TheMoonandSixpence1TheMoonandSixpencebyW.SomersetMaughamAuthorof"OfHumanBondage"TheMoonandSixpence2ChapterIIconfessthatwhenfirstImadeacquaintancewithCharlesStricklandIneverforamomentdiscernedthattherewasinhimanythingoutoftheordinary.Yetnowfewwillbefoundtodenyhisgreatness.Idonotspeakofthatgreatnesswhichisachievedbythefortunatepoliticianorthesuccessfulsoldier;thatisaqualitywhichbelongstotheplaceheoccupiesratherthantotheman;andachangeofcircumstancesreducesittoverydiscreetproportions.ThePrimeMinisteroutofofficeisseen,toooften,tohavebeenbutapompousrhetorician,andtheGeneralwithoutanarmyisbutthetameheroofamarkettown.ThegreatnessofCharlesStricklandwasauthentic.Itmaybethatyoudonotlikehisart,butatalleventsyoucanhardlyrefuseitthetributeofyourinterest.Hedisturbsandarrests.Thetimehaspassedwhenhewasanobjectofridicule,anditisnolongeramarkofeccentricitytodefendorofperversitytoextolhim.Hisfaultsareacceptedasthenecessarycomplementtohismerits.Itisstillpossibletodiscusshisplaceinart,andtheadulationofhisadmirersisperhapsnolesscapriciousthanthedisparagementofhisdetractors;butonethingcanneverbedoubtful,andthatisthathehadgenius.Tomymindthemostinterestingthinginartisthepersonalityoftheartist;andifthatissingular,Iamwillingtoexcuseathousandfaults.IsupposeVelasquezwasabetterpainterthanElGreco,butcustomstalesone'sadmirationforhim:theCretan,sensualandtragic,proffersthemysteryofhissoullikeastandingsacrifice.Theartist,painter,poet,ormusician,byhisdecoration,sublimeorbeautiful,satisfiestheaestheticsense;butthatisakintothesexualinstinct,andsharesitsbarbarity:helaysbeforeyoualsothegreatergiftofhimself.Topursuehissecrethassomethingofthefascinationofadetectivestory.Itisariddlewhichshareswiththeuniversethemeritofhavingnoanswer.ThemostinsignificantofStrickland'sworkssuggestsapersonalitywhichisstrange,tormented,andcomplex;anditisthissurelywhichpreventseventhosewhodonotlikehispicturesfrombeingindifferenttothem;itisthiswhichhasexcitedsocuriousaninterestinhislifeandcharacter.ItwasnottillfouryearsafterStri...
