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W. Somerset Maugham’s short story “Rain” is a look into mans dark side. It is about arrogance, contempt, and self-righteousness, but mostly about one man’s fanatical obsession with power and how that power finally destroys him. Maugham starts his story by giving us a brief insight into the attitudes of some of the major characters, Dr. and Mrs. Macphail and Rev. and Mrs. Davidson, missionaries on a voyage to their respective outposts. In the opening paragraphs we find that both the Macphails and Davidsons look down their noses at the “rough lot” they are forced to ship with. Both are of the opinion that they are “above” the others. Mrs. Macphail tells her husband how flattered she is that the Davidson’s think that she and her husband are the only people on board whom they are willing to associate; however, Dr. Macphail is quick to point out about the Davidson’s, “The founder of their religion wasn’t so exclusive.” In the morning, looking out over Samoa Mrs. Davidson is talking to Dr. Macphail about her district and how she is glad she is not stationed here. “There are one or two traders, of course, but we make them behave, and if they don’t we make it so hot for them they’re glad to go.” She spoke of the “depravity of the natives” and how dancing was suppressed among the locals. When questioned why she merely stated “But among white people it’s not quite the same.” Native dancing is another matter, “It’s not only immoral in itself, but it distinctly leads to immorality.” It is here that we get a sense of the feeling of superiority, by virtue of their “station” in life, that the Dr. his wife and Mrs. Davidson have. Mrs.
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