The Moon and Sixpence · Chapter
Chapter XXXIV explained
The narrator learns from a distraught Dirk Stroeve that Blanche has attempted suicide by drinking oxalic acid after a quarrel with Strickland.
What happens
The narrator learns from a distraught Dirk Stroeve that Blanche has attempted suicide by drinking oxalic acid after a quarrel with Strickland. Dirk recounts finding her in agony, her refusal to see him, and her removal to the hospital. The narrator accompanies Dirk to the hospital, where a dismissive doctor treats the case as a routine suicide attempt and refuses them entry, saying Blanche is too ill to see anyone.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Obsession
Blanche's suicide attempt is a dramatic manifestation of obsessive love and despair, while Stroeve's willingness to forgive everything underscores the destructive power of unbalanced affection.
The Artist as Outcast
Strickland's abrupt departure after the quarrel and his emotional detachment highlight his role as an outcast who disrupts conventional relationships without remorse.
Characters to notice
- The Narrator
The narrator is working at home when Stroeve arrives with the news of Blanche's suicide attempt. He accompanies Stroeve to the hospital and speaks with the doctor.
- Dirk Stroeve
Stroeve arrives in a state of shock to report that Blanche has tried to kill herself. He recounts the events, expresses his forgiveness, and begs the narrator to intercede with Blanche at the hospital.
- Blanche Stroeve
Blanche is reported to have taken oxalic acid after a quarrel with Strickland. She is conscious but in great suffering, refuses to see Stroeve, and is taken to the hospital where she is listed as too ill for visitors.
- Charles Strickland
Strickland is mentioned as having had a row with Blanche the previous night and then leaving. He is not present in the chapter.
Key passages
“She’s killed herself.”
Blanche has committed suicide.
Stroeve's initial frantic announcement to the narrator.
“Women are constantly trying to commit suicide for love, but generally they take care not to succeed. It’s generally a gesture to arouse pity or terror in their lover.”
Women often attempt suicide as a dramatic plea for attention or to manipulate their partner, not with a genuine intention to die.
The doctor's cynical assessment of Blanche's act, reflecting a common contemporary view.