[British] Maugham / Shanghai Translation Publishing House /October 1, 2009
The Moon and Sixpence is one of the representative works of the British writer Maugham. It tells the story of a British stockbroker who suddenly abandoned his family and children, gave up his affluent and happy life, and went to Tahiti in the South Pacific to write his brilliant life story with his brush. Through the life choices of the protagonist Strickland, this novel explores the conflicts and choices between art and life, ideals and reality. With his unique brushstrokes, Maugham deeply analyzes the complexity of human nature and the inner struggle and pursuit of artists. This work is fascinating and thought-provoking, and it is a classic that should not be missed. As a talented novelist and dramatist, Maugham is unique in the British literary world in the early 20th century, and his works are still widely loved and respected by readers. Through The Moon and Sixpence, readers can get a glimpse of the unique charm and profound connotation of Maugham's literature.
Summary of "The Moon and Sixpence"Chapter 1: StrangersSection 1: Introduction of the protagonist - Charles Strickland: Stockbroker, middle-aged man, typical British middle class. - Blanche Stroeve: Charles&39; wife, keen on socializing. Section 2: Mrs. Strickland&39;s party - Upper class socializing: Depicts the upper class life in London at that time through the Strickland family&39;s party. - The budding of the artist: Preliminary mention of Strickland&39;s inner desire for art. Chapter 2: DepartureSection 1: Strickland&39;s sudden departure - Departure without warning: Strickland left a letter and left without saying goodbye to pursue art. - Condemnation of society: People in society are puzzled and condemned by Strickland&39;s behavior. Section 2: Stroeve&39;s point of view - Art and Bread: Discusses the determination of artists to sacrifice everything in pursuit of art. Chapter 3: ParisSection 1: New Life - Artists in Montmartre: Strickland started a new life in the Montmartre district of Paris. - Poverty and Ideals: He refused material enjoyment and devoted himself to painting. Section 2: The Arrival of Stroeve - Rescue Attempt: Stroeve tried to help Strickland who was in trouble. Chapter 4: Challenges and ExplorationsSection 1: Struggle of Creation - Strickland&39;s Painting Style: His paintings were not understood by people at that time and were controversial. - Artist&39;s Perseverance: Despite the challenges, Strickland insisted on his own artistic path. Section 2: Blanche&39;s Tragedy - Disillusionment of Love: Blanche left Stroeve because of Strickland, and the final tragedy ended. Chapter 5: TahitiSection 1: Haven in the South Pacific - Temptation of Nature: The primitiveness and nature of Tahiti attracted Strickland. - Cultural Freedom: He found a freer artistic creation environment on the island. Section 2: Love with Tiare - Primitive passion: Strickland&39;s relationship with the indigenous woman Tiare reveals his inner wildness. Chapter 6: The Moon and SixpenceSection 1: The Price of Art - Moral Conflict: The conflict between Strickland&39;s artistic pursuit and social moral concepts. - Victory of personality: In the end, Strickland realized himself, but at a huge price. Section 2: Legacy and Works - Posthumous Reputation: After Strickland&39;s death, his works were gradually recognized and cherished by people. - Symbol of the Moon: The choice between art and material, and the choice between dreams and reality symbolize the desire to pursue higher ideals. The above is a summary of Maugham&39;s "The Moon and Sixpence", which tells the story of Strickland abandoning traditional life and ethics in order to pursue his artistic dream. The novel explores the relationship between individualism and artistic pursuits, as well as the challenge to traditional social values through the description of the protagonist&39;s behavior.
For the book "The Moon and Sixpence", they respectively embody the characteristics of profound meaning, unique perspective, beautiful language, wisdom or creativity. I will output these sentences or paragraphs in the order of numbers 1 to 20, and ensure the professionalism of the content to suit readers. 1. "There were sixpence all over the ground, but he looked up and saw the moon." This sentence symbolizes the protagonist Charles Strickland's persistence in pursuing art. Even in ordinary or even difficult life, he can still maintain the pursuit and yearning for beauty. 2. "Doing what you want to do most, living in an environment you like, being indifferent and peaceful, and not competing with the world, is this a waste of yourself?" This passage reflects Strickland's choice of lifestyle. He is willing to give up the secular definition of success and pursue true inner satisfaction. 3. "A woman can forgive a man for hurting her, but she can never forgive him for the sacrifice he made for her." Maugham reveals the complex emotional world of women and their different views on sacrifice and hurt through this sentence. 4. "What is art? Art is the expression of emotions, and art uses a language that everyone can understand." This is a profound insight into art, emphasizing the universality of art and the importance of emotional resonance. 5. "Some people are born in a place that can be said to be unworthy. Chance throws them into an environment at random, and they always miss a hometown that they don't even know where it is." This passage describes people's desire for a sense of belonging and their yearning for an unknown hometown in poetic language. 6. "If you consider self-esteem in love, there can only be one reason: in fact, you still love yourself the most." This sentence sharply points out the true face of self-esteem in love, which often hides the essence of egocentrism. 7. "The mission of a writer is not to vent, accuse or expose, he should show people nobility. The nobility mentioned here is not the kind of simple beauty, but the transcendence after understanding everything, treating good and evil equally, and looking at the world with sympathetic eyes." Maugham expounded on the profound insights of the writer's responsibilities here, emphasizing the transcendence and sympathy that writers should have. 8. "I think some people are born in a place that is not their proper place. Chance throws them into an environment at random, and they always miss a hometown that they don't know where it is. They seem to be passers-by in the place where they were born; the lush green jungle that they have been familiar with since childhood seems to them like the walls of a prison that imprisons them." This passage expands the previous theme and depicts people's complex emotions about their hometown and sense of belonging in richer details. 9. "If a person's opinion of us is valued by him, we are complacent, and if he ignores this opinion at all, we hate him." This sentence reveals the vanity and self-esteem in interpersonal relationships and how they affect our views of others. 10. "Most people are not the kind of people they want to be, but the kind of people they have to be." This sentence profoundly points out the conflict between social pressure and personal ideals, and the helpless choice most people have in it. 11. “Only poets and saints can firmly believe that lilies will grow from hard work on the asphalt.” This sentence expresses praise for creativity and perseverance in symbolic language. 12. “Only a few people in the world can finally achieve their ideals. Our lives are simple and frugal. We are not ambitious. If we have pride, it is because we are proud of the fruits of our labor with our hands.” This sentence expresses a simple and satisfying lifestyle and the recognition of self-worth through labor. 13. “Emotions have reasons that reason cannot understand at all.” This sentence succinctly and profoundly points out the gap between emotion and reason. 14. “Why do you think that beauty - the most precious treasure in the world - can be picked up casually by a careless passerby like a stone on the beach? Beauty is a wonderful and strange thing that artists can only shape from the chaos of the universe through the torment of their souls.” This sentence explains the scarcity of beauty and the difficulty of artists creating beauty in passionate language. 15. "As people who fall in love, the difference between men and women is that women can fall in love all day and all night, while men can only do it from time to time." This sentence reveals the different performances of men and women in love in a humorous way. 16. "People talk about beauty all the time, but they don't actually understand the word; the word has been overused and has lost its original power; because thousands of trivial things share its name, the word has been deprived of its noble meaning." Maugham has made a profound reflection and criticism on the concept of "beauty" here, pointing out its abuse and devaluation. 17. "Let us seek the love of those simple and honest people. Their ignorance is far more valuable than our knowledge." This sentence expresses different views on simplicity and knowledge in an ironic way, emphasizing the value of the former. 18. **"Sometimes, people wear masks so perfectly that even they think they are wearing masks.
Title: William Somerset Maugham: Exploring the Complexity and Depth of Human Nature William Somerset Maugham, a famous British novelist, playwright and short story writer, was born in Paris, France on January 25, 1874.< Maugham's literary career spanned most of the 20th century, and his works are known for their unique style and profound exploration of human nature.
Basic Personal Information Maugham was born into a British lawyer family and spent his childhood in France.< Due to the early death of his parents, he was sent to England for education.
He was educated at King's School in Canterbury and the University of Heidelberg in Germany, and later studied medicine at St.< Thomas' Hospital in London.
Education and Career Background Maugham's medical background had a profound impact on his writing.< During his internship at St.
Thomas' Hospital, he came into contact with people from all walks of life, and these experiences provided rich material for his later creations.< Writing Career Maugham's writing career began in the early 20th century, and his first novel, Lisa's Lover (1897), did not attract much attention.
However, his play The Portrait of a Lady (1903) was successfully staged in London's West End, which made him famous overnight.< After that, Maugham's creative career flourished, and his novels, plays and short stories were widely popular.
Style and theme of works Maugham's works are known for their sharp social observations, deep insights into human nature and exploration of moral issues.< His writing style is clear and concise, and he is good at showing the characters' personalities through dialogue.
"The Moon and Sixpence" (1919) is one of his most famous novels, telling the story of a British stockbroker who gave up his stable life to pursue his artistic dream.< Personal life Maugham's private life is relatively low-key, but his sexual orientation and marriage relationship with his wife have always been the focus of media attention.
Despite facing the prejudice of the society at that time, Maugham still insisted on his creation and lifestyle.< Social influence Maugham's works have had a profound impact on 20th century British literature.
His works have been translated into many languages and are well-known worldwide.< Many of his works have been adapted into movies and TV series, such as "Of Human Bondage" and "The Moon and Sixpence".
Quotes and Comments The New York Times once commented that Maugham's works have "unique charm and profound exploration of human nature".< The famous writer Graham Greene praised Maugham as "one of the greatest British novelists of the 20th century".
Latest Updates Although Maugham died in 1965, his works are still loved by readers.< In recent years, his works have regained attention in the literary and academic circles, and many scholars have begun to re-evaluate the status of his works in literary history.
Maugham's life was an unremitting exploration of the complexity of human nature, and his works can still resonate and arouse readers' thinking.< By reading Maugham's works, we can have a deeper understanding of human nature and our place in this world.
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