# Love and Obsession in The Moon and Sixpence

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

The book contrasts conventional love and marriage with destructive passion, as seen in Strickland's coldness toward his family, his affair with Blanche Stroeve, and his ultimate devotion to art over human connection.

## Where it surfaces

- [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_and_sixpence_se/chapters/x): Mrs. Strickland's desperate desire for her husband's return, despite his betrayal, highlights the theme of obsessive love.
- [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_and_sixpence_se/chapters/xv): Mrs. Strickland's intense hatred and desire for a dramatic reconciliation reveal the complex interplay of love, pride, and obsession in her reaction to Strickland's departure.
- [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_and_sixpence_se/chapters/xxv): Dirk's love for his wife and his obsessive admiration for Strickland's genius create a painful conflict, while Blanche's intense emotions suggest a deeper, possibly obsessive fear.
- [XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_and_sixpence_se/chapters/xxvi): Dirk Stroeve's obsessive devotion to Strickland's care and Blanche's silent, conflicted attention to Strickland hint at complex emotional undercurrents.
- [XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_and_sixpence_se/chapters/xxviii): Blanche's sudden, inexplicable devotion to Strickland over her devoted husband Dirk illustrates the irrational and consuming nature of love.
- [XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_and_sixpence_se/chapters/xxix): Stroeve's unconditional love for Blanche borders on obsession, as he is willing to forgive her betrayal and take her back despite his own suffering.
- [Chapter of Reflection on Blanche Stroeve's Betrayal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_and_sixpence_se/chapters/xxx): The narrator dissects the nature of Blanche Stroeve's feelings, questioning whether it is love, passion, or a physical compulsion, and contrasts it with Strickland's apparent incapacity for love.
- [XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_and_sixpence_se/chapters/xxxi): Stroeve's desperate, undignified pursuit of Blanche illustrates the painful, one-sided nature of his love.
- [XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_and_sixpence_se/chapters/xxxii): Blanche's abandonment of her husband for Strickland illustrates the theme of obsessive love and its consequences.
- [XXXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_and_sixpence_se/chapters/xxxiii): Stroeve's obsessive love for Blanche drives him to seek any news of her and offer unconditional forgiveness, despite her abandonment.
- [Chapter XXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_and_sixpence_se/chapters/xxxiv): 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.
- [XXXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_and_sixpence_se/chapters/xxxv): Dirk's obsessive love for Blanche drives his desperate attempts to see her, while her refusal highlights the destructive side of love.
- [XXXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_and_sixpence_se/chapters/xxxvi): Stroeve's devoted yet painful vigil for Blanche, who refuses to see him, highlights the destructive side of love.
- [XLI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_and_sixpence_se/chapters/xli): Strickland dismisses love as a disease and an insignificant part of life, contrasting with Blanche's obsessive love that leads to her suicide.
- [XLII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_and_sixpence_se/chapters/xlii): The narrator interprets Strickland's affair with Blanche as a failed attempt to find release in love, leading to destruction.
- [XLIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_and_sixpence_se/chapters/xliii): The narrator contrasts the fictional emphasis on love with its actual minor role in men's lives, and discusses Blanche's obsessive love for Strickland and her tragic attempts to bind him.
- [LV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_and_sixpence_se/chapters/lv): Ata's devotion to Strickland transcends fear and societal rejection, embodying a superhuman love that mirrors Strickland's own obsessive dedication to his art.

## Links

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