书评

The Moon and Sixpence published in 1919 was written by William Maugham, which is based on the life of the painter Paul Gauguin. And Maugham, an influential writer, was famous for revealing the humanity in his works.   The character of this novel is named Strickland, a normal agent in a bank. He had a good job, a happy family, a perfect life in other eyes. However, just this man gave up all of those enviable issues including his family. He left home to chase his painting dream without declaration one day. He went to Paris alone. In a foreign country, not only the body endure poverty and hunger, spirit also suffer. After some bizarre story, he left the civilized world and went to an island, Tahiti, where he finally find the soul of the atmosphere of peace. But before death, he has ordered to destroy his painting after his death.   The wonderful degree is far from the author of this story and the story itself. The title “The Moon and Sixpence” has already revealed the main thrust. The moon stands high above the masses. It’s pure and sacred, standing for the dream and the spiritual pursuit. On the contrary, sixpence is the smallest denomination in England, which just represents the reality or things we worked for. By comparing, the author discussed the conflict between art and life, spirit and reality. The substance in the novel isn’t out of date even today.   Maugham shaped some living characters in his novel. The hero Strickland wasn’t an adoring person. He is cruel, selfish and strange, which can’t prevent him being a great person. The description of Strikland’s psychological activity is vivid and worth reading.        “Each one of us is alone in the world. He is shut in a tower of brass, and can communicate with his fellows only        by signs, and the signs have no common value, so that their sense is vague and uncertain. We seek pitifully to            convey to others the treasures of our heart, but they have not the power to accept them, and so we go lonely, side      by side but not together, unable to know