W. Somerset Maugham | Book Chatter

Week 5 – Some Surprises

War has affected the stock market. This affects Philip because he’s risked money to make money. This doesn’t end well. He is without money and still completing school. Prospects are slim. He’s pretty desperate.

To avoid the landlady who he owes rent to, he ends up on the street. Hungry, confused and lonely. He ends up visiting Athelny for dinner and there, he is shown kindness that he’s never known.

With Athelny’s help, Philip lands a job as a shop walker, basically a retail salesman. It’s rather humbling to accept a lowly position but money is what he needs so he accepts. Plus, it includes lodging and his keep. Not a bad deal really.

Philip sees his old friend Lawson on the street. The two do not hit it off at all but before they part, Lawson delivers some bad news about Hayward.

At his lowest of low, guess who comes back? Mildred is once again in need of help and Philip agrees to see her but it’s a little different this time. She’s ill and needs his medical assistance.

While the shops close for the holidays, Philip visits his uncle who is not well. The question of whether God exists comes up again in regard to his uncles beliefs in what could be his last days.

While spending time with his uncle, Philip looks around the room and surveys what each thing is worth. Crazy! It seems as if Philip has learned nothing in his trials. Uncle is sick and Philip is counting down the minutes to his inheritance.

The last quarter of the book takes a turn. Philip is actually good at something and sees value in it. He also realizes the sacrifices he must make for happiness. That elusive feeling he’s been chasing all along is finally within his grasp.

Things to ponder:

That rug that was gifted to Philip was supposed to represent the meaning of life. It finally occurs to Philip that life HAS no meaning. Why does admitting this relieve Philip?

Mildred has been a constant thorn in Philip’s side. What changed? He finally rids himself of her and seems to care not what happens to her. Do you feel any empathy at all for Mildred?

The baby! What the heck happened to the baby? I got the feeling, in Maugham’s subtle way of writing that Mildred sold the kid for money. That would be on point for her. What do you think?

Why do you think Maugham ended the story with the decision for Sally and Philip to marry? Did you see this coming? Is this what Philip needed to feel complete and happy?

I don’t agree that life has no meaning but that’s the realization Philip comes to after pondering the rug that was gifted to him. No meaning? Or no meaning for Philip? It does seem to be what Philip was searching for throughout the entire book, happiness and meaning so coming to the conclusion that there is no meaning would be a bit of a relief to him, but was it the lazy way out?

Mildred. Philip has finally had it with her. What was the tipping point? She’s hurt him and disappointed him numerous times. Maybe without the baby she no longer held anything over his head. She never did approve of his fondness for the child. But what she does to his belongings was really shocking! They say you have to hit rock bottom for change to occur and I’d say that losing everything he owned at Mildred’s hand was just that.

The baby. You know Mildred sold that kid, right? It would be just like her to do that. Mildred spoke of her death but I doubt it. Mildred never seemed attached to the kid and left her unattended more than once while she was a lady of the night. The fact that the baby had no name meant that she didn’t plan to have her around for long. Whatever happened, the kid is better off.

Sally and Philip. Sally is a plain sort of girl. Decent. Kind. Has a sense of humor. Totally different from the women Philip has been involved with. I don’t like to say that someone completes another person, but I do think Sally is good for Philip. She has a work ethic that Philip isn’t used to and she comes from a family that Philip adores. Is there hope for young Philip? I do think so,.

Interesting note:

I was at lunch with a colleague talking about Of Human Bondage and my colleague asked me to look up this painting of Maugham. Isn’t it striking?

Maugham portrait by Graham Sutherland. — Maugham portrait by Graham Sutherland, 1949.

I really enjoyed this book. Yes, Philip was annoying but I did feel empathy for his situation at times. He just didn’t seem capable of being happy so I was very pleased with the ending.

That’s it for this read-along! I will post a formal review soon. Thanks for joining me!

It’s Friday and the end of Week 4! Of Human Bondage has been surprisingly easy to read. Such memorable characters. Especially that Mildred. Ugh!

By now, you should have read the following:

This Week’s reading:

Chapters LXIX-LXXII / 69-72 (26 pp.)
Chapters LXXIII-LXXVIII / 73-78 (37 pp.)
Chapters LXXIX-LXXXVI / 79-86 (45 pp.)
Chapters LXXXVII-LXXXIX / 87-89 (19 pp.)
Chapters XC-XCVII / 90-97 (49 pp.)
Discuss/Read the above by 10/25 (176 pages total)

Click here for the full schedule.

Week 4 – Oh boy!

Mildred returns. Drats. And she’s in quite a state. Unable to care for herself, dumped. Once again Philip feels pity for her situation.

Then there’s Norah and the way she plays Philip. As calculating as Mildred is, Norah is not much better. It puts Philip in a very bad mood. Under the advice of Griffiths, he tells Norah it’s over. She refuses to believe it until he admits that Mildred is back in the picture.

The next bit is a spoiler if you haven’t finished the reading so look away…

Mildred, pregnant, without prospects is a ghastly thing. More ghastly is when the baby is born. She has no real plan. The baby, all throughout this week’s reading doesn’t even have a name. The baby feels temporary, unfortunately. Or perhaps a pawn to get what she wants.

During all of this drama, Philip is attending medical school. Trying to. It’s incredibly hard to focus when Mildred is constantly on his mind. She has disappointed him time and time again and continues to do so. So much so, that after another setback for Mildred, he has fallen out of love with her.

Philip befriends Athelny and his family. Athelny was a patient of Philip’s but has proven to provide the camaraderie Philip so desperately desires. The enjoyable Sunday meals are quite welcomed as well because money is once again an issue. Athelny’s family adores Philip too. He is their “Uncle” Philip.

However, as Mildred says, Philip is a gentleman in every sense of the word and offers Mildred lodging and food in exchange for housemaid duties. You see, she was on the street, selling herself as a last resort. She accepts his offer and her and the baby move in with Philip.

Philip, feeling comfortable now that Mildred is around and that his fondness for another man’s child grows on him, decides to have his foot operated on. To recover, Mildred, Philip and the baby have a little seaside holiday.

Bad decision. Very bad. All of it.

Things to ponder:

What does the title of the book mean to you?

Why does Mildred have such control over Philip? What does she represent?

The baby doesn’t have a name. There is also one line in the book where Mildred asks Philip if he sees a resemblance. Is Maugham hinting here that the baby is Philip’s?

What is really significant in Of Human Bondage is that it touches almost all the complexities of human life: these are upbringing and education issues, place of religion and morality, difficulties in finding an occupation, and the obstacles which are faced when having some inability. Is it too much? Should Maugham have narrowed the focus a bit?

The title. Philip holds himself prisoner. He is his own worst enemy. True, Mildred is horrid but what Philip does to himself, is hard to watch. In relation to the Mildred / Norah story line, “He would rather have misery with one than happiness with the other.” Not a great way to live.

Time and time again we question Philip’s judgment when it comes to Mildred. She’s not described as particularly attractive. That green pallor, her slight frame from not eating well, and even hints at poor hygiene. Yet, Philip has a hard time not feeling pity for the woman. Especially where the baby is concerned.

I will say this about Mildred, she is a survivor. She does what she needs to do to survive and unfortunately for our friend Philip, that’s use him until he’s lost his last penny. What does she represent? I thought it was what Philip couldn’t have but honestly, towards the end of the book I got the feeling that she is a gauge for humanity and how much of it he has left.

The nameless baby. Really, what is up with the kid? Is she Philip’s? Mildred asks him if he sees a resemblance and in Maugham’s style of writing this could very well be a “tell” of some sort. The baby doesn’t appear to be all that important to Mildred, I mean, the child’s name is never mentioned but Philip adores the child. Her presence allows us to see a different side to Philip. Could he one day be a family man?

Of Human Bondage covers a host of topics: education, religion, morality, happiness. Is it too much? I don’t think so at all! I think Maugham teases out just enough to pull the reader in and I can’t help but wonder how this will all turn out for Philip.

Interesting note:

Maugham actually obtained a medical degree but chose to be a writer instead. This book is somewhat autobiographical. He also suffered from a stutter and was bullied relentlessly. However, he was married for twelve years and had a daughter, but his principal companion was another man.

W. Somerset Maugham