Of Human Bondage · Chapter
CV explained
Philip continues his monotonous and exhausting work at Lynn's, finding solace only in his weekly visits to the Athelny family.
What happens
Philip continues his monotonous and exhausting work at Lynn's, finding solace only in his weekly visits to the Athelny family. He obsessively hopes for his uncle's death to inherit enough money to return to medical school, and contemplates suicide as a way out. He is given the task of dressing the shop window, which fills him with shame and anxiety, though he performs well. He maintains a reserved but good-natured demeanor with his coworkers.
Themes in this chapter
Suffering and Disillusionment
Philip endures the monotony and humiliation of his job, his despair only alleviated by the hope of his uncle's death.
Class and Social Mobility
Philip's fall from gentleman to shop assistant is highlighted by his coworkers' comments and his own shame at dressing the window.
Isolation and Belonging
Philip feels isolated among his coworkers and finds belonging only in the Athelny household.
Characters to notice
- Philip Carey
Works as a shop assistant at Lynn's, dreads the public display of dressing the window, and obsessively hopes for his uncle's death to fund his return to medical school.
- Thorpe Athelny
Philip visits the Athelny home on Sundays, finding solace in their company and the stately Spanish chairs.
- Mrs. Athelny
Treats Philip with motherly kindness now that he is in a different position, anxious that he should make a good meal.
- William Carey
Philip obsessively wishes for his death to inherit money, calculating his age and health conditions.
- Sampson
The buyer at Lynn's who assigns Philip the task of dressing the window after criticizing the current display.
Key passages
“It was the solace of his life (and when he grew used to it, the monotony of it was what chiefly appalled him) that he could go every Sunday to that friendly house.”
The weekly visits to the Athelny home were his only comfort, though the repetitive nature of his life horrified him.
Philip finds emotional refuge in the Athelny household amidst his dreary routine.
“He saw himself going on with that life, first to the right, second on the left, madam, indefinitely; and having to be thankful if he was not sent away.”
Philip envisions an endless, menacing future of directing customers, grateful just to keep his job.
Philip's despair at the prospect of a permanent, dead-end existence at Lynn's.
“There was only one thing to free him and that was the death of his uncle.”
The only escape from his predicament was his uncle's death, which would bring him an inheritance.
Philip's obsessive hope for his uncle's demise to fund his return to medical school.
“It encouraged him to think that, if things became unendurable, he had at all events a way out.”
The thought of suicide as a last resort gave him comfort.
Philip contemplates suicide as a final escape from his unbearable situation.
“It was horrible to display himself to the passersby, and though he told himself it was foolish to give way to such a feeling he turned his back to the street.”
Philip felt deep shame at being seen by the public while dressing the window, and despite knowing it was irrational, he could not face the street.
Philip's humiliation and anxiety about the public nature of his window-dressing task.
