Summary
The narrator begins working on a play in Paris and spends a great deal of time with Dirk and Blanche. Dirk talks to an art dealer who expresses distaste for Strickland's paintings, saying that he believes there is no more impressive artist working today. The dealer says that he only cares about what sells, enraging Dirk.
The narrator spends time with Strickland, playing chess. He says that Strickland was not especially clever, but had a certain kind of harsh sarcasm that was amusing. Strickland asks him for money and the narrator refuses to give it to him, saying he does not care what happens to him. Strickland finds this humorous. Dirk comes in later and Strickland mercilessly mocks him to the point of tears. The narrator feels sorry for Dirk, but says that it was not possible not to laugh at his expense.
One day, Dirk comes to the narrator and informs him that he has not seen Strickland in days. Previously, after a particularly nasty comment Strickland made, Dirk resolved to avoid him. However, after not hearing from him for an extended period of time, he grows concerned. Dirk and the narrator learn from an acquaintance that Strickland is very ill. They go to visit him in his room. They find Strickland lying in his bed, racked with a terrible fever. He tells them to go away, but Dirk insists that they do something for him.
Returning home, Dirk discusses the possibility of caring for Strickland in his home with Blanche. She emphatically rejects the idea, telling him that Strickland is a horrible man. The narrator notes that she appears to be afraid as she makes this plea to keep Strickland away. Eventually the matter is settled and they decide to bring Strickland to their home.
Dirk and Blanche care for Strickland, who shows no appreciation for their kindness. He continues to viciously mock Dirk, who goes along with it in an effort to help Strickland convalesce. Blanche and the narrator find his behavior to be abominable, but Dirk is entirely happy during this time. Strickland is unable to paint during this time, but sometimes reads. He recovers slowly. One day the narrator sees Dirk on the street and asks what he is up to. He tells the narrator that Strickland kicked him out of his studio to paint. The narrator asks Dirk why he puts up with Strickland's behavior and Dirk says very little. The narrator becomes suspicious of what is really going on in Dirk's home.
Subsequently, the narrator learns that Dirk's wife left him for Strickland and forced him out of his home. The narrator is enraged, but Dirk seems resigned to the situation. Dirk narrates this terrible revelation in which Strickland and Blanche spoke to Dirk about it coldly, imploring him to leave and saying nothing he could say would change anyone's mind. The narrator is disgusted by the weakness he thinks Dirk is showing. He also disapproves of Dirk's decision to stay in Paris to make sure Blanche is cared for. The narrator remains baffled and frustrated by Dirk's behavior.
The narrator runs into Strickland and does not want to spend time with him but is eventually coerced into playing chess. He learns nothing of what is going on between him and Blanche, but is extremely curious. Later the narrator encounters Dirk and agrees, somewhat begrudgingly, to deliver a letter to Blanche.
Analysis
The brief conversation that Dirk has with the art dealer at the beginning of this section focuses on the art market and the notion of prestige. Dirk complains that the dealer will not take any of Strickland's paintings. He says that Strickland is the most talented artist working in their time. The dealer tells him it matters little, as he is primarily concerned with what will sell. In this moment, Maugham appears to be mocking the lack of taste on the art market, while also reaffirming Strickland's dedication to his craft. Strickland is a superior artist to Dirk, in part because he does not choose to concern himself with the changeable desires of the market and focus on perfecting his vision.
Cruelty also appears as a prominent theme in this section, as Strickland is constantly treating Dirk poorly, mocking him and his art. He says a number of hurtful things to Dirk, despite the fact that Dirk holds him in high regard and always treats him kindly. The narrator finds this behavior repugnant because Strickland goes out of his way to be unkind and because Dirk endlessly tolerates it, never proving able to actually stay away from Strickland. Strickland's treatment of Dirk further demonstrates his complete lack of care for manners or kindness.
By contrast, Dirk goes out of his way to be charitable to Strickland. In this section, Dirk learns that Strickland is ill and decides to take him into his home and care for him. Strickland expresses no desire to be cared for, is rude to Dirk while he recovers, and shows no appreciation for Dirk's efforts. His response to this charity further cements the impression as a cold, unfeeling individual, as he displays no interest in or thankfulness for Dirk's care. At the same time, it also shows that, as the narrator repeatedly notes, Dirk is completely unable to stand up for himself, which the narrator finds almost as unappealing as Strickland's cruelty.
Strickland repays Dirk's kindness by breaking up his marriage and kicking him out of his home. Blanche leaves Dirk for Strickland and asks him to move out. Utterly distraught, Dirk is in shambles. Still, he refuses to leave Paris, as he is concerned that Blanche will be in need of money or support. She abandons him entirely, refusing to speak with him. Dirk's actions are unfortunate in that his intentions are good, to a fault, but open him up to mistreatment from others. Both Strickland and Blanche know that he will continue to help and support them, regardless of how they treat him – in fact, they seem irritated by his endless kindness. Even the narrator catches himself feeling repulsed by Dirk's subservience.
These chapters focus on Strickland's time in Paris, as he begins to paint his first serious works and spends time with Dirk and the narrator. They depict his increasing arrogance and disregard for others, as he is shown going out of his way to hurt Dirk. He freely accepts Dirk's money, time, and medical care, but shows no concern for Dirk's wellbeing. When he breaks up Dirk's marriage, he speaks of it without pity or remorse. Strickland is once again shown to be solely concerned with his work and merely views Dirk's assistance as a means of continuing to paint.
