When you read The Razor's Edge by W. Somerset Maugham, several of the characters in the book are exact opposites of each other. One person that is a perfect example is Larry (Lawrence). Larry is essentially the hinge character. Everyone comes to a conclusion about him, however he does not feel obliged to do so in return. He is not concerned in respect to the searches of others, yet it seems like everyone is concerned with Larry's pursuits. It is interesting that while everyone seems to be so involved in evaluating Larry's mental state of mind, he remains the most stable and sane of them all. While the other characters lives are rising and falling like roller coasters, Larry has for the most part spent the time maintaining normality. It seems like Maugham is the person that is most similar and relatable to Larry.
             Elliott and Isabel are the perfect opposites to the character of Larry. They represent materialism. Isabelle represents Larry's generation, Elliott represents someone of an older generation. Elliott basically looked down upon and believed that Larry had no money to speak of, no position, or prospects. "I had a kind of sneaking sympathy for the boy. I couldn't blame him for wanting to spend a couple of years in Paris and I was prepared to launch him." (pg 57.) Although Isabel was truly in love with Larry, she eventually chose Gray Maturin instead because she didn't want to spend her life loafing around and asking hypothetical questions about the world. Isabelle also looks with disdain upon Larry's studies because they are unrealistic to her. One thing that Maugham agrees upon with the other characters, is that money means freedom, while on the other hand to Larry, it is a thing of oppression or burden. The one other character that just took in what they saw of Larry was Mrs. Bradley, Isabel's mother. Rather than attackin
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