The Moon and Sixpence · Chapter
XLVIII explained
The narrator reflects on his original plan to begin the book with Strickland's final years in Tahiti and his death, but abandons it for a chronological account.
What happens
The narrator reflects on his original plan to begin the book with Strickland's final years in Tahiti and his death, but abandons it for a chronological account. He then recounts the story of Monsieur Cohen, a Jewish trader who knew Strickland in Tahiti, hired him as an overseer, lent him money, and later received a painting as repayment. Years later, Cohen's brother in Paris sold the painting for thirty thousand francs, revealing Strickland's posthumous genius.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Falling action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the dramatic climax because it marks the emotional and psychological peak of Dirk Stroeve’s complete s…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- The Meaning of Greatness
Strickland's unrecognized genius during his lifetime contrasts with the posthumous valuation of his work, questioning how greatness is measured.
- The Artist as Outcast
Strickland is dismissed as a failed painter and beachcomber in Tahiti, yet his art later achieves fame, highlighting the artist's marginalization.
Characters to notice
- Charles Strickland
Recalled as a beachcomber in Tahiti, known for absurd paintings, later recognized as a genius after death.
- The Narrator
Reflects on narrative structure and recounts the story of Monsieur Cohen.
- Mr. Van Busche Taylor
Mentioned indirectly as the gentleman who bought Strickland's painting from Cohen's brother for thirty thousand francs.
Key passages
“I am in the position of a biologist who from a single bone must reconstruct not only the appearance of an extinct animal, but its habits.”
The narrator compares his task of piecing together Strickland's life from fragmentary evidence to a biologist reconstructing an extinct creature from a single bone.
Metaphor for the narrator's challenge in assembling Strickland's story.
“I wish that poor Strickland had been still alive. I wonder what he would have said when I gave him twenty-nine thousand eight hundred francs for his picture.”
Monsieur Cohen expresses regret that Strickland did not live to see the immense value of his painting, which Cohen sold for a fortune.
Highlights the irony of Strickland's posthumous success.
