Orienting Masculinity, Orienting Nation

Focusing on the creation of a masculine British identity, this analysis explores Maugham's work through the lenses of postcolonial, gender, and cultural theory. It highlights Maugham's negotiation between his private homosexual identity and his public persona as a heterosexual writer. The study reveals how Maugham's control of language serves to affirm his public image while contrasting it with the fluidity of language linked to his private life. Ultimately, it argues that Maugham's narratives, despite their exotic settings, reflect a deeper struggle over masculine identity.