The Moon and Sixpence
📘 About This Book
Set against the backdrop of late nineteenth and early twentieth-century London and Paris, this classic work of English fiction explores the high cost of artistic genius and the intoxicating allure of creative obsession. The narrative follows a respectable, middle-class stockbroker who abruptly abandons his conventional family life, social standing, and material comforts to pursue an all-consuming passion for painting. Leaving behind the safety of bourgeois society, he drifts toward the South Seas in search of an uncompromised existence where he can channel his raw vision onto canvas. Through the eyes of an observant narrator, the story examines the profound conflict between societal duty and individual self-expression, questioning whether true greatness justifies the cruelty inflicted upon those left behind. Somerset Maugham delivers a penetrating psychological portrait inspired loosely by the life of the French painter Paul Gauguin, presenting a timeless meditation on beauty, sacrifice, and the relentless drive of the creative spirit.
📖 Summary
William Somerset Maugham's enduring classic presents a profound and unsettling exploration of artistic obsession, inspired loosely by the life of the painter Paul Gauguin. The narrative unfolds through the perspective of an unnamed narrator, a young and aspiring writer in London who becomes casually acquainted with Charles Strickland, a seemingly ordinary, middle-aged stockbroker. Strickland leads a conventional life, possessing a dull job, a respectable wife, and two children, giving no outward sign of any extraordinary inner depth or creative spark. Without warning, explanation, or apparent remorse, Strickland abandons his family and comfortable existence, fleeing to Paris to pursue a consuming passion for painting. His departure causes immense social scandal and leaves his wife and children in financial distress, yet Strickland remains entirely indifferent to the suffering and confusion he leaves behind. The narrator encounters Strickland in Paris, discovering a man living in abject squalor, completely indifferent to physical comfort, social norms, or moral conventions. Strickland possesses no formal artistic training, yet he works with a furious, almost demonic energy, driven by a vision that he must bring to life regardless of the cost to himself or anyone else. He treats those who try to help him with casual cruelty and contempt, most notably Stroeve, a sentimental and kindhearted Dutch painter who recognizes Strickland's genius and desperately tries to rescue him from starvation and illness, only to be repaid with utter ingratitude and humiliation. Strickland's journey eventually leads him away from civilization altogether, traveling through Marseille and ultimately settling in Tahiti. In the South Pacific tropics, among native islanders and distant from European society, Strickland finally finds an environment that nourishes his soul and allows his bizarre, transcendent artistic vision to fully mature before his tragic death. Throughout the novel, Maugham examines the high cost of genius and the stark contrast between conventional middle-class morality and the ruthless, single-minded pursuit of beauty. The title itself serves as a metaphor, contrasting the unreachable, poetic beauty of the moon with the mundane, necessary silver sixpence of everyday life, suggesting that some individuals are willing to sacrifice everything earthly for a glimpse of the transcendent. Maugham refuses to judge his protagonist harshly or excuse his behavior, instead presenting him as a man possessed by a force greater than himself, leaving readers to ponder whether such extreme selfishness is the necessary price of true greatness.
🎯 Key Lessons
⚖️ Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
Compelling and psychologically complex character study
Engaging exploration of the nature of art and obsession
Rich, observant prose style characteristic of Somerset Maugham
Thought-provoking philosophical questions about morality versus passion
⚠️ Cons
The protagonist can be intensely unlikable and cruel
Some secondary characters serve more as plot devices than fully realized individuals
✍️ About the Author
W. Somerset Maugham (1874-1965) was an English author known for sharply observed fiction, including 'Of Human Bondage' and 'The Razor's Edge'.
View all books →❓ FAQ
What is the main theme of The Moon and Sixpence? +
The novel primarily explores the nature of artistic genius, obsession, and the heavy personal cost of pursuing a singular calling at the expense of societal norms and human relationships.
Is the book based on a real person? +
Yes, the character of Charles Strickland is loosely inspired by the life and artistic trajectory of the French post-Impressionist painter Paul Gauguin.
Who is the narrator of the story? +
The story is told by an unnamed first-person narrator who is a writer acquainted with Strickland and various people affected by his sudden transformation.
What does the title mean? +
The title serves as a metaphor contrasting the sublime, unreachable beauty of the moon with the mundane, practical currency of the everyday world.
Where does the story ultimately take place? +
The narrative begins in London, moves to the bohemian art scene of Paris, and ultimately concludes in the tropical setting of Tahiti.
