Frontmatter -- ACKNOWLEDGMENT -- TABLE OF CONTENTS -- I. W. SOMERSET MAUGHAM: AN ENIGMA AND A PLAN -- II. INTRODUCTION TO MAUGHAM'S COMIC ATTITUDE -- III. STRUCTURE AND IDEA AS DETERMINANTS OF MAUGHAM'S DRAMATIC COMEDY -- IV. MAUGHAM'S IMAGE OF SOCIETY AS REFLECTED IN THE MARRIAGE CONTRACT -- V. THE ILLUSION AND REALITY OF A CLASSLESS SOCIETY AND OF A CLASS CONSCIOUS SOCIETY -- VI. THE CONFLICT OF AUSTERITY AND OPULENCE AND A REVISED VIEW OF PRIVILEGE AND RESPONSIBILITY -- VII. CYNIC AND REPORTER: CONTRADICTION OF THEORY AND PRACTICE -- VIII. THE HUMAN IMAGE IN MAUGHAM'S DRAMATIC COMEDY -- Appendix -- BIBLIOGRAPHY