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Two themes revealed in the novel “The moon and sixpence”
1. The revolt of an individual against the well- established conventions of bourgeois society
In many of his stories, Maugham reveals to us the unhappy life and the revolt against the setsocial order. The Moon and Sixpence was written in this line. It is a story of the conflict betweenthe artist and the conventional society based on the life of a painter. The revolt of an individualagainst the well-established conventions of bourgeois society was shown in the following twoaspects:
1.1.Money worship society
The bourgeois society with its vices such as: snobbishness money worship, pretense, self-interest…made their profit of the frailties of mankind. To them, money was a useful tool todominate both economics and politics. Money also helped the bourgeois maintain their regal lifeand it connected the members in family, on the other hand, husband had obligated to support hiswife and children for whole his life. Therefore, the last generations of the bourgeois forced theyoung generation to continue their domination. It was mentioned in the conversation betweenStrickland and his friend.
“I rather wanted to be a painter when I was a boy, but my father made me go into business becausehe said there was no money in art”.
In this society, art was non-profitable. Therefore, it must be looked down upon. In their point of view, art was nothing more than just a JOB to earn money. They did not see the beautiful
things that art brings. When Strickland decided to follow in his father's footsteps, his dream andaspiration were hidden on the bottom of his heart. After working hard for ages, he became a prosperous stockbroker. He is probably a worthy member of society.However, there is in streets of the poor quarters a thronging vitality which excites the bloodand prepares the soul for the unexpected.It was actually happened in Paris, because Strickland gave up the luxury life and gotacquainted with hard life just only wanted to fulfill a long-cherished dream. He had to give up hisdream to follow his father’s wishes.
“I want to paint.”“I’ve got to paint.”
The brief answer expressed his willingness to get out of ideology ties which were imposed by his father. And his hand and mind would express his big dream by painting masterpieces.
“I couldn’t get what I wanted in London. Perhaps I can here.”“I tell you I’ve got to paint.”
The author said that
“I seemed to feel in him some vehement power that was struggling within him, it gave me the sensation of something very strong, overmastering, that held him”
And Strickland cannot have a comfortable life any more.
“I haven’t any money. I’ve got about a hundred pounds.”
We could probably see it through Strickland’s appearance when he came to Paris.
“Sitting there in his old Norfolk jacket and his unnourished bowler, his trousers were baggy, hishands were not clean; and his face, with the red stubble of the unshaved chin, the little eyes, and the large, aggressive nose, was uncouth and coarse.”
1.2 Family and social responsibilities
Painting is not only a ‘dreamy moon’ of Strickland but also of many progressive people in bourgeois society. According to bourgeois concepts, all the men have to be responsible for hisfamily and children. He’s forced to have a strong connection with what is considered to belong tohim. Strickland’s life is tied tightly down to family’s contract. However, all that sort of thingsmeans nothing at all to him. He doesn’t let those reasons impact on his way chasing his passion anylonger. It can be obviously proved through the conversation between two men, Strickland and theauthor, in chapter II of the novel.
‘Hang it all, one can’t leave a woman without a bob.’ ‘Why not?’ ‘How is she going to live?’ ‘I’ve supported her for seventeen years. Why shouldn’t she support herself for a change?’ ‘Let her try.’ ‘Don’t you care for her anymore?’ ‘Not a bit’
When Strickland talks about his children, his attitude is revealed to be heartlessly scornful.
‘They’ve had a good many years of comfort. It’s much more than the majority of children have.
Besides, somebody will look after them. When it comes to the point, the Mac Andrews will pay for their schooling.’ ‘I like them all right when they were kids, but now they’ve growing up I haven’t got any particular feeling for them.’
He totally gives up on his own family, children and thinks that they could live by themselveswithout his care. Even if they can’t make arrangement for their life, his relatives might come tohelp. Strickland also doesn’t mind what people loathe and despise him.
‘Everyone will think you a perfect swine.’ ‘Let them.’ ‘Won’t it mean anything to you that people loathe and despise you?’ ‘No’ ‘You don’t care if people think you an utter black-guard?’ ‘Not a damn.’ He really doesn’t care any longer.‘You won’t go back to your wife?’ ‘Never’ ‘You don’t care if she and your children have to beg their bread?’ ‘Not a damn.’
He does everything: abandoned wife and children; left his successful career behind just because he totally hates that gloomy society and its old customs.Only by a short conversation between two men, the author already describes the stronglyreactive mind of Strickland, a man who dares to stand up and fight over the old customs of that boring society and bourgeois. Regarding to Strickland’s point of view, his escape is the onlydecision; it’s also the solution to release his imprisoning mind. He doesn’t regret or be ashamed of what he’s done. He accepts the eyes of society because he doesn’t care. Actually, it’s never ever meant anything to him. The only thing that he really cares is his mind right now freely to follow anddo everything he ever dreams of in his own ‘dreamy moon’.
2. No rooms for trivial and ordinary pleasures of life in Great Art
2.1
Sacrifice everything to be an artist.
At the beginning, the stockbroker Strickland had a stable life with happy family. However,when he started to chase his path as an artist, he had to experience a poor situation. Moreover, hewas willing to get rid of everything to be an artist. Great art don’t depend on age as long as youhave real passion. Even though at the age of forty
“the chances are a million to one”
, Stricklandstill wants to be a painter.
“I can learn quicker than I could when I was eighteen”
, said he.He wanted to be a painter when he was a boy but his father didn’t allow him. His father consumed that there was money in art. Therefore, he had to give up his passion for such a longtime. However, his fire for art wasn’t stamped out. And this was the perfect time for him toimplement his dream again. On his way chasing that dream, he had to sacrifice everything. He passed by the material and the sensual to fulfill spiritual needs
.
He got rid of a happy family with acomfortable life to go to Paris and lived in destitute life there
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