Only few contemporary authors have been praised as highly and condemned as completely as W. Somerset Maugham. The present essay discusses Maugham’s novel ‘The Moon and Sixpence.’ My concerns lay on key questions that I try to explore. First and foremost, what do we learn about the presentation of the early twentieth century artist from Maugham? Are, in fact, artistic techniques used in the literary portrait (depictions) of the artist? What do we learn about modern art from the text? Why is Maugham writing about an artist? How can literature depict artist and artistic processes? Now I propose to attempt at least to suggest the reasons for, if not to reconcile, opinions as widely different as the ones presented further in the essay and, at the same time, to offer a less impetuous and more carefully substantiated criticism of Maugham’s fictional work, ‘The Moon and Sixpence.’
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Narrative Technique and Character Presentation
3. Modernism and the Art of Strickland
4. Influences and Literary Context
5. Aestheticism and Social Realism
6. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This essay examines W. Somerset Maugham's novel "The Moon and Sixpence" to explore how literature depicts the life of an artist and the complex processes of artistic creation. The primary objective is to analyze the tension between social realism and aestheticism, investigating whether Maugham succeeds in illustrating the artist's struggle and the perceived incompatibility of artistic fulfillment with societal norms.
- The literary portrayal of the early 20th-century artist as a fictional character.
- The influence of modernism and narrative techniques on the structure of the novel.
- The friction between Victorian social realism and Romantic aestheticism.
- The exploration of color, primitivism, and the uncontrollable impulse of artistic creation.
Excerpt from the Book
The Modern Eye: Literature and the Art Aesthetics- ‘The Moon and Sixpence’
“Why should you think that beauty, which is the most precious thing in the world, lies like a stone on the beach for the careless passer-by to pick up idly? Beauty is something wonderful and strange that the artist fashions out of the chaos of the world in the torment of his soul. And when he has made it, it is not given to all to know it. To recognize it you must repeat the adventure of the artist. It is a melody that he sings to you, and to hear it again in your own heart you want knowledge and sensitiveness and imagination [...]” (The Moon and Sixpence, Chapter XIX, p.153)
Only few contemporary authors have been praised as highly and condemned as completely as W. Somerset Maugham. The present essay discusses Maugham’s novel ‘The Moon and Sixpence.’ My concerns lay on key questions that I try to explore. First and foremost, what do we learn about the presentation of the early twentieth century artist from Maugham? Are, in fact, artistic techniques used in the literary portrait (depictions) of the artist? What do we learn about modern art from the text? Why is Maugham writing about an artist? How can literature depict artist and artistic processes? Now I propose to attempt at least to suggest the reasons for, if not to reconcile, opinions as widely different as the ones presented further in the essay and, at the same time, to offer a less impetuous and more carefully substantiated criticism of Maugham’s fictional work, ‘The Moon and Sixpence.’
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the core inquiry regarding Maugham's presentation of the artist and the literary techniques employed to depict modern artistic processes.
2. Narrative Technique and Character Presentation: This section analyzes the gradual unveiling of the protagonist, Charles Strickland, through a first-person narrative and the subsequent dramatic shifts in his life.
3. Modernism and the Art of Strickland: This chapter focuses on the modernist storytelling approach and the vivid, complex descriptions of color and primitivism in Strickland's artwork.
4. Influences and Literary Context: This part examines Maugham's debt to Joseph Conrad and the comparative study of how various modernist authors sought meaning in visionary figures.
5. Aestheticism and Social Realism: This section explores the inherent friction between late Victorian social realism and the Romantic aestheticism present in the novel.
6. Conclusion: The concluding chapter synthesizes the discussion, asserting that the novel remains a profound reflection on the inevitable conflict between artistic ambition and societal expectations.
Keywords
W. Somerset Maugham, The Moon and Sixpence, Paul Gauguin, Charles Strickland, Modernism, Aestheticism, Social Realism, Artistic Creation, Literary Portrait, Narrative Technique, Primitivism, Post-Impressionism, Fiction, Victorian Period, Symbolism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this essay?
The essay explores how W. Somerset Maugham represents the artist in "The Moon and Sixpence" and investigates the tension between artistic obsession and social reality.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The main themes include the conflict between aestheticism and social realism, the nature of modernist narrative structures, and the psychological demands of artistic creation.
What is the central research question?
The central question is how literature can effectively depict an artist and their creative processes while navigating the disparate opinions surrounding Maugham's work.
Which scientific or literary methods are utilized?
The author uses textual analysis, literary criticism, and comparative analysis to examine Maugham's style against other modernist authors like Conrad, Woolf, and Joyce.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The body covers character evolution, the use of color and symbolism, the influence of French symbolism and Cubism, and the historical context of Paul Gauguin.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Keywords include Maugham, Modernism, Aestheticism, Strickland, Gauguin, Social Realism, and Artistic Creation.
How does Maugham use the character of Charles Strickland?
Maugham uses Strickland as a fictionalized version of Paul Gauguin to demonstrate the "U-turn" from an ordinary life to one consumed by an uncontrollable artistic urge.
Why is the comparison to Joseph Conrad significant?
The comparison is significant because it highlights the shared first-person narrative method and the use of temporal complexities found in both Maugham's and Conrad's writing.
What is the significance of the "Moon and Sixpence" title metaphor?
The metaphor represents the struggle between the "moon" (the aesthetic, artistic impulse) and the "sixpence" (the commonplace, mundane wisdom of society).
What conclusion does the author reach regarding modern art?
The author concludes that Maugham views modern art as inherently complex and difficult to interpret, often placing the artist beyond the established realms of society.
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- MA Marcio Hemerique Pereira (Autor:in), 2011, The Modern Eye: Literature and the Art Aesthetics - "The Moon and Sixpence", München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/204917
