Of Human Bondage
Family, love, and friendships are a few of the many colorful threads that are taken and woven into a tapestry of life. Every person one meets on the way will influence the patterns of that tapestry. Every incident, be it tragic or cheerful, will guide the shuttle to take on new directions. With this in mind, William Somerset Maugham's autobiographical novel Of Human Bondage offers the reader a first person perspective on the first thirty years of a young man's life. Philip Carey was born with a clubbed-foot. Many critics believe that this birth defect paralleled Maugham's own trouble with stammering. This handicap acted as a basis for all the anxiety and self-consciousness that shadowed Philip's life. As readers, we shadowed Philip as well, following him from childhood in England, to adulthood in Germany, adventures in Paris, and back to a village on the British coast. Together with Philip, we were drawn into a world of cynicism, passion, hatred, and the yearning to become someone greater. In the beginning, innocence reigned. As a little boy who was just orphaned, Philip took everything in, not comprehending his situation. There was simplicity in his thoughts and naivete in his actions. He soon developed self-consc
"Somerset Maugham" (1966; copyright c 1966 by Harrison-Blaine, Inc. Ward, Maugham's "effectiveness as a critic of life is in inverse proportion to his solemnity. Much of this book concentrated on Philip's adolescence. " Maugham wrote of places sometimes with vehemence and sometimes with awe in order to pull readers in even more closer to Philip's own feelings. Having suffered years of shame and loneliness, Philip was truly grateful to finally make a friend. Throughout this book, we were actually able to "see" the threads weaving Philip's life together. It addressed the failures and achievements of mankind, and it removed the visor that blinds us from raw emotions. In viewing it one finds nothing to criticize or regret. I felt the same wonder when Philip first fell in love and the same anger when Philip's aunt and uncle restricted him from going to Germany and France. Philip traveled to many places in his life.
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Acceptance Essays
