THE CONCEPT OF THE FANTASTIC IN SOMERSET MAUGHAM'S WORKS IN THE CONTEXT OF ENGLISH NOVEL THEORIES OF THE FIRST HALF OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

The present article examines the concept of the fantastic in the works of William Somerset Maugham within the broader framework of English novel theories of the first half of the twentieth century. Although Maugham is traditionally regarded as a realist writer, many of his narratives incorporate elements of the fantastic, supernatural, psychological ambiguity, and metaphysical uncertainty. These elements function not merely as literary devices but as instruments for exploring human consciousness, morality, and the limits of rational perception.