I have been reading selected classics from English-language literature of the past century. I find it instructive to see how great writers create characters and plot and weave in important ideas. Most recently, I finished Of Human Bondage, by W. Somerset Maugham and I would like to share here my review of the book.
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It is not easy to review a literary classic like Of Human Bondage. It can be tricky to be an impartial reviewer. The tendency is to look for what is special in the book and point that out. So initially, I felt the need to identify and agree with what makes this a great novel, but that would slant my review to be more positive than I might feel. That said, I will try to give my honest take on the book.
There is much to praise here. I was drawn into the story and really felt for the protagonist. In one of the most exquisitely rendered characters I have encountered in my reading, author W. Somerset Maugham details the life of Philip Carey, beginning with his childhood and following him through the next 25 years or so, up to age 30. He is a sensitive, intelligent, and curious child whose parents died when he was very young.
Both parents die in 1885, within months of each other. Philip is sent to live with his uncle, a rigid and self-important small town Vicar. The man controls distribution of the boy’s modest inheritance and for many years, he doles out this money parsimoniously. In addition, young Philip suffers from a clubfoot for which he is ridiculed by his schoolmates, causing feelings of shame, insecurity, and loneliness.
Eventually, at age 18, though still dependent on his uncle for the money to which he is entitled, Philip is able to leave the Vicar’s small town to pursue his dream of becoming an artist in Paris. A shy young man, he lacks the confidence of most of the other artists and writers he comes to know in the big city. As a result he is very introspective and constantly dwells on what he should do, rather than what he wants to do. He never believes a woman will love him, but he is compelled to help those who are needy. At one point, he decides he does not believe in God although he continues to practice the acts of charity, compassion, and sacrifice that he was instructed by his uncle to follow.
One of the truly gut-wrenching story lines is his relationship with Mildred, a greedy, manipulative, stupid, and largely helpless young woman. He feels a passionate and unrequited love for her as she uses him mercilessly. She stays in his life as he gives up the pursuit of art to enter medical school. There he makes some mistakes with his limited funds and has to drop out for years. During this period, he lives in abject poverty. It was hard to read about his desperate circumstances and his failures that were largely of his own making.
Constantly examining the world and his place in it, Philip meditates on art, Christianity, and the meaning of life. He thoughtfully explores these issues but does not fully resolve any to his satisfaction. He dreams of seeing the world, especially Spain and the Far East, but even as he eventually becomes a doctor and would have the means to do so, it seems unlikely he will.
The book wraps up rather quickly on a positive note. I felt he had learned to care for himself and to love a woman, but it seemed a bit abrupt and not totally believable. The book was not an easy read, largely because I became so frustrated with Philip’s behavior. I could see he was a caring man, but he was exasperating because he made so many bad choices. However the provocative exploration of important questions and the extraordinary rendering of Philip make this an exceptional novel.