Maugham, W. Somerset: 1874-1965

The Moon and Sixpence, 1919 - Thematic Parallels: Art

Maugham, W. Somerset: The Moon and Sixpence, 1919
The book is about the price of art and the uncompromising pursuit of beauty, even when it devastates those around the artist.
The following books are thematically simliar. They lend themselves well to being read in groups, compared with one another, or used to teach a similar topic over an extended period with a class:
- Chevalier, Tracy: Girl with a Pearl Earring, 1999, ~250pp
  The topic of this novel is a study of a girl’s face and expression, elevated into a timeless exploration of beauty, light, and human presence.
  - Both works explore the mysterious, sometimes destructive pursuit of beauty and art—centering on the muse–artist dynamic, the distance art creates from ordinary life, and the enduring power of art despite the impermanence of people.
- Lessing, Doris: The Golden Notebook, 1962, ~570pp
  This novel features a would-be writer who is an outsider, wrestling with social conformity, self-actualization, and psychological complexity.
  - Both novels are about the cost and difficulty of living as an artist when social and psychological expectations clash with creativity. They deal with the fragmentation of identity, the alienation of the artist, and the destructive but necessary pursuit of authenticity in art and life. Maugham frames this as a male escape into genius, while Lessing critiques and revises the myth by showing the psychological and social costs for a woman artist.
- Russell, Willy: Educating Rita, 1980, ~100pp
  This comedy about education and personal growth touches on self-discovery and breaking societal limitations, which can parallel the theme of individual desire for transformation found in "The Moon and Sixpence.""
  - Both works explore the idea of leaving behind a “safe” but stifling existence in order to pursue a deeper, more authentic sense of self. They explore the human hunger for reinvention, the costs of breaking away from conventional life, and the tension between personal authenticity and social duty.
- Shaffer, Peter: Amadeus, 1979, ~100pp
  A play centered on the life of composer Mozart, emphasizing artistic genius, rivalry, and passion.
  - Both Shaffer and Maugham portray genius as an unsettling, destructive, and socially isolating force. Each uses a more ordinary observer (Shaffer: Salieri, the narrator / Maughm: An unnamed narrator) to highlight the incomprehensibility of true artistic brilliance and the bitter envy or awe it inspires.
List of general discussion questions on Art (pdf)
List of essay prompts on Art (pdf)