Of Human Bondage

Of Human Bondage Summary

Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham is a semi-autobiographical novel published in 1915. It follows the life of Philip Carey, an orphan with a clubfoot, as he navigates the complexities of life, love, and personal growth in early 20th-century England.

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Of Human Bondage Excerpt

Short Summary: Philip Carey, an orphaned boy with a clubfoot, embarks on a journey of self-discovery, grappling with love, loss, and the pursuit of meaning in his life. His tumultuous relationship with the indifferent waitress Mildred serves as a central focus, highlighting themes of obsession and personal growth.

"The day broke gray and dull. The clouds hung heavily, and there was a rawness in the air that suggested snow. A woman servant came into a room in which a child was sleeping and drew the curtains. She glanced mechanically at the house opposite, a stucco house with a portico, and went to the child's bed.

'Wake up, Philip,' she said.

She pulled down the bed-clothes, took him in her arms, and carried him downstairs. He was only half awake.

'Your mother wants you,' she said.

He was a little boy of nine, small for his age, and thin. His hair was fair, his face white, and his features were good. He still seemed half asleep. The nurse opened the door of a room on the floor below and took the child over to a bed in which a woman was lying.

'Here's Master Philip, ma'am,' she said.

The woman turned her head slightly and kissed the boy, but she did not speak. The boy slipped out of the nurse's arms and stood listlessly at the bedside. The woman stroked his hair gently, and presently her hand fell to her side. In a moment, the boy laid his cheek against her hand.

'You've been asleep, Philip,' she said, with a faint smile.

The boy did not answer, but smiled back at her. He had a charming smile, and his pale blue eyes were large and beautiful. The woman looked at him intently for a moment, and then, with a sigh, turned her eyes away. The nurse lifted him up and carried him back to his own room.

'You're too big to be carried, Master Philip,' she said, as she released him.

'I'm sorry, Nurse,' he answered, slipping down.

He stood at the window and looked out at the dull sky. The window was open at the top, and the air was cold. He shivered a little. The nurse went to the chest of drawers and began to lay out his clothes. Presently, she stopped and looked at him.

'Now, Master Philip, come and get dressed,' she said.

He turned away from the window and went over to her. She began to dress him quickly. He put his arms obediently into the sleeves of his shirt, and she buttoned it down the back. Then she knelt down to put on his socks and shoes. As she did so, she glanced up at him and saw that his eyes were fixed on the window.

'What are you looking at, Master Philip?' she asked.

'I was looking at the clouds,' he answered.

'It's going to snow, I think,' she said.

'I hope it does,' he said. 'I like snow.'

When he was dressed, she took him downstairs to the dining-room, where his breakfast was waiting for him. He sat down at the table and began to eat his porridge. The nurse stood by the window, looking out at the sky. After a few minutes, she turned to him.

'Master Philip,' she said, 'do you know where your mother is going today?'

He looked up at her quickly.

'No, Nurse,' he answered.

'She's going away for a long time,' she said.

He stared at her, his spoon suspended in mid-air.

'Where's she going?' he asked.

'She's going to a place where she will be taken care of,' the nurse answered.

He did not understand, but he saw that the nurse's eyes were full of tears. He felt a sudden lump in his throat, and his own eyes filled with tears.

The nurse came over to him and put her hand on his shoulder. ‘Don’t cry, Master Philip,’ she said softly. ‘Your mother will always love you.’

Philip did not speak, but he felt an ache deep within him. He had never known life without his mother, and the thought of her going away, even if he did not fully understand, unsettled him.

This opening passage from *Of Human Bondage* introduces Philip Carey’s early life, setting the tone for the struggles and emotional hardships he will face as he grows into adulthood. Somerset Maugham’s novel is a powerful exploration of human desire, suffering, and the search for meaning in a complex and indifferent world.