“Mr. Know-All” is a short story written by W. Somerset Maugham. The story is narrated in the first person by an unnamed protagonist who is a British man traveling on a ship from San Francisco to Yokohama. The plot revolves around the protagonist’s encounter with a fellow passenger named Mr. Max Kelada, whom he dislikes from the start due to his perceived arrogance and know-it-all attitude.

The protagonist boards a ship bound for Yokohama from San Francisco at the start of the narrative. He discovers that he is sharing a cabin with Mr. Max Kelada, a fellow traveller whom he immediately refers to as “Mr. Know-All” because of his persistent propensity to cut off conversations and demonstrate his knowledge of various subjects. The main character tries to stay away from Kelada as much as possible because he finds his constant babbling and boasting annoying.

The protagonist discovers as the plot develops that Kelada is a British subject who is mixed-race and has some Asian ancestry. He assumes that Kelada’s conceit and sense of entitlement are a result of his insecurities regarding his ancestry, which only serves to increase his contempt for Kelada in light of this revelation.

During the voyage, the protagonist and other passengers engage in a quiz game to pass the time. When a question arises about a pearl necklace, Kelada confidently claims to know the exact number of pearls in it. This assertion sparks the curiosity of the other passengers, and they agree to let Kelada provide the answer later.

To everyone’s shock—including the protagonist’s—Kelada produces a tiny notebook in which he had subtly written down the specifics of the necklace when he had first seen it. The information demonstrates that Kelada wasn’t just bragging; he actually knew the solution.

The protagonist is forced by this incident to reevaluate his unfavourable view of Kelada. He acknowledges that, without knowing Kelada well, he had unfairly judged him based on his behaviour and appearance. The protagonist begins to view Kelada differently as his perspective on him changes.

The protagonist discovers more about Kelada’s private life as the plot develops, including his devotion to his wife and his challenging experiences as an immigrant in various nations. The protagonist learns more about Kelada’s personality and the causes of his actions as a result of these revelations.

At the conclusion, the main character considers the lesson he took away from his run-in with Mr. Kelada. He accepts that not everyone is what they appear to be at first glance and that assumptions made on the basis of appearances can be incorrect. Readers are left with the impression that empathy and understanding are the only ways to truly know someone.

“Mr. Know-All” is a captivating story that explores themes of prejudice, perception, and the importance of seeing beyond surface appearances to understand others better. Through the journey of the protagonist’s character development, Somerset Maugham delivers a subtle yet profound message about the complexities of human nature.