The Lion’s Share
Arnold Bennett
Arnold
Bennett’s “The Lion’s Share” is a humorous short story. Most of his stories are
located in Five Towns. This story also takes place in Five Towns. Arnold
Bennett begins the story by stating that this particular incident was very
famous among the people of Five Towns. Everyone including the narrator consider
that incident as a comedy. But when he wanted to write it as a story, he felt
it as a tragedy. Bennett says that he leaves it to the judgement of the readers
to decide whether it as a comedy or tragedy.
Mrs.
Carpole, a widow lived with her stepson Horace and her son Sidney at Bleak
ridge. Horace was nineteen years old who was seen as a model boy due to his
commitment in business and interest in learning new things. He took care for
his step brother as like an uncle. Might be due to his perfect nature, he did
not have any friends. Sidney was contradictory to his brother. He was eight
years old; with very attractive personality he received everyone’s love. But he
was affected with slight deafness and weak physic with frequent fever. At that time,
after getting cured from a disease, Sidney started to walk slowly. Horace
thought that he should be brought downstairs for fresh air. He decided to carry
him down in spite of disapproval from Sidney and Mrs. Carpole. Horace was
determined with his mission and carried him down. Unfortunately Horace fell
down with Sidney. Sidney was affected by it and Horace spent his savings to
treat Sidney.
Later
Horace arranged school education for Sidney. Unfortunately the same evening
Sidney was affected severely with attacks. Hence his schooling was stopped and
the neighbours started blaming Horace for dropping him in the staircase. Horace tried spending huge amount to a great
brain specialist at Manchester. Even then there was no development. As Sidney
started having the attacks regularly, Horace sent him every year for six weeks
to some sea side resorts. Horace spent huge amount for it and people said that
he should feel happy to have money to spend on his brother. The agony of
Sidney’s tragic condition and his deafness slowly killed his mother. Later
Horace inherited property of his maternal grandfather and Sidney did not have
any. People advised that he should share his fortune with his half brother.
Accepting their views he bought a house and started living with his brother.
Moreover he started a business. Sidney started working in Horace office but due
to his ill health not regular to work. Even then Horace paid him three pounds a
week as salary.
Horace met a girl named Ella whom he
thought as a nice girl, who was a guest to Mrs. Penkethman’s house. That time
Sidney went to foreign country for refreshment. Horace invited Ella and Mrs.
Penkethman to his house for an evening.
Surprisingly Sidney returned from his trip when they entered. Sidney was
so handsome and Ella was attracted towards him. They both spent time together
and later they fell in love with each other. Horace spent a lot of money for
their marriage. He arranged a house and furnished things for the married couple
to live happily. He spent huge amount for their happiness which resulted in
loss in business. Ella and Sidney went to Llandudno for some period. Meanwhile
Horace settled all his debts, and went to meet Sidney and Ella. Even there he
hid his bankrupt condition instead said that he was going to Germany.
A few months later when Sidney and
Ella returned Bursley, the house of Horace was about to be auctioned. They
decided to buy as it is their family property. They bought it and lived in the
house. They named their child Horace. After several years Horace returned to
Bursley to meet his brother’s family and was expecting to narrate his adventure
in Germany. But they invited him casually as if he left the previous day. When
they were going down for tea, little Horace asked his uncle to carry him down.
The matured Horace answered immediately that he cannot; otherwise he has to
loss all his money.
The title “The Lion’s share” means
big/huge share. In the story though Horace inherited huge money and in business
made money, he did not enjoy his money, Whereas Sidney enjoyed the money. Hence
Sidney got the lion’s share in the story.
Superb explanation
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