention. Very few people would make a decision like Wilson, whose approach to life is unrealistic. Wilson does not reveal what he intends to do with his life or how he is going to end it. The writer fears that he intends to do some irrational act, but does not bother about it as it is Wilson’s life, and he has absolute control overit.

The Rising Action Stage

Wilson has worked for a year to collect money and has bought an annuity (a kind of insurance policy) which would provide a yearly income to him on a regular basis. He plans to only live until his money finishes, when he reaches the age of sixty. However, When Wilson money finishes when he reaches the age of sixty, he continues to live. He borrows some money to continue living by telling landlord that his money would come soon. Wilson manages to live under such pretext for over a year. But he luck runs out, and his landlord tells him to leave if he does not pay his rent. Wilson is faced with a dilemma.

Climax

Wilson attempts suicide by starting a fire using charcoal in his bedroom while the windows are all shut. He is unsuccessful because he is not determined to take his own life. He has not made any major decisions for a long time so when it is time for him to make the most important decision; to take his own life. He is unable to do so.

The Falling Action Stage

He is alive but becomes ill. Both Assunta and her husband, take him to the hospital where his condition gets better. But, he is no more the same Wilson; he has changed. Assunta and her husband allow Wilson to live in a woodshed and they give him food. In return, he takes care of their goats and chicken. The woodshed is very uncomfortable to live in. It is extremely hot during summer, and on the other hand, freezing cold during winter. Wilson becomes a loner; he does not like to meet people. Wilson lives a miserable life. But, it is Wilson, who has chosen the manner to live. It is his choice of life.

The Closure or Ending

Wilson lives for six years in the woodshed. He dies on the hillside, on a night when the full moon appears. He dies overlooking the impeccable Bay of Naples.

Setting -

Setting in a short story refers to the place or geographical location where a story takes place. Setting also relates to a particular time that is referred in the story. Setting
includes the environment or physical space, the atmosphere or situation that causes an event to take place, and the socio-cultural contexts of the people involved or portrayed in
the story.

The story is mainly set in The Island of Capri, Bay of Naples, Italy before the 1900s and after that period (before and after the First World War). Apart from the island, the setting also includes London, where both the writer and main character in the story come from. The Island of Capri is a beautiful place and its beauty has mesmerised Wilson that he returns to the island. He plans to live there for twenty five years before he ends his life. Wilson arrives in the island when he is thirty five and only wishes to live until he is sixty. The writer visits the Island of Capri in 1913 where he sees Wilson. The writer lives Capri in 1914 for London, just before the First World War starts, and returns to Capri 13 years later.

The setting tells us about the people in the story based on their socio-cultural or economic activities. Wilson is an educated person who works in a bank as the manager. He does not work and just spends his time living a simple life. The writer is a traveller, and is visiting a friend in the Island of Capri. Assunta and her husband own properties, and rent their cottage to Wilson. Assunta manages the cottage by cleaning the place and also cooks for the tenant.


Moral Value -

1. It is important to appreciate the gift of life

The story teaches us to appreciate the gift of life. The gift of life is divine. As human we have a moral obligation to protect life and not to end it by committing suicide. Life is too precious and Wilson is unwise to want to end his life upon reaching the age of sixty. We must realise that it is important to live life to the fullest and not act as a coward by committing suicide.

2. It is important to have a vision in life

The story teaches us have a vision in life. Wilson’s life is
empty, meaningless and miserable. He fails to be a success in life. He ends up as a pauper, shuns away from people, living life as if he is a wild animal. The story teaches us that life would be meaningful if we have a vision or ambition. It is important for us to develop ourselves as knowledgeable individuals who are able to contribute to the betterment of the self, society and country. In Wilson case, he has worked as a manager, is well-educated and should be able to lead a meaningful life. But, he chooses to leave everything behind and become a rolling stone which gathers no moss. In the end, he ends up living a pathetic life, and his life is meaningless. The moral of the story is to be positive-minded and have a vision to be a success in life.

3. It is important to be practical

The story teaches us to be practical and learn to solve problems carefully. There is a need for us to be realistic in life. It is important for a person to be educated, get a decent job and contribute to the betterment of society. This is the reality of living in a society. We cannot isolate ourselves and live life alone. No man is an island, thus we need to be part and parcel of society. Wilson behaves strange, living on his own, away from people and later, he avoids people. It is very impractical. It is important to know what is happening around us, living a meaningful and practical life.

4. The importance of being responsible From the story we learn about responsibility. It is important to be responsible. Throughout the story, Wilson is irresponsible. He is not a very responsible person as he wants to live a meaningless life and is willing to end his own life. A responsible person will not be thinking of isolating himself. Moreover, a responsible person will not be thinking of committing suicide. Wilson is also not responsible as he cheats his landlady into believing that he will be getting some money soon. He borrows money from his landlord and does not repay him. He tries to kill himself by starting a fire inside the cottage. Instead of taking care and protecting the cottage, he behaves like an arsonist. From the incidents in the story, we learn that responsibility is an important virtue. It is trait that shows that a person is disciplined and can be trusted.