Probably the first step in initiating a fruitful discussion would be to review the life and career of Paul Gauguin, with an eye to learning how much and in what ways Maugham deviated from the facts in order to create an effective novel. Attention could be paid to the important differences between the personalities of the real and the fictional artists. Some consideration could be given to whether Maugham played fair in his distortion of the realities of Gauguin's life for literary effect.

Since this novel was very popular when it first appeared, partly because of the setting in Tahiti, some thought could be given to the importance of location. The digression on Dr. Abraham might be offered as an example of what Maugham thought of the significance of setting. An examination of his own highly traveled life would also provide material for discussion. Maugham was...