The Moon and Sixpence · Character

Blanche Stroeve

Dirk Stroeve's quiet English wife, whose still surface conceals a will capable of choosing Strickland over the husband who adores her.

supporting

Also known as Blanche Stroeve, Stroeve, Blanche

First appearance: xii

As a supporting figure in The Moon and Sixpence, Blanche Stroeve is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Quietly sewing, she expresses dislike for Strickland and is embarrassed by her husband's effusive praise.

In the storyXIXOpen this moment free

She keeps Dirk's studio, sews by the stove, and offers the narrator nothing but a guarded civility that he cannot read. When Strickland enters their household, first as a patient and then as something else, she makes a choice that astonishes everyone who thought they knew her, and her self-command becomes more frightening than any outburst. Her silence and her final refusal to be rescued are what make her, in the narrator's reluctant admission, a tragedy rather than a scandal.

See Blanche Stroeve in XIX Book page

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Character Web

2 connections

A slice of how Blanche Stroeve sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Minor observers and contrasts
Strickland's London circle
Protagonist

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

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…

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In the story

Blanche Stroeve appears across 19 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

XIX
Quietly sewing, she expresses dislike for Strickland and is embarrassed by her husband's effusive praise.
XXII
Remains pleasant but silent, appears to conceal something, and is embarrassed by her husband's frankness.
XXIII
Mentioned as part of the charming household, though not directly present in the scene.
XXV
Initially refuses to have Strickland in her house, expressing hatred and fear, but eventually yields after an emotional appeal.
XXVI
Proves a capable and devoted nurse despite her hatred of Strickland; mends his shirt and watches him silently; her expression shows perplexity and alarm.
Chapter XXVII
Mentioned as having gone out to do the marketing; her reaction to the situation is unknown.
XXVIII
Pale and resolute, she tells Dirk she is leaving him for Strickland, rejecting his pleas and offers of support.
XXIX
Referenced as having left Stroeve for Strickland; Stroeve recalls her shuddering at his touch and her decision to go with Strickland.
Chapter of Reflection on Blanche Stroeve's Betrayal
Blanche Stroeve is the subject of the narrator's analysis; her decision to leave her husband for Strickland is examined.
XXXI
Slaps Stroeve in the street and refuses to acknowledge him, showing cold indifference and possibly cruelty.
XXXII
Blanche is with Strickland at the café, appears composed and demure, but the narrator reflects on her violent passions and reckless decisions.
XXXIII
Mentioned as the subject of Stroeve's anxiety; the narrator saw her with Strickland but she gave no indication of her feelings.
Chapter XXXIV
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.
XXXV
In hospital after drinking oxalic acid; refuses to see anyone; lies silently crying; vocal cords burned.
XXXVI
Lies still in the hospital, refusing to speak, and dies from acid burns.
XXXIX
Deceased; her memory and the painting of her nude body dominate Stroeve's emotional turmoil.
XLI
Discussed as a tragic figure; her past as a seduced governess and her suicide are revealed.
XLII
Referenced in the narrator's accusation that Strickland killed her out of fear.
XLIII
Her tragic union with Strickland is discussed; the narrator speculates on her feelings of dismay and her attempts to bind Strickland to her, despite his aloofness.

Chapter companion notes

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See Blanche Stroeve in xii

See Blanche Stroeve in XIX