September Reads

Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham, 1915

Ever since reading The House of Doors over a year ago, I have wanted to read a Somerset Maugham book since I have never read anything by him.

A keen observer of human behavior, Maugham writes truth so keenly. His language is simple, wry and humorous. 

Of Human Bondage is a story of Philip Carey, loosely based on the author, whose parents also died young, became a doctor and most distinguishing, was born with a club foot.

The novel is long at 600+ pages. There were points when I wished the novel was shorter but by the time I got to the end, I wished it was longer.

Carey is sent to live with his vicar uncle, who is cold and harsh, in Blackstable. He is sent to a public school where he is bullied and embarrassed by his club foot. Despite his strong academic performance, he insists on spending a year in Germany instead of competing for a scholarship to Oxford.

He questions his decision before he is to leave for Germany, but due to youth stubbornness, commits to his decision and moves to Germany.

Without university, Carey is directionless and through Hayward, an Englishman Carey befriends in Germany who speaks of the beauty of Paris, Carey decides to move to Paris and attempt to be an artist. 

His Parisian years are filled with adventure and friends. There are many tortured souls and limited funds amongst the artist friends, but Carey thrives in the conversations and comraderie.

Realizing that he is not talented enough to become an artist, he moves back to England where he pursues a medical degree like his father. At St Luke in London, Philip makes new friends and leaves behind the artist life of beauty and debate.

He finds his calling as a doctor and his studies are going well. A fellow student named Dunsford befriends Philip and tells him about a waitress named Mildred, whom he has a crush on.

Soon, Philip finds himself going to the diner where Mildred works and eating at her table. A one-sided relationship ensues where Philip splurges on theater tickets to take Mildred out and dutifully walks her home.

Philip is crushed when Mildred informs him that she is marrying a suitor and despite his heart breaking, he continues his studies and manages to build a content life for himself, filled with friends and even dating a Norah, introduced to him through a friend.

Things are turned upside down when Philip runs into Mildred. Mildred never married as her suitor was already married. She does have a child with the man though, and finds comfort in Philip, who financially supports her and her child.

Philip is devastated when Mildred and his close friend and fellow medical student Griffiths have an affair. He cuts both out of his life and focuses on his studies. He befriends patient Thorpe Athelney and makes a routine to stop by the Athelney household every Sunday for tea.

As Philip has rebuilt his life, he runs into Mildred. She is destitute, resorting to selling her body in attempts to support herself. Although Philip is no longer infatuated with Mildred, he takes her and her baby into his househould and hires her to replace his maid and chef.

When Mildred realizes that Philip is no longer in love with her, she rages and destroys everything in his posession. The misfortunes continue as Philip runs out of money for medical school. He appeals to his uncle for funds, but his uncle, still incensed that Philip spent his funds and time in Paris to become an artist, refuses to provide additional funds.

Philip is forced to drop out of medical school and loses his apartment. His only solace is the Athelney's on Sundays. He is forced to sleep in the rough and when Thorpre realizes Philip's situation, arranges Philip for an interview as a shop boy.

The work is tedious and pay low. Philip shares a room with other shop boys. He is miserable and even finds himself wishing his unclde would pass away so that he can inherit funds from his uncle so that he can quit his job and continue with his medical education.

Philip eventually becomes a doctor and realizes what he has been yearning for after so many directionless years. I could not help but cheer for him by the end of the novel.

Some of my favorite passages from the story:

Enthusiasm was ill-bred. Enthusiasm was ungentlemanly. They thought of the Salvation Army with its braying trumpets and its drums. Enthusiasm meant change. They had goose-flesh when they thought of all the pleasant old habits wiich stood in imminent danger. They hardly dared to look forward to the future.

- In reference to Mr. Perkins, the new headmaster for King's School at Tercanbury, where clergy sent their sonds.

This exchange reminds me of an exchange with my English husband:

'I say, I want you to com and see anohter play with me,' he [Philip] said.
'I don't mind,' she [Mildred] said. 
'You might go so far as to say you'd like to.'
'Why?'
'It doesn't matter. Let's fix a day, Would Saturday night suit you?'
'Yes,' that'll do.'

The following from Philip sums up my philosophy:

'Well, I can't say anything about other people. I can only speak for myself. The illusion of free will is so straong in my mind that I can'g et away from it, but I believe it is only an illusion. But it is an illusion which is one fo the strongest motives of my actions. Before I do anything I feel that I have choice, and that influces what I do; but aftewars, then the thing is done, I believe that it was inevitable from all eternity.'

'What do you deduce from that?' asked Hayward.

'Why, merely the futility of regret. It's no good crying over spilt milk, because all the forices of the universer were bent on spilling it.'

And the following, so true (about his friend Hayward):

It was one of the queer things of life that you saw a person ever day for months and were so intimate with him that you could not imagine existence without him; then separation came and everything went on in the same way, and the companion who had seemed essential proved unneccessary.