# The Pursuit of Truth and Beauty in The Moon and Sixpence

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

Strickland's relentless drive to paint what he sees, regardless of technical skill or public approval, reflects a deeper quest for an inner truth and beauty that transcends conventional aesthetics and moral judgment.

## Where it surfaces

- [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_and_sixpence_se/chapters/xiii): Strickland's indifference to worldly pleasures suggests a single-minded pursuit of an inner artistic vision.
- [Chapter XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_and_sixpence_se/chapters/xx): Strickland's absorption in chess and his indifference to material comfort suggest a single-minded pursuit of his art.
- [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_and_sixpence_se/chapters/xxi): Strickland is driven by an inner vision, seeking to paint what he sees with his mind's eye, indifferent to external validation.
- [XXXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_and_sixpence_se/chapters/xxxix): Stroeve's awe before the painting reflects the pursuit of beauty as a spiritual force, even when it causes pain.
- [XLII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_and_sixpence_se/chapters/xlii): The narrator perceives Strickland's work as a search for a hidden truth and a new pattern in the chaos of the universe.
- [XLV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_and_sixpence_se/chapters/xlv): The narrator suggests that in Tahiti, Strickland finally found the circumstances to express the vision he sought, achieving a realization of his artistic dream.
- [L](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_and_sixpence_se/chapters/l): Abraham's sudden revelation in Alexandria leads him to pursue a life of inner peace and authenticity over professional acclaim.
- [LIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_and_sixpence_se/chapters/liv): Captain Brunot articulates that both he and Strickland were driven by a passion to create beauty, though through different mediums—Strickland through paint, Brunot through life itself.
- [LVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_moon_and_sixpence_se/chapters/lvii): Strickland's art evokes a troubling beauty that reveals deep truths about life, nature, and the human soul, leaving a lasting impression on viewers.

## Links

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