Abstract

The Moon and Sixpence was written by the British writer W.S. Maugham, after his first autobiographical novel Of Human Bondage. The novel is based on a French Impressionist painter Paul Gauguin’s life experience, which has described the main character Strickland, an ordinary London stockbroker who suddenly abandoned his family one day, and came to Paris to pursue art. He lived a spiritual life in Paris and was apathetic towards the surrounding things. He strived for the freedom of soul, for the beauty and passion restrained by the reality. Eventually, he arrived at Tahiti where he settled down the primitive life. This thesis aims to analyze the contrast between the artistic pursuit and realistic life existing in the main character Strickland. The main part of this thesis will divide Strickland’s life into three parts according to his life experience in London, Paris and Tahiti to show the influence of these three places in modeling the personality of Strickland. Meanwhile, it will make a comparison with its archetype Gauguin to emphasis the exaggerated image of Strickland’s craziness towards painting in order to intensify the contrast.

Keywords: The Moon and Sixpence; W.S. Maugham; contrast; artistic pursuit; realistic life

Contents

Abstract

摘  要

1. Introduction-1

2. The incompatibility between the dream and reality.-3

2.1. Dramatic change on Charles Strickland-3

2.1.1. Ordinary life as a stock broker in London-4

2.1.2. Fanaticism for art in Paris-6

2.1.3. Self-sublimation in Tahiti-8

3. The Archetype in Real Life —Gauguin-9

3.1. Similarity between Strickland and Gauguin-9

3.2. Difference between Strickland and Gauguin-10

4. Conclusion-10

Reference-12