# XXXIII explained — The Moon and Sixpence

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

## What happens

Dirk Stroeve visits the narrator, distraught after learning he saw Blanche. He asks the narrator to write a letter to Blanche, offering his unconditional forgiveness and support, despite his fear of an impending catastrophe.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Obsession

Stroeve's obsessive love for Blanche drives him to seek any news of her and offer unconditional forgiveness, despite her abandonment.

## Character check-ins

### Dirk Stroeve

Visits the narrator, emotionally distraught and fearful of a terrible catastrophe involving Blanche and Strickland.

### The Narrator

Relays the conversation with Stroeve and agrees to write a letter to Blanche on Stroeve's behalf.

### Blanche Stroeve

Mentioned as the subject of Stroeve's anxiety; the narrator saw her with Strickland but she gave no indication of her feelings.

### Charles Strickland

Mentioned as the man Blanche is now living with; the narrator saw them together in a café.

## Key lines

> I hear you've seen Blanche.

Dirk Stroeve confronts the narrator about having seen Blanche.

_Stroeve's immediate concern upon visiting the narrator._

> I know something is going to happen, something terrible, and I can do nothing to stop it.

Stroeve expresses a premonition of disaster that he feels powerless to prevent.

_Highlights Stroeve's anxiety and sense of helplessness._

> Will you write to Blanche for me?

Stroeve asks the narrator to compose a letter to Blanche on his behalf.

_Stroeve's indirect approach due to his belief that Blanche ignores his own letters._

## Links

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