Have you ever felt trapped in a moment—wanting to be polite, yet silently panicking inside? In “The Luncheon” by W. Somerset Maugham, a young writer finds himself in such a situation. What begins as a seemingly harmless meal with a charming woman quickly spirals into an experience that leaves him emotionally and financially drained.

This short story powerfully captures the awkwardness of social expectations, the pressure to please others, and the quiet frustration of not being able to speak your truth. Through subtle humor and sharp irony, Maugham reminds us how one-sided relationships can feel when one person takes and the other silently bears the cost.

At www.dasklibro.com, we understand how stories like these resonate deeply with students. That’s why our NCERT solutions don’t just explain the text—they help you connect emotionally, prepare thoughtfully for exams, and appreciate the deeper lessons behind the humor.

TALKING ABOUT THE TEXT 

1.People with foibles are often not conscious of them.

20 words:

The lady was unaware of her greedy habits. She believed she was modest, but her actions showed a serious contradiction.

40 words:

People often don’t notice their own weaknesses. The lady thought she ate little and was health-conscious, but she kept ordering costly items. Her foible was her greed, which she masked with charm and false modesty, without realizing how contradictory she appeared.

60 words:

The lady in the story had a major foible—her appetite and love for luxurious food. Ironically, she considered herself simple and claimed to eat very little. People like her often don't recognize their own flaws. She thought she was refined and modest, but her actions showed selfishness and insensitivity. Such unconscious behaviour can harm others without any intent.

 80 words:

The story clearly shows how people with foibles often don’t realize them. The lady believed she was eating very little and giving the author a light lunch. But her repeated demands for expensive food and drink proved otherwise. She spoke about health and simplicity, but her greedy actions contradicted her words. She was blind to her faults. This makes her behavior not just selfish, but also ironic. Such people often believe they’re right, while others silently suffer their carelessness.

 2.The author’s attempts at keeping up his pretence of friendliness while he was mentally preoccupied with the expense of the luncheon.

 20 words:

The author smiled and stayed polite while panicking inside. He worried about money but didn’t show it to the lady.

 40 words:

Though deeply worried about the bill, the author stayed friendly and calm. He kept nodding, talking about art and literature, and smiling. All the while, he was mentally calculating costs, fearing he wouldn’t have enough to pay for the food.

60 words:

The author was highly anxious about the rising bill, but he didn’t show it. He kept up a polite conversation about literature and art while watching the lady eat expensive items. Internally, he was stressed and panicked but never let his face reveal the tension. His external calmness was a mask hiding his worry about his emptying wallet.

 80 words:

Even though the author was terrified about how he would afford the meal, he didn’t let his guest see his distress. He kept smiling, talking about literature, and trying to appear relaxed. All the while, his mind was filled with thoughts of the rising bill, his limited money, and the fear of public embarrassment. His polite behaviour was a social mask, showing how people often hide their real emotions to maintain dignity in difficult situations. It highlights the pressure of social appearances.

EXTRA QUESTIONS 

 1.Why did the narrator agree to take the lady to Foyot’s despite his poverty?

🔹 20 words:

He was flattered by her letter and too young to say no to a woman, despite having very little money.

🔹 40 words:

The narrator was flattered when the woman praised his book and asked to meet. Though Foyot’s was expensive, he agreed to impress her. He was young and couldn’t refuse a woman’s request, even though he couldn’t really afford it.

🔹 60 words:

The narrator agreed to the lunch because he was young, flattered, and eager to please. He didn’t want to say no to a woman who appreciated his writing. Even though he had only eighty francs for the month, he thought a modest lunch wouldn’t cost much. He didn’t realise the lunch would turn into a costly burden.

🔹 80 words:

The narrator accepted the lady’s invitation to Foyot’s out of youthful excitement and a desire to impress. She had praised his book and he felt honoured. Although he knew he was poor, he hoped a small lunch wouldn’t be too expensive. He hadn’t learned to say no, especially to a woman. His decision was more emotional than practical, and it reflected his inexperience and eagerness to be liked. This one choice made him suffer through an expensive and humiliating meal.

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 2.What was ironic about the lady’s statement that she never ate more than one thing for luncheon?

🔹 20 words:

Though she claimed to eat just one thing, she ordered many costly dishes like salmon, caviare, asparagus, and a peach.

🔹 40 words:

Her statement was ironic because she said she ate very little, but ordered multiple expensive dishes. Her actions completely contradicted her words. She pretended to be modest, but her appetite was huge. This ironic contrast forms the humorous core of the story.

🔹 60 words:

The lady kept saying she never ate more than one thing for lunch. However, she went on to eat caviare, salmon, asparagus, peach, ice cream, and drank champagne. The irony lies in how her actions betrayed her words. She talked about discipline and health but kept eating more. Her fake modesty and real appetite create the comic irony in the story.

🔹 80 words:

The biggest irony in the story is the woman’s repeated claim that she never eats more than one thing for luncheon. Yet she orders expensive dishes one after another—caviare, salmon, asparagus, a peach, and ice cream. Her false modesty and continuous appetite make her character both comical and annoying. While she criticizes the narrator’s chop, she eats far more than him. This gap between her words and actions makes her character ironic and adds to the humorous tone of the story.

 3.Describe the woman’s personality based on her behaviour at lunch.

🔹 20 words:

She appeared polite and refined but was selfish, greedy, dominating, and unaware of how she troubled the narrator financially.

🔹 40 words:

The woman behaved in a controlling and manipulative way. She spoke sweetly but kept ordering costly dishes. She acted like she ate little but consumed a lot. She ignored the narrator’s discomfort and gave unwanted advice. Her words and actions didn’t match.

🔹 60 words:

At first, the lady seemed charming and cultured. But soon, her behaviour revealed selfishness and a lack of awareness. She claimed to eat very little but kept ordering expensive food. She ignored the narrator’s situation and continued talking, eating, and lecturing him. She was overconfident, self-absorbed, and hypocritical. Her words were polite, but her actions showed no concern for others.

🔹 80 words:

The lady appeared friendly and refined, but her actions revealed a selfish and greedy personality. She kept saying she ate very little, but her actions proved otherwise. She had no sensitivity to the narrator’s financial struggle. Instead, she ordered expensive dishes and gave unwanted advice about eating habits. She dominated the conversation and never noticed the narrator’s discomfort. Her false modesty and self-centered nature made her an ironic and slightly comic character. She was completely unaware of her own flaws.

 4.How did the narrator feel during the meal?

🔹 20 words:

The narrator was nervous and panicked inside. He kept smiling but feared he couldn’t afford the ever-growing bill.

🔹 40 words:

Though he appeared calm outside, the narrator was very worried during the meal. The woman kept ordering costly dishes, and he feared he wouldn’t be able to pay. He was tense, anxious, and mentally counting every franc left in his pocket.

🔹 60 words:

Throughout the lunch, the narrator remained deeply anxious. Each time the woman ordered something new, he silently panicked. He had only eighty francs to survive the month, and the lunch was draining it. He smiled politely and talked about art and literature but was inwardly stressed. His worry grew with each dish, and he feared public embarrassment if he couldn’t pay.

🔹 80 words:

The narrator experienced great internal tension during the entire lunch. Although he kept up a polite and friendly face, he was extremely nervous inside. The woman, while talking about eating lightly, kept ordering expensive items like salmon, caviare, asparagus, and champagne. The narrator feared he wouldn’t be able to pay the bill. He calculated every coin, worried about being embarrassed, and even thought of pretending his wallet had been stolen. His outward composure masked his financial crisis and emotional discomfort.

5.What does the ending of the story suggest about poetic justice?

🔹 20 words:

The woman, once slim and demanding, became very fat later. This change gave the narrator a sense of poetic justice.

🔹 40 words:

Years after the costly lunch, the narrator saw the woman again—now weighing twenty-one stone. Her current state made him feel a quiet revenge. The one who once ate shamelessly at his cost had finally received what she unknowingly deserved.

🔹 60 words:

At the end, the narrator reflects with quiet satisfaction that the once demanding and greedy woman is now extremely overweight. This turn of events feels like poetic justice. She once claimed to eat lightly while draining his wallet, and now life has made her physically reflect her greed. The ending offers comic relief and a sense of moral balance.

🔹 80 words:

The story ends with the narrator revealing that the woman, who once claimed to eat little but devoured an expensive lunch at his expense, now weighs twenty-one stone. This transformation acts as poetic justice. The narrator doesn’t seek revenge, but he feels secretly happy that fate has balanced the scales. The woman’s appearance now reflects her earlier greed. This ironic twist adds humour and completes the story with a satisfying conclusion where karma subtly plays its part.

Here are the next 5 extra questions (Q6–Q10) for The Luncheon by W. Somerset Maugham, with answers in 20, 40, 60, and 80 words, using simple, emphatic, CBSE-friendly, and SEO-optimized language.

6.What role does irony play in the story “The Luncheon”?

🔹 20 words:

Irony runs throughout the story—what the lady says and what she does are completely opposite, creating humorous contrast.

🔹 40 words:

The lady insists she eats lightly but keeps ordering expensive food. This contradiction is ironic. The narrator suffers silently, yet she calls him a humorist. In the end, she becomes very fat. These ironic situations make the story humorous and memorable.

🔹 60 words:

Irony is a key literary device in The Luncheon. The lady talks about her light eating habits but eats multiple costly dishes. She criticizes the narrator’s chop while enjoying expensive food. Ironically, she later becomes overweight. The narrator, who suffered quietly, later finds comic revenge in her appearance. These ironic twists add humour and expose the hypocrisy in human behaviour.

🔹 80 words:

Irony makes The Luncheon both humorous and meaningful. The woman, who repeatedly claims she never eats much, keeps ordering luxurious dishes like caviare, salmon, and asparagus. She mocks the narrator’s chop while indulging herself. Later, the narrator sees her much heavier and feels amused. This ending is another layer of irony. The contrast between words and actions, expectations and reality, creates a comic effect. It also exposes human nature—how people pretend to be what they’re not. Irony enriches both theme and tone.

7.Why did the narrator consider pretending his pocket was picked?

🔹 20 words:

He feared the bill would exceed his money. To avoid embarrassment, he thought of faking a robbery as an excuse.

🔹 40 words:

As the woman kept ordering costly dishes, the narrator panicked. He feared he wouldn't be able to pay the bill. Out of desperation, he thought of pretending that his wallet had been stolen to escape humiliation in front of her.

🔹 60 words:

The narrator was poor and had only eighty francs to last the month. As his guest kept ordering costly food, he feared the bill would be more than he had. In deep panic, he considered pretending that his pocket had been picked. Though dishonest, it seemed like the only way to avoid public embarrassment and maintain his dignity.

🔹 80 words:

The narrator faced a serious financial crisis during the lunch. Every dish the woman ordered pushed the cost higher. He feared that the bill might exceed the money he had. Embarrassment in front of the lady or the restaurant staff would be unbearable. So, he thought about acting like a victim of theft. He imagined dramatically shouting that his pocket had been picked. This desperate idea shows his anxiety, helplessness, and the pressure to maintain social appearance even when completely broke.

8.How did the woman try to justify her large appetite?

🔹 20 words:

She claimed she didn’t eat lunch and only had “a bite.” She pretended everything she ordered was light and necessary.

🔹 40 words:

The woman said she never ate more than one thing. She kept claiming she wasn’t hungry and was eating only for conversation. Even while ordering expensive items, she presented them as small and healthy, trying to hide her actual large appetite.

🔹 60 words:

Throughout the lunch, the woman maintained that she ate very little. She called her multiple dishes “just a bite” or “good for digestion.” She said she didn’t eat lunch seriously and was eating just for company. This false explanation was meant to justify her greed and make her look refined, even as she ordered many costly items one after another.

🔹 80 words:

The woman pretended to be a modest and disciplined eater. She said she never ate lunch and only took “a bite” out of politeness. While ordering luxurious dishes like salmon, caviare, asparagus, and even champagne, she kept justifying them as healthy or light. She claimed that people who ate meat were ruining their digestion, indirectly scolding the narrator. Her comments and excuses were all attempts to hide her large appetite behind fake grace and self-control. But her actions exposed the truth.

 9.Describe the narrator’s inner conflict during the luncheon.

🔹 20 words:

The narrator appeared calm outside but inside, he was panicking about the cost, fearing he couldn’t pay the bill.

🔹 40 words:

Though smiling politely, the narrator was mentally disturbed. With every dish ordered, his worry grew. He feared humiliation if he couldn’t pay. He even thought of pretending his money was stolen. This strong inner conflict made the lunch a nightmare.

🔹 60 words:

The narrator’s inner conflict was between his manners and financial fear. He didn’t want to seem rude or cheap, so he kept smiling and acting normal. But inside, he was panicking about the growing bill. He calculated the cost, worried about the tip, and even imagined lying about his pocket being picked. His outer calmness hid deep anxiety and helplessness.

🔹 80 words:

The narrator suffered from a deep internal struggle throughout the lunch. On the outside, he behaved politely and tried to be a good host. But inside, he was anxious and stressed as the lady kept ordering expensive dishes. He worried whether he had enough money to pay. The thought of public embarrassment haunted him. He even imagined pretending his pocket had been picked to escape the situation. This tension between social expectations and personal fear made the entire experience deeply uncomfortable for him.

10.What lesson does the story “The Luncheon” teach us?

🔹 20 words:

It teaches us to be cautious, not get flattered easily, and always be aware of people’s real intentions and behaviour.

🔹 40 words:

The story shows that people are not always what they seem. The narrator was flattered and suffered for it. It teaches us not to be too trusting, especially when dealing with selfish or manipulative people who hide their greed behind sweet words.

🔹 60 words:

The Luncheon teaches readers to look beyond appearances and be careful about whom we trust. The narrator believed the woman’s words and paid the price—literally. The story shows how people can be selfish while pretending to be polite. It reminds us to stay practical and not let flattery cloud our judgement. It’s also a lesson in self-awareness and emotional control.

🔹 80 words:

W. Somerset Maugham’s The Luncheon teaches us important life lessons about people and decision-making. The narrator was flattered by the woman’s praise and ignored his financial limits. This led to embarrassment and loss. The woman appeared refined but was selfish and greedy. The story shows that we must not blindly trust people who pretend to be kind. It also teaches us to be honest about our situation and say no when needed. The humorous tone delivers a serious lesson on caution and self-respect.

✅11.Why did the narrator not protest during the expensive lunch?

🔹 20 words:

He wanted to be polite and didn’t know how to say no. He was too young and shy to object.

🔹 40 words:

The narrator stayed silent because he didn’t want to seem rude. He was young, flattered by her attention, and wanted to impress her. Even though he was worried about money, he kept quiet out of politeness and social pressure.

🔹 60 words:

The narrator didn’t protest during the lunch because he didn’t want to offend the lady. He was young, inexperienced, and eager to appear courteous. He was also trying to maintain his dignity. Although terrified by the growing bill, he remained outwardly calm. His inability to express discomfort reflects the struggle many people face between manners and personal limitations.

🔹 80 words:

The narrator found himself trapped between politeness and panic. Though he was anxious about the rising cost of the lunch, he didn’t say anything. He feared sounding rude or ungentlemanly. He was also too flattered and too young to handle the situation firmly. His social conditioning stopped him from expressing his worries. This inner conflict is common when people try to please others at their own cost. His silence reveals both his decency and his helplessness in a socially awkward situation.

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✅  12.What shows the lady’s hypocrisy in the story?

🔹 20 words:

She claimed to eat lightly but kept ordering costly dishes. She judged the narrator but indulged herself freely without concern.

🔹 40 words:

The lady said she never ate more than one thing, yet ordered salmon, caviare, asparagus, peach, and ice cream. She also drank champagne. While judging the narrator’s chop, she showed no restraint. This clear gap between her words and actions reveals hypocrisy.

🔹 60 words:

Her hypocrisy is visible in every act. She claimed she never ate more than one thing, but kept ordering expensive dishes and drinks. She also mocked the narrator’s food choices while indulging herself. Her health-conscious talk and actual eating habits didn’t match. She pretended to be polite and refined, but her behaviour showed selfishness and double standards. Her words never matched her actions.

🔹 80 words:

The lady in The Luncheon is a classic example of hypocrisy. She keeps repeating that she never eats lunch or more than one thing, yet ends up eating an entire multi-course meal of costly items. She drinks champagne while claiming to avoid drinks. She criticizes the narrator’s small chop for being heavy, while devouring rich dishes herself. Her false modesty, fake concern for health, and careless disregard for his situation reveal a two-faced nature. Her polite words only hide her selfishness.

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✅ 13.How did the narrator manage to stay calm despite being worried?

🔹 20 words:

He kept smiling and talking politely while hiding his tension. Inside, he was panicking, but he never showed it.

🔹 40 words:

The narrator stayed outwardly calm during the lunch by keeping a polite conversation going. Even though he feared the growing bill, he did not show panic. He spoke about art and literature while silently worrying about whether he could afford the meal.

🔹 60 words:

Although the narrator was extremely worried about the cost of the lunch, he didn’t show it. He managed to hide his stress behind polite conversation. He kept discussing art, smiling, and nodding, while deep inside, he was calculating the rising bill. His calm behaviour was a social mask meant to avoid embarrassment and maintain dignity despite inner anxiety and helplessness.

🔹 80 words:

The narrator displayed impressive self-control during the lunch. Although he was panicking inside due to the rising cost, he didn’t allow it to show. He kept up pleasant conversation and smiled politely while discussing literature and art. His ability to hide his financial fear came from his desire to be seen as respectable. His calm face was a cover for his stormy thoughts. This contrast between appearance and reality reflects his inner struggle to balance social expectations and personal limitations.

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✅14.What is the significance of the restaurant Foyot’s in the story?

🔹 20 words:

Foyot’s was an expensive restaurant for French senators. It symbolized luxury and was far beyond the narrator’s limited means.

🔹 40 words:

Foyot’s is a high-class restaurant that represents wealth and status. The narrator had never been there before due to its expense. The lady chose it casually, but it became the place where the narrator suffered a financial and emotional crisis.

🔹 60 words:

Foyot’s represents the difference between appearance and reality. For the lady, it was a casual lunch spot, but for the narrator, it was a luxury he couldn’t afford. The restaurant symbolizes social class, pretence, and the emotional burden placed on the poor. It’s at Foyot’s that the narrator loses his month's savings and faces his guest’s hypocritical behaviour in silence.

🔹 80 words:

Foyot’s plays a key role in highlighting the theme of class and appearance. It is a restaurant for the elite—French senators—which the narrator could never afford on his own. His decision to meet the lady there shows his desire to please and his inexperience. For the woman, it was just a location, but for the narrator, it was the setting of humiliation, sacrifice, and emotional stress. The contrast between what Foyot’s meant to both characters deepens the story’s irony and humour.

 15.What did the narrator mean when he said, “I’ll eat nothing for dinner tonight”?

🔹 20 words:

He meant it literally. After spending all his money on the lunch, he had nothing left for dinner that night.

🔹 40 words:

This was not just a joke—he truly had no money left. After paying for the expensive lunch, he couldn’t afford dinner. It was a sarcastic way to express his misery, showing the cost of trying to impress the lady.

🔹 60 words:

The narrator’s line, “I’ll eat nothing for dinner tonight,” reflects both sarcasm and reality. He was left penniless after paying for the lady’s costly lunch. While she took it as a joke and called him a humorist, he was being honest in a bitter, ironic way. It shows his helplessness, sacrifice, and the painful cost of politeness and flattery.

🔹 80 words:

When the narrator said, “I’ll eat nothing for dinner tonight,” it was more than a witty remark—it was a truth wrapped in humour. He had spent all his money on the lavish lunch to impress a woman who showed no concern for his condition. His sarcastic comment was meant to hide his pain and disappointment. The woman, unaware of his struggle, took it as a joke. This line shows the narrator’s inner suffering and the story’s powerful use of irony and subtle humour.

 16.How does the story show the gap between rich and poor?

🔹 20 words:

The woman’s careless spending and the narrator’s financial worry highlight the sharp difference between wealthy comfort and poor helplessness.

🔹 40 words:

The lady orders expensive food without thinking, while the narrator silently calculates every franc. He fears embarrassment and financial ruin. This contrast shows how the rich enjoy luxury without stress, while the poor silently suffer just to keep up appearances in society.

🔹 60 words:

The story portrays the economic gap through the behaviour of the two main characters. The woman casually orders expensive dishes, showing no concern about money. Meanwhile, the narrator, poor and struggling, panics with each order. He hides his anxiety behind a polite smile. His silence and sacrifice contrast with her carelessness. It reflects how wealth creates blind privilege, while poverty brings quiet suffering.

🔹 80 words:

The luncheon clearly displays the gap between the rich and poor. The woman’s attitude is one of entitlement—she orders food without considering the cost. The narrator, on the other hand, worries silently about every franc. He’s forced to play along to avoid embarrassment. His fear of being judged or humiliated shows how the poor must hide their hardship. The rich often remain unaware of how their actions affect others. The story uses humour and irony to highlight this painful social truth.

 17.How did the narrator describe the lady’s appearance?

🔹 20 words:

He said she was not very attractive, older than expected, and had more teeth than necessary for practical use.

🔹 40 words:

The narrator found the lady older than he thought—around forty—and said she wasn’t very attractive. He noted her large, white, even teeth, joking that she had more than needed. This small detail showed his subtle humour and observation.

🔹 60 words:

The narrator described the lady as imposing rather than attractive. She was around forty, with a large build and too many white, even teeth. Her appearance didn’t impress him much, and this physical description hinted at her dominating personality. It also reflected his disappointment, as she wasn’t the charming woman he imagined. His clever wording adds humour and sets the tone for the lunch experience.

🔹 80 words:

The narrator was surprised when he met the woman. She was not as young or attractive as he had imagined. She was about forty and looked imposing, not charming. What caught his attention most was her set of large, white teeth, which he humorously said were more than necessary for any practical use. This witty remark reflects his comic tone and sets the mood of awkward expectation versus disappointing reality. It also hints that her outward presence matched her inward appetite and dominance.

✅ 18.How did the narrator feel after paying the bill?

🔹 20 words:

He felt drained and broke. He had no money left for the whole month and gave a very small tip.

🔹 40 words:

The narrator felt humiliated after paying the heavy bill. He had no money left and could only leave a small tip. He noticed the woman’s judging look and felt embarrassed. He walked out of the restaurant with an empty pocket.

🔹 60 words:

After paying the bill, the narrator was completely broke. He had only enough money to leave a small tip, which made the woman look at him disapprovingly. He felt embarrassed, humiliated, and helpless. He knew she thought he was stingy, even though he had spent everything. The meal left him penniless for the entire month, adding to his silent suffering.

🔹 80 words:

Once the narrator paid the bill, he was left with absolutely nothing. He could only leave a small tip, and the woman’s eyes briefly rested on it, making him feel even more humiliated. He knew she considered him cheap, without realizing he had spent all he had. As he walked out of the restaurant, he had the whole month ahead with no money at all. This moment reflects his misery, helplessness, and the emotional toll of trying to maintain appearances.

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✅  19.Why is the story titled “The Luncheon”?

🔹 20 words:

The entire plot revolves around a single lunch. This luncheon changes the narrator’s mood, pocket, and future view of the guest.

🔹 40 words:

The title “The Luncheon” is fitting because the story’s events unfold during one lunch meeting. It highlights the woman’s hypocrisy, the narrator’s suffering, and the irony of social behaviour. The simple event of a lunch leaves a lasting impression on him.

🔹 60 words:

The story is titled “The Luncheon” because everything happens during one lunch between the narrator and a lady admirer. The lunch becomes a symbol of irony, manners, social pretence, and silent suffering. It reflects how a simple meal can turn into a life-altering memory. The title captures the core setting and theme of the story—one awkward, unforgettable, and ironic lunch.

🔹 80 words:

The title “The Luncheon” may sound simple, but it carries deep meaning. The story revolves around a lunch that the narrator had twenty years ago with a woman who claimed to eat very little but consumed expensive dishes without concern. This one meal caused him financial stress and taught him an unforgettable life lesson. The lunch becomes a symbol of polite suffering, social pretence, and later, poetic justice. The entire story, its humour, irony, and revenge, all begin and end with that single lunch.

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✅ 20.What makes the story relatable to readers even today?

🔹 20 words:

The story shows human nature—flattery, social pressure, hypocrisy, and silent suffering—which are still part of our lives today.

🔹 40 words:

Readers can relate to the story because it shows real emotions and situations: trying to impress others, hiding struggles, and dealing with people who say one thing but do another. Such social awkwardness and irony are still very common today.

🔹 60 words:

The Luncheon remains relatable because many people still face similar situations. We often pretend to be okay while struggling inside, and many times, we meet people who take advantage of kindness. The narrator’s effort to impress, hide his stress, and deal with a hypocritical guest reflects everyday realities. The humour, irony, and emotional conflict in the story still connect with readers.

🔹 80 words:

The story is timeless because it captures everyday human experiences. Many people today still try to please others while silently suffering. The narrator’s internal panic, the woman’s false charm, and the burden of social expectations feel very real. Everyone has faced awkward moments when they couldn’t say no or were too polite to express discomfort. The story’s humour, emotional honesty, and relatable situations make it enjoyable and meaningful for modern readers, showing that human nature hasn’t changed much over time.