"The Moon and Sixpence" is not very long, but has always been regarded as a classic. Recently, I listened to it while driving to and from work.
The writing is indeed good, especially the detailed portrayal of the characters' psychology. Each character is vividly depicted, so it is reasonable that it is considered a classic.
However, after listening to it, I didn't particularly like this book overall, nor did I like the protagonist in the book. Perhaps because I am also an ordinary person who cannot understand those elegant inner choices.
The protagonist is widely regarded as a genius in the end, but without his own choices, without his learning process, without his inner life insights, those extraordinary paintings would not have appeared before the world. From this perspective, it seems that genius has become an inappropriate label.
The moon is unattainable. I wonder even if the protagonist becomes a genius in the eyes of the people, becomes successful in the history of painting, he himself should be indifferent to these achievements. What he pursues is the unattainable, something that his inner self can never reach. Nothing worldly is his pursuit.
In fact, people like the protagonist who are so clear about the direction they are pursuing are rare in the world. Most are either not firm in their hearts, or do not know what they seek.
If one cannot find that firm pursuit, then the sixpence naturally becomes our choice. The sixpence is easy to understand, it is about working hard every day for that salary, for a materially comfortable life. Various worldly desires and needs are for the sixpence.
For me, the sixpence is easy to understand. Now I hold the sixpence in my hand, constantly searching for some meaning in life, which is perhaps the moon.
What exactly is the moon? I still haven't figured it out. Is it the pursuit of the heart? Is it the release of interest? It should not be fame that will be remembered for eternity, the original creation, right?
After years of contemplation, most of the time I am pessimistic and believe that life does not have much meaning. For a person, achieving short-term pursuits and inner peace is success. I believe the less attachment to gains and losses, the more peaceful the heart.
Of course, it is possible that I am speaking without experiencing it myself. I must mention that I was also a person who dared to fight when I was young.