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Part 5, Chapter 6
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Razor’s Edge, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Wisdom and the Meaning of Life
Social Norms and Conformity
Trauma and Self-Destruction
Snobbishness, Social Status, and Cosmopolitanism
Truth and the Problem of Evil
Summary
Analysis
Somerset returns home to the Riviera a week later and receives a note that Elliott, who is ill in bed, would like to see him. Somerset goes to see him and is surprised to find that Elliott seems rather lively. A week later, Somerset sees Elliott out at a party. A few days later, Elliott is bedridden again. When Somerset goes to see him, Elliott is forlorn that he hasn’t been invited to an upcoming party. Somerset goes the next day to see Edna Novemali, the person who is throwing the party.
Even though Elliott seems to be approaching death, his main concern is that he hasn’t been invited to a party, which shows the fleeting nature of the social status that Elliott has spent his life cultivating. The novel argues that Elliott’s pursuit of status has led Elliott to a dead end where what he thought was meaningful has been deprived of him in ways that he can’t control.
Themes
At Edna’s house, Somerset is determined to tactfully secure an invitation for Elliott. When he asks Edna why she hasn’t invited Elliott, she says he’s a bore and a snob. Elliott then goes to Edna’s secretary, Miss Keith. Miss Keith says Elliott has always been civil to her. She says she would never do anything to betray her employer, but she can’t help what happens when her back is turned. She says the invitations are on a nearby table, and she looks away while Somerset puts one of the invitations into his pocket.
Somerset shows again the kind of friend he is, going out of his way to steal an invitation to the party for Elliott. Somerset doesn’t stand to gain anything himself from stealing the invitation, and he thinks Elliott’s obsession with the party is pitiable, but he still takes it upon himself to try to ensure that Elliott dies in peace, even if he thinks that what will help Elliott achieve that peace is ridiculous.
Themes
