月亮与六便士中斯特里克兰德人物形象分析

ChapterOneIntroductionInTheMoonandSixpence,MaughamportrayedStrickland,ageniuswhopursuedartwithoutunderstandingtheworld.BecauseofMaugham'suniquenarrativestylewithcomprehensivedirectnarration,discussion,tracingandothermeansaswellasunreliablebiographicalfiction,therearetwoquestionsthatcannotbeclearlyanswered.Thesetwoquestionsare"whyStricklandsuddenlymadethedecisiontoabandonhisfamilyandchildrenandfleetoParistopursueart"and"whyStricklandaskedAtatoburnthefrescoafterhislifewasover".ThispaperattemptstoanswertheabovetwoquestionsbyanalyzingStrickland'simageandhisjourneyinpursuitofart.Strickland'sartisticpursuitcanberoughlydividedintothreestages.ThefirststageisStrickland'srecognitionofhimselfasadividedsubjectwithastrongdesiretoreturntohistrueexistence,sohechoosestofleefromtheother,fromLondontoParis.ThesecondstagewasStrickland'scontinuoussearchforlostobjectsthroughpaintinginParis,andhisartisticsublimationaroundablankspace.Butinhisquest,hewasstillrunningawayfromtheothers,andfinallyheleftParisforTahiti.ThethirdstageisthatStricklandfinallydefeatedtheothersinTahiti,brokethroughthesymbolicorder,reachedtheimpossible,andfoundfreedominanidealstate.InMaugham'sTheMoonandSixpence,thedescriptionofStrickland'scontradictoryheartcoursemainlyincludesthecontradictionbetweenartisticpursuitandtheboredomoflife,betweenspiritualfreedomandmoralbondage,andbetweenpersonalbeliefandthelimitationofability.Ithighlightsthecharactercharacteristicsoftheprotagonistwithcontradictionasthemainfeature,andmultiplefactorsjointlyshapethecomplexcharacterimageoftheprotagonist.Foreshadowingitstragicend.ChapterTwoOverviewofTheMoonandSixpenceTheMoonandtheSixPoothsisanovelpublishedbyBritishwriterMaomin1919.ItmainlytellstheimageofStrikland,anon-traditionalartist,whoisunrulytopursueart.Maum'swritingstylemakesthenovelmorereadableandcredible.HehasdeeplytappedthecomplexthoughtsandconflictsofStricklandthroughastraightforwardwaytorecoverdiscussionandinterpolation.Furtherexploretherelationshipbetweenmodernpeopleinartandlife.ThenovelisinspiredbythelifeofFrenchartistPaulGaugianintheRenaissanceintheearly20thcentury.MamhadalotofcommunicationwithGao,andherealizedadeepunderstandingofthespiritofGaoGeng'spursuitofart.TheseprofoundunderstandingallowedMummtocreatethisclassicthatreflectsthespiritualexplorationofmodernpeople.2.1CreationBackgroundAttheendofthe19thcenturyandthebeginningofthe20thcentury,earth-shakingchangestookplaceinhumanhistory.WiththeendofthesecondIndustrialRevolution,theworldhasbecomeincreasinglyclosetoeachother.Throughthefiercecollision,theculturesofallcountriesandregionsintheworldgraduallybroketheisolationandrealizedcommondevelopment.ThethirdscientificandtechnologicalRevolution,theformationofmonopolycapitalismandthevictoryoftheOctoberRevolutioninRussiaprofoundlyaffectedpeople'swayoflifeandwayofthinking,changedpeople'sspirituallife,andopenedupawiderworldforthedevelopmentofliteratureandartinthisperiod.Thenewthoughtemphasizesthesignificanceofhumanexistenceinreallifeandopposesunrealisticvanity,whilethetraditionalthoughtfocusesonmaterialsatisfaction.Undertheintegrationofoldandnewconcepts,capitalismbegantobeunstable,therichandthepoorbegantodivide,peoplefellintothespiritualdilemmabroughtbymaterialdesire,andthemostprimitiveandrealcontradictionsinhumannaturebecamemoreandmoreintenseandcomplex.MaughamleftSanFranciscoattheendof1916,travellingthroughHawaii,Samoa,FijiandNewZealandbeforefinallyarrivingontheFrenchislandofTahiti,wheremodernistpainterGauguinhadoncelivedinseclusion.Thissix-monthtriptotheSouthPacific,especiallyGauguin'slifeandstory,impressedMaughamsomuchthathewroteanovelbasedonGauguin,TheMoonandSixpence.MaughammodeledhisheroStricklandonthethenFrenchpainterGauguin,reflectingthecontradictionsofhumannatureatthattimefromsucha"smallfigure".2.2WritingTechniquesTheMoonandtheSixPoothsisoneofthemasterpiecesofMaum,anditsuniquewritingtechniquesareimpressive.Eachcharacterinthenovelisveryclear.Throughthecharacter'spersonalityandbehavioraldetails,readerscandeeplyunderstandtheirinnercontradictionsandconflicts.TheimageofStricklandisparticularlyprominent.Hisnon-traditionalartpursuitandthesplittingoflifehasmadehimextremelycontroversialandunique.Atthesametime,Maumalsoshowsextraordinaryskillsintermsofenvironmentanddetaildescriptions,especiallythedepictionoftheParisartcircleandTasisi,allofwhicharedetailedandspecific,asifreadersareimmersedintherealm,feelingtheartsthathaveneverhadbeforebeforeAtmosphere.Thenarrativemethodinthenovelisalsoveryinteresting.Inafirst-personway,MaumobjectivelydescribesthelifeandpsychologyofStricklandfromtheperspectiveofabystander.Ontheonehand,itmaintainstheobjectivityofthenovel.Trickland'semotionalconnection.2.2.1VividCharacterizationofCharactersTheMoonandSixpencemainlydepictstheimageofCharlesStrickland,thischaracterisdistinct,unique.Afterabandoninghiswifeandchildrentopursuehisartisticideal,herespondstothequestionof"me"withaplayfulattitude.Strickland'sdeviantpersonaisexemplifieswhenStroff'swifefallsmadlyinlovewithhimandthenheturnsaroundandabandonsher.Atthesametime,"I"describeshimas"anincurablejerk"and"crazy",whichreinforcestheimageinreaders'mindsandmakesitmoretypical.Inaddition,thearchetypeofStricklandisthefamousimpressionistpainterPaulGauguin.Thestorysettingbasedontheexperienceofrealisticcharactersalsomakesthecharactersfullerandmorereal.Therefore,thevividandunrulycharacterimageisareflectionoftherealisticwritingtechnique.2.2.2DetailedDescriptionofEnvironmentandDetailsThefirstfourchaptersofthebookalmosthavenothingtodowiththemainlineoftheplot,andreflectthesocialsituationthroughthedescriptionof"me".TheuniqueenvironmentdescriptionofLondon,ParisandTahitiprovidesthestageforthecharacterstoturnthreetimesintheirlife.Differentenvironmentsalsoreflecttheinnerworldofthecharacters,fromthebustling,richandhelplessLondontotheartistic,romanticandhighcostoflivinginParis,andthentothedesertedandalmostisolatedislandofTahiti,allofwhichbringreadersdifferentinnerexperiences.Thedetailedandprofounddescriptionofthecharacters,suchasStrilanke'sdress,Appearance,mannerandinnermonologuearevivid,scattered.2.2.3ObjectiveNarrationintheFirstPersonMaughamwasgoodattellingthestoryinthefirstpersonfromthe"unbiasedobserver'spointofview"."I"wasalittle-knownwriterinLondonwhohappenedtoknowastockbrokerandwroteadetailedaccountofhisfriend'sexperiences,sothewritingstylemaintainedobjectivity.The"I"inthisbookactsasanobserver,an"acquaintance"ofStrickland,collectinghislifeforhisbiography.BeforereallydescribingStrickland'slife,theauthorusesalotofinktodescribetheprocessof"I"inthelifeoftheLondonliterarycircletogettoknowStrickland;Strickland'sendingisprecededbyalotof"I"tracinghislifeonTahiti.Suchasettingmakestheplotseemobjectiveandrigorous,andaddstothepersuadabilityofthearticle.ChapterThreeStrickland'sCharacterImageStricklandistheprotagonistintheMam'snovelTheMoonandtheSixPopularity.Heisaverypersonalitycharacter.Ontheonehand,heisanexquisiteself-reliance,willingtogiveuptraditionalethicsandmoralguidelines,andatallcostsforhisartisticpursuit.Intheplotofthenovel,Strickland'sbehaviorshowedhiscontemptforhisidentityandlife.Helefthiswifeandchildren,andduringParis,heonlydealtwiththosewhoweregoodforhim.Thisexquisiteself-interestingistfeelsthatheisgoodatpursuinghisowninterests,butitisdifficulttocontrolhimself.Asaresult,hecannotcontrolorexpecteveryone.Ontheotherhand,Stricklandisanabsolutelyfreeartsuitor.HegaveupahypocriticallifeandrantoParistopursuehistruedream.Strickland'snon-traditionalartpursuitandthevalueofthispursuitalsodeeplyinspiredMaom'sdeepthinkingaboutthelifeofmodernpeople.FromStrickland,hereflectsakindofpersonaldignity.Strongdesireandinquirywithspiritualfreedom.Hepursuingthepassionofartandtherightmadness,andthedisgustofsocialcustomsandauthority,madehimaverycontroversialanduniquefigure,andatthesametimerepresentthetruemeaningofthefreedomofthesoulandart.Inaddition,Strickland'spursuitandthecreationofworksleftadeepimpressiononpeople,anditalsodeeplytouchedthesoulofliteraryreaders.3.1TheExquisiteEgoistStrickland'scharacterimageshowsanexquisiteself-interestingistinTheMoonandtheSixTopia.Hedidnotconcealthecontemptofethicsandmoralnorms,andmadeachoiceofself-choiceinthecontradictionbetweenartandlife,andatthesametime,italsohadaninevitableimpactonthepeoplearoundhim.Thefirstisthecontemptofthethreewomeninlife.Hisattitudetowardshiswife,loverandfriendsisalienatedandnotconcerned.WhenStrichrdmetafemalemodelNorainParis,hemarriedhiswifeandpushedthechildren'snominalchildrentohiswife.WhenhearrivedinTasisfromParis,heandthelocalBlancheElenaDawsonlingeredback,completelyignoringhiswife'swaitinginLondon,therebydestroyingthefameanddeath.Secondly,hisabandonmentoffamilyandchildrenisalsoextremelyobvious.Heregardshisfamilyashisown,maybeevenobstaclestoblockhisartpursuit.Whenhiswifeaskedhimtocomeback,hisanswerwas:"IfIwanttogoback,Iwillgoback."Thisindifferentattitudemadehimencounterastrongdislikeofmostpeople.Hecouldn'tevenstandwithhisson,showingignoringfamilyvalue.Inaddition,Strickland'simageofself-relianceisalsoreflectedinthebetrayaloffriendsandlife-savingbenefactors.HisParisianfriendshaveaccommodatedElliottCamenNing,whohadbeenverygoodtohimselfandhelpedhimselfalot,buthewasmercilesstohimwhenhewassickanddied.Fromtheperspectiveofthegratitudeofhumannatureorcharcoalinthesnow,this"comparison"showshisirresponsibleandruthlesscharacteristics.3.1.1ContemptfortheThreeWomeninMyLifeStricklandhadthreesexualrelationshipswithwomeninhislife,andhesawwomenasaliabilitytohim,tobeusedwhenheneededthemandtobemercilesslydiscardedwhenhedidn'tneedthem.Strickland'sfirstLondonwife,Amy,wasafine,unusualwoman,thoughsomewhathypocritical.Shelikedtosocializewithwriters,andwhenherhusbandfiledfordivorce,shewouldratherannouncethathehadtakenanotherwomanthanacceptthathehadabandonedherforhisideals,soastogainsympathy,increaseherreputation,andsecureaquicklifeforherself.Inaddition,shealwayskeepsthehousecleanandelegant,andthesmalldetailsoftheroomanddiningroomarepleasanttopeople.Thereisnodoubtthatsheisanexquisiteandcapablewifeandmother.Evenifherhusbandranawayandfiledfordivorce,shewouldletbygonesbebygonesoncehecameback.AndshewaswillingtosupportStricklandunconditionallywhenshelearnedhewantedtopaint.Andshehadtheability,thesense,andafterherhusbandleftshewasabletoopenaprintshopfarandwide.Therefore,Strickland'sabandonmentofAmyshowshisruthlessnessandindifference.Seventeenyearsoflifedidnotleavehimwithatraceofnostalgia.Heonlyfeltthathiswifewasaburdentohim,andthoughtthatwomenjustwantedtobindhimandcontrolhismindandsoul.Strickland'ssecondwomanisBlanche,thewifeofthepainterStroff.Blanchegaveupherlovinghusbandandstablelifeforhim.Shewasattractedbyhisprimitivewildnessatfirstandfollowedhimwithouthesitation,butitturnedouttobeatragedy.HestayedwithBlancheforthesakeofhisphysicaldesires,andwhenhefoundthatBlanchewantedtoimprisonhisspiritaswell,heabandonedher,andfeltnoremorseforherdeath,butremainedcalm,disdainful,andmocking."Womenaremyinstrumentsofpleasure;Idon'thavethepatienceforthemtobemyassistants,mypartners,mycompanions."Strickland'sthirdwomanwasAta,thewifehehadcometoTahititomarry.Ata,whowasignorantandinnocent,gavebutnevertook.Attahadhisownhouseandpropertytofeedthem,totakecareofhisdailylife,andtotakecareoftheirchildrenalone,neverbotheringhim,lethimconcentrateonhiscreation.Whenshewassentawaybyaseriousillness,Attaresponded:"YouaremymanandIamyourwoman.I'llfollowyouwhereveryougo."Strickland'swillingnesstomarryAttaisnotlove,butuse.Hehasnofeelingsorresponsibilities,andAttaisjustapatheticwomanheusesasatool.ThisisalsowhereStrickland'sruthlessnesslies.Nomatterhowselflessandpurehisfeelingsare,theycan'tmovehim.Hismomentofaffectionwillonlyberestrainedbyagreaterforce,whichmakeshimreturntohislonelyspiritualroad.3.1.2AbandonmentofFamilyandChildrenStrickland'scontemptanddisdainforwomenmayonlyreflecttheviewofwomenconsistentwiththemainstreamsocietyatthattime,butStricklandcompletelylostresponsibilityforhisfamily.Asafatheroftwochildren,hedidnotcareabouttheharmtohischildren.PerhapshethoughtthatevenifMrs.Stricklandwasincapableofraisingthem,theMacAndrewseswouldraisethem,atleastwithoutlivingonthestreets;Anditdoesn'tmatterifthey'reoutonthestreet.They'vehadagoodlifeforyears.However,itistheyounglifethathurtsthemost.Whenhereplied,"Ireallylikedthemwhentheywereyoung,butnowtheyaregrownup,thereisnothingtocareabout,"heshowedhisunfeeling.Inordertothedirectionofhisheart,hebrokeallfeelings,evenalittlecareisnotwillingtoleavethechild.3.1.3BetrayalofFriendsandLifesaversStrickland'sparanoiaandtheextremeperformanceoffreedomandarthavebroughtmanynegativeimpactsonhisinterpersonalrelationships.Hisprejudiceagainstfamilyrelationshipsandmen'sandwomen'srelationshipshascausedhimtoextremelydisliketheconstraintsoftheserelationships,treathiswifeandfamilyruthlessly,andpursuefreedomandhappinessinsocialrelationswithoutcareaboutthefeelingsandinterestsofothers.IntherelationshipwithBranch,Stricklandonlyregardsherasatooltosatisfyherdesires,ratherthantrulycareandlove.WhenBranchfoundthathisfeelingscouldnotberesponded,hechosetocommitsuicide,butStricklanddidnothavealittleguiltyandsympathy,almostignoringBranci'slifeandfeelings,whichmadehisimageseeIt'smorecoldandselfish.Strickland'sparanoiaandtheextremepursuitofliberalismseemtobetorealizethepursuitoffreedomandart,butinfact,ithasaseriesofnegativeimpactsonhislifeandinterpersonalrelationships.Intheprocessofpursuingfreedomandindependence,heabandonedhisdialogueandsocialresponsibilitywithreality,ignoredtheinterestsandfeelingsofothers,andeventuallyledtothebreakdownandlonelinessandhelplessendingofhisinterpersonalrelationships.3.2ArtisticPursuerofAbsoluteFreedomStricklandisanabsolutelyfreeartisticsuitorinthenovelTheMoonandtheSixTopia.Heabandonedhissuperiorlifeforhisdreamandpursuedhistrueartacrossthesea.Inthisnon-traditionalartpursuit,Stricklandalsopaidahugeprice.Ontheonehand,heabandonedhissuperiorlifeinordertopursueart,gaveupmoneyandstatus,andputhimselfinaverypoorstateinParis.WhenStricklandchasedthemeaningandidealoflife,headvocatedgivinguptheoldnormsofsocietyandpreparingtopayanypriceforit.Hebelievesthatonlybybeingcompletelyimmersedintheartofstylingandclearingallworldlyrestraintcanwetrulypursuevalue.Ontheotherhand,Stricklostthebasicmoralbottomlinetochaseideals.Heplayedallthewomenwhowereincontactwithhimtoachievehispurpose;hedidnotberesponsibleforhisartisticworksandcreation,butinsteadusedphysicalandfraudwaysformoneyandspiritualsatisfaction.Thismoraldegradationdirectlyledtothecontradictionbetweenhimandsomepartners,andcausedsomeproblemsinthesocialsense.Intheend,Stricklandexhaustedhislifeinordertopursuehisideals.WiththehelpofthereporterGrimingtonandhiswife,Stricklandfoundhisartisticdirectionagain.Injustafewyears,hewroteanumberofoutstandingartmasterpiecesandreachedthehighestpositionoftheartist.However,intheprocessofpursuingtheideal,Stricklandwasexhaustedandexhausted,andeventuallyflowedtoabarrenisland,becomingapersonwhoishomeless,weakandpoor.Hisidealandartisticpursuitpromptedhimtostruggletothelastmomentofhislife,butalsomadehimunabletofindabackroad.3.2.1AbandoningaSuperiorLifeforthePursuitofArtInordertorealizehisidealofpainting,Stricklandhadnotonlygivenupawarmandbeautifulhome,butalsogaveupawell-paidandstablejob.ItwasnotasMrs.Stricklandhadimagined:livinginluxuriousrooms,eatinginfinerestaurants,livingalifeofextravagantdrinking,gamblingeverydayandgoingtothetheatereverynight.Itwaslivinginasmall,shabbyhotel,wearingashabbyNorfolkjacket,andlivinginpoverty.WhenStricklandwaswanderinginParisandMarseilles,hismateriallifewasextremelypoor.Heledalifeofextremepovertyandmisery,andhemovedaboutforalittlefreefood.Thesematerialconditions,whichwouldhaveseemedintolerabletoordinarypeople,werealsoachallengeandablighttoStrickland'sbody,buthedidnotcomplain.Isnotaware.Stricklandhatedthelifehehadled.Thecomfortablelifehehadbeengiven,thoughhappy,waspainful,asifhissoulhadbeenimprisoned.HislifeinPariswasdifficultandharsh,buthewaspoisedandabletodowhathewanted,paintinginhisroomandplayingchessonthestreetcorner.Later,StricklandcametoTahitiforhisart,butitwasherethatStricklandworkedhardtocompletehisamazingwork.Stricklandcanacceptthelackofmateriallife,butcannotbearthelackofspiritualworld,thepursuitofartmakeshimcannotwaitforamoment,sohemustgiveeverything.3.2.2LossofBasicMoralBottomLineforthePursuitofIdealStricklandsacrificedtoomuchtopursueart.Whetherheabandonedhiswifeandchildren,orleavingthestraystreetinLondon,hewaspursuinghismostrealdesireinhisheart,andcompletelyignoredtheexpectationsandresponsibilitiesofothersandsociety.ThisextremepursuitofindividualismandliberalismhasledStricklandtolosethemoralbottomlineandsympathyoftheso-called"people"inordinarysociety.Attheexpenseofallthe"monsters".However,Strickland'sbehavioralsocalledatrulyfreeandindependentartworldtosomeextent.Althoughhisapproachisabittoomuch,hestillfirmlybelievesthatpursuingartandfreedomisveryimportant.Thisindividualismandliberalism,thatis,thepursuitoftruthandself,andtheextremeexpressionoftheconstraintsofothersandtheexpectationsofsociety,hasbecomeoneoftherepresentativesofStricklandandmanyothermodernartists.Hislifestoriesandartpursuitprovidesimportantinspiration:peoplecanpursuefreedom,independentthinking,andnobleartpursuit,butcannotsacrificetheinterestsofothersorchoosethewrongpath.Therefore,theimageofStricklandinthenovel"TheMoonandtheSixTopia"containsbothextremeindividualismandliberalism,butalsothelackoflimitationandsocialresponsibilityinhumannature.ThismakesStrickland'simagemorecomplicatedandcontradictory,andalsoreflectsthediversityandcomplexityofcontemporaryartpursuits..3.2.3WastingOne'sLifeinPursuitofIdealStrikland'swifeAttaplaysanimportantroleinhislifeandartisticcreation.Notonlyissherich,shealsohasadedicatedpersonalitythatcanhelpStricklandrealizehisartisticdream.EspeciallyafterStricklandsufferedfromanesthesia,Attabecamehismaincaregiver,caredandsupportedhiscreation,andprovidedhimwithastablelivingenvironmentandeconomicfoundation.Strickland'sworkduringthehempwindswasalsoconsideredtobethepinnacleofhisartisticcreation.Whenhereachedthepeakofartisticart,hisinnerpursuitofartwasfinallysatisfied.Buthislifeisclosetotheend.Hisexcessiveparanoiaandpursuitoffreedomandarteventuallyledhimtothetrajectoryofnormalpeopleandbecameanindividualwhowasnolongerresponsibleforothersandsociety.However,Striklanddidgetclosertotheartisticrealmhepursuedattheendofhisdying.Thismaybetheultimategoalofpursuingartthroughouthislife,butatthesametime,healsocalledustoreflectonthedisadvantagesofsimplypursuingfreedomandart.,Thatis,thereareproblemsthatharmtheinterestsofothersandthelackofsocialresponsibility.Whenarthasbecomeaninnerpursuitofanindividual,butabandoningthedialoguewiththesurroundingenvironmentandreality,shouldwequestionandreflectonthis.ChapterFourTheCauseofStrickland'sCharacterImageStrickland'scharacterimageiscomposedofavarietyoffactors.Thefirstisthathischildhooddreamwasstronglyopposedbyhisparents.Hisparentsexpecthimtobecomeafinancialistandprovidehimwithhigh-qualityeducationalresources,buthehasalwayslovedartdeeplyinhisheart.Strickland'sobsessionoriginatedfromtheartcareerofpaintinginhiselementaryschool.Hebelievesthatartisthemostimportantpartoflifeandisdeterminedtoentertheartworldtobecomeapainter,butinthefaceofthestrongoppositionandoftheparentsReallifepressure,hechosetostayawayfromhisfamilyanddevotehimselftohisart.ThisiswhyStriclandhasalwaysinsistedonhisownwayintheprocessofpursuingartandfreedom.Secondly,Strickland'scharacterimagewasalsocausedbyhisrebellioninhisyouth.Hebelievesthattraditionalsocialvalueslimithispersonalityandpursuit.Heknowsthathiscontroversialworksmaybecriticizedandcondemnedbysociety,buthebelievesthathisworkisarealcommunication.Accept.Heoftenmadechoicesandchoicesinthecontradictionsofartandlife,andfinallychosehisownpursuitofpursuitofpersonalityasaguidanceforlife.ThisalsocreatedthecharacteristicsofStrickland'scollisionandrejectionoftraditionalartisticviews,andlaidasolidfoundationforhimtogofurtherontheroadofpursuingartandfreedom.Intheend,Strickland'sparanoiaandsuperegoarealsoanimportantfactorinformingtheircharacters.Heregardsartforhisbeliefsandredemption,butinhislife,hisabsolutepersistenceinarthasledtohisindifferencetohiswife,familyandlife,andevenhaveanegativeimpactonfriendsandothers.Hehasbeengraduallyover-buriedinart,deeplyrootedinhisartworldandthoughts,andignoredhisfamilyandlife,whicheventuallyledtomentalparanoiaandloneliness.Thisreflectshispoweroftherejectionandchaseoftraditionalmoralnorms,andthisparanoiahasbecomethebasisforhisabsolutelyfreeartpursuit,whichmakespeoplesigh.4.1TheObsessionofChildhoodDreamStronglyOpposedbyParentsStricklandBenisastockbroker,withavirtuouswifeandtwochildren,ahappyfamily,financialprosperity,andanuneventfullife.Maughamplaysuptheimageof"ordinarypeople"fromvariousanglesfromthebeginningofthearticle.Intheeyesofthepublic,"Hewasbornbigandextravagant.It'snotpretty,butit'snotugly.Heisnothingbutanhonest,uninterestingcommonman.Someonewhocanadmirehim,butdoesn'twanttobewithhim."MissWaterford,notonlyanoddingacquaintance,introducedhimthus:"HeworksinLondon.Astockbroker,Ithink.It'snotfunny.Hedoesn'ttalkmuch,andhe'snotinterestedinliteratureandartatall."Hiswife,wholiveswithhimallthetime,said,"He'snotliteraryatall.Hewillboreyou,Isuppose."Strickland,therefore,isnothingmorethananordinarynobody,becauseheisnowdominatedbythe"ego",isinaccordancewiththewishesofhisparentsandtherequirementsofsociety.Sincemychildhooddreamofbecomingapainterwasstronglyopposedbymyfather,Iburiedmyloveandpursuitofpaintingartinmyheartandtriedtobecomeanormalscrewinthebigmachineofsociety.InhissparetimeStricklandsecretlypickedupapaintbrushandstudiedpaintingforayearatnightschool.4.2RebellionCausedbyYouth'sSelf-ConsciousnessStrickland'srepressedIDburstoutofhisego.Hecouldnolongergoonlivingahappylifeonthesurface,butalifelesslifeontheinside.Soheabandonedhisfamilyandchildrenandfollowedhishearttopursuehisartisticidealsinaforeignland.Atthistime,paintingishisbiggestandonlydesire,inaddition,eventhefamilycanbeleftbehind.Sowhenheisaccusedofirresponsibility,herespondswithindifference:"I'vebeensupportingherforseventeenyears.Whycan'tshesupportherselfforachange?"Ididlikemychildrenwhentheywerelittle,butnowtheyaregrownupandIdon'thaveanyspecialfeelingsforthem.Inadditiontobeingunattachedtohisfamily,Stricklandwasindifferenttomateriallife.Whenthe"me"seeshiminFrance,heisdressedinanoldcoat,unshavenfordays,unkempt,livinginadingyhotel,inaroomwhere"nothingisnotdirtyandshabby,"andeatingonlytofillhisstomach.Hedidn'tcareaboutmaterialthings.Hedidn'tcareabouthiswifeandchildren.Allheknewwasthathehadtopaintorhewouldbedestroyed."Aviolentforceisstrugglingwithinhim;Itseemedtomesopowerfulandoverwhelmingthatitseemedtoholdhimtightlyagainsthisownwill."Itseemedtomethathereallyhadp