# Gender Roles and Marriage in The Moon and Sixpence

> Theme guide for The Moon and Sixpence by W. Somerset Maugham.

The book examines the limitations of conventional marriage and gender roles, portraying Mrs. Strickland as a social climber, Blanche as a victim of passion, and Ata as a compliant partner, while Strickland rejects domesticity entirely.

## Where it surfaces

- [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_and_sixpence_se/chapters/iv): The chapter explores the Stricklands' marriage: Mrs. Strickland is the sociable hostess, while Mr. Strickland is a dull provider, reflecting traditional gender roles and the question of why 'nice women marry dull men.'
- [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_and_sixpence_se/chapters/v): Mrs. Strickland is portrayed as the ideal wife and mother, managing her home with elegance and speaking affectionately of her husband, reinforcing traditional gender roles.
- [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_and_sixpence_se/chapters/vi): Mrs. Strickland manages the social sphere while her husband remains a passive, unremarkable presence, highlighting traditional marital roles.
- [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_and_sixpence_se/chapters/vii): Mrs. Strickland is portrayed as the devoted wife and mother, while Charles Strickland is seen as a dull but adequate provider, reflecting traditional gender roles.
- [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_and_sixpence_se/chapters/viii): Mrs. Strickland's distress and the Colonel's outrage highlight the era's assumptions about marital obligations and female dependence.
- [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_and_sixpence_se/chapters/ix): The discussion highlights the vulnerability of Mrs. Strickland as a wife left without financial support.
- [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_and_sixpence_se/chapters/x): Mrs. Strickland's concern with social appearances and her role as a wife and mother reflect the constraints of marriage in this era.
- [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_and_sixpence_se/chapters/xvi): Mrs. Strickland's strategic use of the false elopement story to gain sympathy and financial independence highlights the constraints and opportunities for women in marriage and society.
- [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_and_sixpence_se/chapters/xvii): Mrs. Strickland's discomfort with her own business success and her refusal to let her daughter work or act highlight restrictive gender expectations.
- [XLVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_and_sixpence_se/chapters/xlvi): Captain Nichols's marriage is a portrait of domestic tyranny, with his wife controlling him utterly, contrasting with Strickland's abandonment of his family.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_and_sixpence_se/themes/gender_roles_and_marriage
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_and_sixpence_se/themes