The Incompatibility between the Artistic Pursuit and the Realistic Life in The Moon and Sixpence 

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 pide 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。76610

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

《月亮和六便士》中体现的艺术追求与现实生活的矛盾

摘  要小说《月亮与六便士》是英国作家毛姆自第一篇半自传性长篇小说《人性的枷锁》后的第二篇长篇小说。该小说以法国印象派画家保罗·高更的生平为素材，描述了主人公斯特里克兰,一个平凡的伦敦证券交易所经纪人,突然有一天,放弃了家庭和工作,为了追求艺术来到巴黎。他过着精神生活,厌恶那些与画画无关的任何事物。他追求灵魂的解放,认为现实生活桎梏了艺术的美丽与激情。最终他在塔西堤追寻到了他一直渴望的原始。本文将进一步从斯特里克兰的三段生活时期分析人物的艺术追求和现实生活之间的矛盾。并且分析三个不同的生活环境对人物艺术追求的影响。同时将其与原型人物保罗·高更作对比，体现作家在人物塑造时更为夸张的人物形象，寄予了作者本人的生命内涵。

毕业论文关键词： 《月亮和六便士》；毛姆；矛盾；艺术追求；现实生活

Contents

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

1。 Introduction

William Somerset Maugham is a famous British novelist, playwright and short story writer。 And He was among the most popular writers of his era and reputedly the highest paid author during the 1930s。 Therefore, it is indubitable that readers home and abroad take great interest in all respect of his life as well as his works。 For almost all short novels created by William Somerset Maugham, the comments like apathy and impersonality are usually regarded as the significant features and he is also famous for his calm, impersonal aloof even particular attitudes with some satire and mercy to observe life which, to some degree, is influenced by his own personal experience。 Brought up by a cold and emotionally crude uncle after the death of his parents and constantly teased by the surrounding children at school, Maugham from that time developed a talent for making wounding remarks to those who displeased him。 Therefore, this kind of ability later grew mature and was reflected in his literary characters。 Also his miserable childhood greatly influenced his main themes and subjects of novels and plays。 论文网