Bidirectional Disenchantment: The Deconstruction of Ideal and Reality in The Moon and Sixpence

Abstract

W. Somerset Maugham’s The Moon and Sixpence centers on Charles Strickland, a painter who resolutely abandons his mundane life, endures numerous hardships, and defies social conventions—all in pursuit of his artistic ideal. By depicting the varied choices made by different characters amid the conflict between ideal and reality, as well as the distinct fates that follow, the novel subtly reveals a core issue: excessive glorification of either side will trap people in a state of cognitive confusion. This paper argues that only through the bidirectional disenchantment of both ideal and reality, and by deconstructing their seemingly contradictory opposition, can individuals break free from cognitive limitations, balance ideal and reality independently, and ultimately make more rational life choices. The concept of “bidirectional disenchantment,” as proposed in this paper, serves to highlight the inherent imperfections in both our ideals and our reality. By deconstructing the perceived conflict between them, it suggests a new perspective: when we cease to view ideals as infallible myths and reality as an unbreakable shackle, we discover that their respective flaws can be complementary. This understanding reveals that the tension between them is not only manageable but resolvable.