Study Guide To Of Human Bondage By W Somerset Maugham

Author : W. SOMERSET MAUGHAM
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 641 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (49 download)

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Download or read book Of Human Bondage written by W. SOMERSET MAUGHAM and published by . This book was released on 2020-04-28 with total page 641 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: ANNOTATIONS*Biography of W. Somerset Maugham*About Of Human Bondage*Of Human Bondage Summary*Character List*Glossary*Themes*Quotes*Analysis*Symbols, Allegory and Motifs*Metaphors and Similes*Irony*Imagery*Literary Elements*Essay QuestionsOf Human Bondage is one of the most famous novels of English writer William Somerset Maugham. The novel was written in 1915. The protagonist - Philip Carey, is an orphan and is with a lame leg, which makes his life very difficult.The novel itself is considered as an autobiographic, as there are many details from Maugham's life. Maugham had a stammer, and Phillip had a club foot; as well as the main character Maugham has lost his mother when was a child and was sent to his uncle and aunt; Maugham also was very interested in art, though did not practice it himself. This all gives an impression of an autobiographic novel, but as Maugham said himself, even though this is true, the novel is not an autobiographical, most of it is fictional.The title is borrowed from Spinoza's Ethics, part IV "Of Human Bondage, or the Strength of the Emotions". The idea of bondage as an inability of people to take control over their emotions became a monument point for Maugham to develop the plot.In the beginning of the 20th century 9-year-old Philip Carey became an orphan, and was sent for bringing up to his uncle in Blackstable. His uncle was a vicar and did not feel soft feelings toward his nephew, but in his house Philip found a lot of different books, which helped him to forget about his solitude.In the school, where he was sent, he was mocked at because of his club foot. These mocking made him very timid and bashful, it seemed to him that suffer was his destiny. Philip begged God to make him healthy, and after it had not happened, he was the only one he blamed. He thought that his faith was not strong enough. He hated school, and there was no way he considered continuing his education at Oxford, as his uncle wanted. Philip himself wanted to study in Germany, and he managed to achieve his aim.In Germany Philip got acquainted with Hayward and got under his influence. Hayward was talented and rather out of the common. The arguments of Hayward with other people about religion and literature left a very significant track in Philip's soul: in one moment he understood that did not believe in God anymore, was not afraid of hell, and a human should be responsible for his deeds only before himself.Having returned from Germany to England Philip met a daughter of the former Mr. Carey's assistant in Blackstable. She was about 30, mincing and rather flirtatious. At first Philip did not like her, but even though, she became soon his lover. Being very proud Philip wrote Hayward about his love affair, describing it very vividly and romantically. But in fact when Ms. Wilkinson left he was rather relieved, but he felt a little sad because the really did not coincide with the dreams.Mr. Carey having already accepted the Philip's unwillingness to study at Oxford, sent him to London to become a clerk. But this profession was not for Philip and without friends he felt really lonely in a big city. But then he got a letter from Hayward with an invitation to go to Paris and study there art. It seemed to Philip that this idea had been maturing in his soul as well, and disregarding his uncle's objections Philip left for Paris. There he joined the artistic studio and met a girl called Fanny Price. She was rather unattractive and not neat. Nobody could stand her because of her rudeness and self-conceit, even though she had little talent in drawing. But she helped Philip to adapt to circumstances and he stayed very grateful.The life of Paris bohemia changed Philip's world outlook: he did not consider anymore ethical tasks the main for art, but as before saw the life in the spectrum of Christian virtue.