# LIV explained — The Moon and Sixpence

> Chapter companion for The Moon and Sixpence by W. Somerset Maugham.

## What happens

The narrator reflects on how Strickland was treated with sympathy and tolerance on the remote island, unlike in England and France. Captain Brunot explains that both he and Strickland were driven by a passion to create beauty, though Brunot's medium was life itself. Brunot shares his own story of building a life and a garden on a barren island with his wife, finding happiness and fulfillment through hard work, family, and faith.

## Themes in this chapter

### The Pursuit of Truth and Beauty

Captain Brunot articulates that both he and Strickland were driven by a passion to create beauty, though through different mediums—Strickland through paint, Brunot through life itself.

### The Primitive and the Civilized

The contrast between Strickland's reception in Europe versus the remote island highlights the theme of civilization's constraints versus the primitive acceptance of individual nature.

## Character check-ins

### The Narrator

Reflects on the tolerance Strickland received on the island and converses with Captain Brunot about beauty and purpose.

### Captain Brunot

Explains his shared passion for beauty with Strickland and recounts his own story of building a life and garden on a remote island.

### Charles Strickland

Discussed as a figure who received sympathy on the island, driven by a tyrannical passion to create beauty.

## Key lines

> In England and France he was the square peg in the round hole, but here the holes were any sort of shape, and no sort of peg was quite amiss.

In Europe, Strickland didn't fit in, but on this island, all kinds of people were accepted, so he fit in naturally.

_Highlights the theme of individuality versus societal norms._

> The passion that held Strickland in bondage was no less tyrannical than love.

Strickland was as enslaved by his creative drive as people are by romantic love.

_Compares artistic obsession to the tyranny of love._

> I have made something where there was nothing. I too have made beauty.

I created something from nothing, and that is my form of beauty.

_Captain Brunot's reflection on his life's work._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_moon_and_sixpence_se/chapters/liv
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_moon_and_sixpence_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_moon_and_sixpence_se/chapters