Abstract:

This paper aims to analyze William Somerset Maugham’s view on women revealed in the novel—The Moon and Sixpence which mainly depicts three female images. The first is Mrs. Strickland who is a wiseacre and addicted in a mawkish figment of imagination. She is a typical image of self-deceit and self-approbation. The second is Blanche who has an affair with Mr. Strickland and is debauched and tragic. The third is Ata, a typical image of ignorance and strong dependence, who didn’t change her ignorant life-style after marrying Mr. Strickland. By analyzing the three female images, this paper will give an objective understanding of Maugham’s view on female.

Key words: Maugham; The Moon and Sixpence; anti-female view

摘要：

本文旨在通过对毛姆的长篇小说《月亮和六便士》中三位女性人物进行分析，以更客观地理解毛姆的女性观。《月光和六便士》中毛姆着力刻画了三个女性形象。第一个女性是主人公克兰德的妻子阿美,她总是自以为是，难辨真假，生活在自作多情而臆造的幻想中，是典型的自欺欺人、自以为是的形象。第二个女性勃朗什，她与克兰德发生婚外情，是典型的放荡又悲剧的形象。第三个女性是爱塔，嫁给文明人克兰德，却丝毫未改变她蒙昧的生活方式，是典型的无知愚昧、过分依懒的女性形象。

关键词：毛姆；《月光与六便士》；反女性观

1. Introduction
1.1 Introduction to Maugham
William Somerset Maugham, well known British novelist, playwright and short-story writer, who achieved outstanding recognition as the highest paid author of the 1930s as well as his literary talent. Although his skills in plot-handling were compared to those of Guy de Maupassant by some critics and he was popular among many readers, Maugham’s works were not as well received by the some critics.
Maugham was born in 1874 as the sixth and the youngest child of an English family. His father worked as the solicitor to the British Embassy and he spoke only French till he was 11, when he was orphaned and came to live with his religious uncle and his family. Maugham attended King's School, and where he studied literature and philosophy. Later on he moved on to specialized in medicine at Hospital, which he completed in 1897 and became a doctor. However, Maugham did not practice medicine for a long time and gave it up altogether to become a full time writer when his first novels and plays proved successful. Maugham’s first novel Liza of Lambeth was published in 1897. His first play, A Man of Honou, was produced in 1903. Some of Maugham’s famous plays, many of which were staged both in Europe and are The Circle (1921), Our Betters (1923) and The Constant Wife (1927).