Perhaps the central question that readers may want to examine is whether Maugham gives enough early clues to Red's identity or not enough. Then the topic of whether it matters if one guesses the name of the listener to Neilson's sad story could be discussed. Certainly, Maugham did not insert these details into the story for no reason. Does an early recognition of Red enhance the effect of the tale or not?

1. One critic says that there is no crueler love story than this. Is "cruel" a strong enough term for "Red"? Would you call it "tragic"?

2. How important is the setting? Could the plot have been as effectively developed in another place? Is the idyllic setting appropriate for the themes?

3. Is Neilson's decision to return home at the end truly credible? Is the "objective correlative" adequate to provide the motivation for this extreme action?

4. Can...