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Jo 's Reviews > Of Human Bondage
Of Human Bondage
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by
'Forgive them, for they know not what they do'.
I love that quote. It is said nearing the end of this book, and it sums up how I should feel about a couple of characters in this book. I'm glad that Phillip was more forgiving.
I went into 'Of Human Bondage' completely blind, and the reason this book attracted me so much was the title. I thought I was going to be reading some sexy victorian novel, but I was definitely mistaken on that front. With my mind actively curious, I just dived straight in, and I'm happy to say, I have not been left disappointed.
This book is an autobiographical account of the authors life. Some parts have been altered, like for example, Philip having a clubfoot, but overall, it is mostly a true account. The story begins at Philips early days, where he is at school, and this part is probably the dullest part of the book. It is tiresome, and I was itching for him to leave school, so something would actually happen, in order to keep me invested in the plot.
Later, Philip meets and falls in love with a girl called Mildred. It is obvious to the reader that Mildred has no love for him, and she freely uses him, time and time again. I had pity for Phillip, but, I also felt an intense feeling of how pathetically ridiculous it all actually was. Doting on a being that obviously has no love for you is pretty low. He fell for her wicked traps way too often, and I really wanted to grab Phillip firmly by the shoulders, and shake him!
Yes, Mildred was a vile creature.
Misogyny was present here, which really was kind of laughable, as it took me completely by surprise. I understand that it was probably the attitudes towards women at the time, but it still doesn't stop me from saying how wrong it was, and still is, unfortunately.
There are many human lessons in this classic, and even though I struggled with it at the beginning, there are many masterful aspects in this book, and it has been a joy to find them all.
I love that quote. It is said nearing the end of this book, and it sums up how I should feel about a couple of characters in this book. I'm glad that Phillip was more forgiving.
I went into 'Of Human Bondage' completely blind, and the reason this book attracted me so much was the title. I thought I was going to be reading some sexy victorian novel, but I was definitely mistaken on that front. With my mind actively curious, I just dived straight in, and I'm happy to say, I have not been left disappointed.
This book is an autobiographical account of the authors life. Some parts have been altered, like for example, Philip having a clubfoot, but overall, it is mostly a true account. The story begins at Philips early days, where he is at school, and this part is probably the dullest part of the book. It is tiresome, and I was itching for him to leave school, so something would actually happen, in order to keep me invested in the plot.
Later, Philip meets and falls in love with a girl called Mildred. It is obvious to the reader that Mildred has no love for him, and she freely uses him, time and time again. I had pity for Phillip, but, I also felt an intense feeling of how pathetically ridiculous it all actually was. Doting on a being that obviously has no love for you is pretty low. He fell for her wicked traps way too often, and I really wanted to grab Phillip firmly by the shoulders, and shake him!
Yes, Mildred was a vile creature.
Misogyny was present here, which really was kind of laughable, as it took me completely by surprise. I understand that it was probably the attitudes towards women at the time, but it still doesn't stop me from saying how wrong it was, and still is, unfortunately.
There are many human lessons in this classic, and even though I struggled with it at the beginning, there are many masterful aspects in this book, and it has been a joy to find them all.
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Reading Progress
March 10, 2018
– Shelved
March 10, 2018
– Shelved as:
to-read
May 3, 2019
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Started Reading
May 3, 2019
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3.0%
May 4, 2019
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5.0%
May 5, 2019
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8.0%
May 7, 2019
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10.0%
May 9, 2019
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15.0%
May 12, 2019
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17.0%
May 14, 2019
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20.0%
May 18, 2019
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26.0%
May 19, 2019
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29.0%
May 22, 2019
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32.0%
May 23, 2019
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38.0%
May 27, 2019
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42.0%
May 28, 2019
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44.0%
May 30, 2019
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50.0%
June 4, 2019
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52.0%
June 5, 2019
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59.0%
June 5, 2019
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66.0%
June 6, 2019
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70.0%
""I don't think that women ought to sit down at table with men. It ruins conversation and I'm sure it's very bad for them. It puts idea's in their heads, and women are never at ease with themselves when they have ideas."
Um, excuse me?"
Um, excuse me?"
June 7, 2019
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74.0%
June 7, 2019
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79.0%
June 8, 2019
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84.0%
June 8, 2019
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86.0%
June 9, 2019
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88.0%
June 9, 2019
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93.0%
June 9, 2019
– Shelved as:
classics
June 9, 2019
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-14 of 14 (14 new)
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message 1:
by
Jenny Baker
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May 15, 2019 07:04AM
I think I own a copy of this somewhere. How is it so far?
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Jenny wrote: "I think I own a copy of this somewhere. How is it so far?"It has been a rather slow start, but i'm liking it so far!
Yeah it gets a lot better after he gets out of school
Richard wrote: "Yeah it gets a lot better after he gets out of school"I think i'm just past that part, actually!
Jo wrote: "It has been a rather slow start, but i'm liking it so far!"I'm glad you're enjoying it! Hmm, I'm going to have to browse my home library and find my copy. You've got me curious. :-)
Jenny wrote: "Jo wrote: "It has been a rather slow start, but i'm liking it so far!"I'm glad you're enjoying it! Hmm, I'm going to have to browse my home library and find my copy. You've got me curious. :-)"
Admittedly, the title got me curious! :)
Jo wrote: "Admittedly, the title got me curious! :)"Haha....That was my reason for getting a copy of it. I put it on my shelf and forgot about it. :-)
message 8:
by
Marc *Dark Reader with a Thousand Young! Iä!*
(last edited Jun 10, 2019 09:36AM)
(new)
I had no idea that this is the source of that quote ("Forgive them...). I learned something new today, thanks!
Maugham had a horror of women. Read The Razor's Edge.
Marc wrote: "I had no idea that this is the source of that quote ("Forgive them...). I learned something new today, thanks!"You're welcome Marc! I rather like that quote too!
The “Forgive them...” quote is from the New Testament in Luke 23.34. Jesus says it as he is being crucified by the Romans.Also, good review. I’ve been wanting to read this book too.
It does sound as if it would be a sexy Victorian novel! What a disappointment. An excellent review of this thought-provoking, intelligently-written classic, Jojo.
Kevin wrote: "It does sound as if it would be a sexy Victorian novel! What a disappointment. An excellent review of this thought-provoking, intelligently-written classic, Jojo."
Thanks, Kevin! :)
For me, the most blatant piece of misogyny was towards the end of the book when Philip is staying at Athelny Thorpe's house, and Athelny (ghastly name) is holding forth about women.First of all, his wife Betty and their umpteen children are not allowed to eat in the dining room (or parlour or wherever) along with Athelny , (as is normal in Europe, even in those days): no, they all have to eat in the kitchen, in between serving the 'lord and master' as he eats in solitary state: 'I don't think that women ought to sit down at table with men. It ruins conversation and I'm sure it's very bad for them. It puts ideas into their heads, and women are never at ease with themselves when they have ideas.'
On observing Betty preparing to take all the offspring to Mass, Athelny observes: 'I don't believe myself, but I like women and children to.'
About his children: 'The girls shall cook and sew, and the boys shall serve their king.'
Then there is the story of how Athelny started living with Betty, who apparently used to be his housekeeper or otherwise in domestic service with him. At that time he was married to what he scathingly referred to as 'a lady': 'Don't marry a lady my boy. A man doesn't want to talk politics to his wife, and what do you think I care for Betty's views upon the Differential Calculus? A man wants a wife who can cook his dinner and look after his children.' And so on and so forth. It would be tedious to cite all of his appalling remarks about women. In fact if Athelny had not been so kind to Philip, I would have loathed him worse than Mildred.
