The Moon and Sixpence · Chapter
XVI explained
Mrs.
What happens
Mrs. Strickland demonstrates her strength of character by concealing her anguish and maintaining a brave, cheerful demeanor in society. She allows a false story to circulate that her husband eloped with a French dancer, which garners sympathy and prestige. She decides to earn her own living by learning shorthand and typewriting, leveraging her connections with writers. With the MacAndrews taking care of her children, she sells her furniture, moves to small rooms in Westminster, and begins her new life.
Themes in this chapter
Gender Roles and Marriage
Mrs. Strickland's strategic use of the false elopement story to gain sympathy and financial independence highlights the constraints and opportunities for women in marriage and society.
Convention vs. Individuality
Mrs. Strickland conforms to social expectations by maintaining a brave facade, yet she subverts convention by taking control of her own livelihood through typing.
Characters to notice
- Mrs. Strickland
Shows resilience and shrewdness by concealing her anguish and allowing a false story about her husband's elopement to circulate, which helps her gain sympathy and clients for her new typing business.
- The Narrator
Observes Mrs. Strickland's behavior and learns of the false story about Strickland's elopement with a French dancer.
- Colonel MacAndrew
Mentioned as having correctly stated that Mrs. Strickland would be left penniless; he and his wife take care of the children.
- Mrs. MacAndrew
Along with her husband, she undertakes the care of Mrs. Strickland's children.
Key passages
“She saw shrewdly that the world is quickly bored by the recital of misfortune, and willingly avoids the sight of distress.”
She wisely understood that people tire of hearing about others' troubles and prefer to avoid seeing suffering.
Highlights Mrs. Strickland's social acumen and her decision to conceal her pain.
“She made up her mind to profit by her acquaintance with so many writers, and without loss of time began to learn shorthand and typewriting.”
She decided to use her connections with writers to her advantage and immediately started learning shorthand and typing.
Shows her pragmatic and determined approach to rebuilding her life.