# XXII explained — The Moon and Sixpence

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

## What happens

The narrator settles into a routine in Paris, writing a play and spending time with the Stroeves. He grows more intimate with Blanche Stroeve, who remains reserved, while Dirk Stroeve's frankness often embarrasses her. They visit a picture-dealer who had taken some of Strickland's pictures, but Strickland has removed them. The dealer dismisses Strickland's talent, leading to a heated argument with Dirk about how to recognize artistic merit.

## Themes in this chapter

### Artistic Genius and Sacrifice

The debate between Dirk and the picture-dealer highlights the tension between unrecognized genius and commercial success, questioning whether merit alone can bring recognition.

### Convention vs. Individuality

Dirk's unconventional defense of Strickland's art clashes with the dealer's conventional view that success defines merit.

## Character check-ins

### The Narrator

Settles in Paris, writes a play, visits the Stroeves frequently, and accompanies Dirk to a picture-dealer.

### Dirk Stroeve

Hosts the narrator for dinners, boasts of his Italian cooking, discusses intimate matters openly, and argues passionately with a picture-dealer about Strickland's talent.

### Blanche Stroeve

Remains pleasant but silent, appears to conceal something, and is embarrassed by her husband's frankness.

### Charles Strickland

Mentioned as having removed his pictures from the dealer's shop; his talent is debated by Dirk and the dealer.

## Key lines

> I led a very regular life, working in the morning, and in the afternoon lounging about the gardens of the Luxembourg or sauntering through the streets.

The narrator established a disciplined daily routine, writing in the mornings and spending afternoons leisurely exploring Paris.

_Describes the narrator's settled lifestyle in Paris._

> Dirk Stroeve flattered himself on his skill in cooking Italian dishes, and I confess that his spaghetti were very much better than his pictures.

Dirk prided himself on his Italian cooking, and the narrator admits his spaghetti was far superior to his artwork.

_Contrasts Dirk's culinary talent with his artistic mediocrity._

> She was pleasant and simple, but she remained always rather silent, and I knew not why, gave me the impression that she was concealing something.

Blanche was agreeable and uncomplicated, yet her persistent silence made the narrator feel she was hiding something.

_Highlights Blanche's enigmatic nature._

> The perfect seriousness with which he narrated his misfortunes convulsed me with laughter, and this added to Mrs. Stroeve’s irritation.

Dirk's earnest recounting of his troubles made the narrator laugh uncontrollably, which further annoyed Blanche.

_Illustrates Dirk's lack of self-awareness and Blanche's frustration._

> Is merit enough to bring success? Don’t believe it. Du reste , it has still to be proved that this friend of yours has merit. No one claims it for him but Monsieur Stroeve.

The dealer questions whether talent alone guarantees success, noting that only Dirk believes in Strickland's ability.

_Reflects the dealer's skeptical view of artistic merit._

## Links

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