Abstract

 The Moon and Sixpence is a second novel of the British novelist Maugham. The protagonist Strickland can not give up the “six pence” in his daily life, and pursues the visional “moon” tenaciously, which reveals the contradiction between the human pursuit of freedom and the social reality in this novel. By exploring how Strickland gets rid of the bondage of the society and finally obtains the valuable freedom and inspiration in his pursuit of the artistic ideal, this thesis focuses on the analysis of Strickland’s sober awareness of reality and his mad pursuit of the artistic ideal, as well as the interpretation of the conflict between ideal and reality in the novel. Therefore, the process of Strickland’s unveiling the facade of secular reality is, in a sense, a crazy and spiritual trek. Moreover, due attention should also be paid to Maugham’s deep exploration into the contradiction of humanity and the complex connotation of human life.

Keywords: The Moon and Sixpence;  ideal;  reality;  conflict;  humanity

Contents

Abstract

摘要

1. Introduction.1                          

1.1 Maugham profile.1

1.2 A Brief Introduction to The Moon and Sixpence.1

2. Literature Review2

2.1 Foreign studies on The Moon and Sixpence2

2.2 Domestic studies on The Moon and Sixpence.2

2.3 The significance of this thesis.3

3. Reality Condition of the Protagonist in The Moon and Sixpence4

3.1 The material demand of the protagonist4

3.2 The physiological desire of the protagonist.4

4. The Protagoist’s Pursuit of Ideal in The Moon and Sixpence5

4.1 Longing for the ideal of art5

4.2 The crazy pursuit of the ideal of art.6

5. The Conflict between Ideal and Reality in The Moon and Sixpence.7

5.1 The conflict between the pursuit of self and secular views.7

5.2 The contradiction between the real life and the ideal8

5.3 Breaking the realistic condition to pursue the ideal9

6. Conclusion9

Works Cited11