The moon and six pence by Maugham

 My obsession with Netflix shows must have made you to conclude that I have given up reading altogether. I haven't, but barely so. You may find it hard to believe, but a social media platform helped me get back into the good habit. Yes, reddit, when I saw the posts in a book-lovers' group, I was inspired to read a few books at least.

Yes, currently I am listening/ reading the famous book by famous author "The moon and the six pence" by Somerset Maugham. And it is interesting and not too sad - unlike most of these books by award winning authors. 

Strickland is a middle aged stock broker who leaves his wife and teenage children and runs away to Paris. The protagonist locates him and goes to his dingy motel room. He was told by Strickland's wife and brother in law that he has run away with some waitress. 

But no, surprisingly, Strickland has run away alone. To pursue his passion in painting. Our protagonist tries to convince him to come back at least for the sake of the children, but it's of no use. He is not even worried about how his wife and children are going to live.

But they do survive, Strickland's wife takes up the job of typing and then employs more people for the job and leads almost comfortable life.

Many years later our protagonist comes across another incidence where Strickland's callousness and selfishness has destroyed the life of a woman. Strover is an artist friend who has little talent but a very large heart. Other artists ridicule him, but still borrow money from him which he willingly gives. He doesn't seem to mind all the jibes and insults he faces. 

But Strover loves good artists like Strickland even when they openly censure him and his paintings. Strover's wife dislikes this fact. 

When Strickland is seriously ill, may be due to malnutrition - as he is a poor artist, Strover wants to bring him home and take care of him. Blanche, his wife strongly opposes, then finally obliges. 

That was a wrong move. Because, after Strickland recovers, he starts painting in Strover's studio and as he does not like to be disturbed sends Strover away. From his own studio. The meek hearted Strover comes out.

Blanche and Strickland start having an affair, and she decides to leave Strover. He tries to convince her that Strickland is certainly going to break her heart and no one can love her the way Strover does. But his pleadings are wasted on her. Unwilling to make her suffer in Strickland's poverty, Strover leaves his own home and studio to them.

But then the inevitable happens, Blanche tries to commit suicide. She is hospitalized and finally dies. 

So is Strickland the villain in this story? Did he almost destroy his home and then caused a woman to kill herself? Or a great artist is beyond normal human feelings and sensibilities? I fail to understand.