# LIX explained — Of Human Bondage

> Chapter companion for Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham.

## What happens

Philip, tormented by his love for Mildred, meets her again and humiliates himself by apologizing for their earlier quarrel. He spends a wretched evening alone, reproaching himself for his weakness. Despite his efforts to focus on his biology exam, he is consumed by thoughts of Mildred, whom he both loves and despises. He fails the exam, adding to his despair.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Obsession

Philip's love for Mildred is depicted as a degrading, obsessive passion that overrides his reason and self-respect, causing him to humiliate himself and neglect his studies.

### Suffering and Disillusionment

Philip experiences intense emotional suffering, disillusionment with his own philosophy, and the torment of unrequited love, leading to a sense of helplessness.

### Freedom and Determinism

Philip feels chained by his passion, struggling against a force that moves him against his will and contrary to his interests, highlighting the conflict between his desire for freedom and his compulsive love.

## Character check-ins

### Philip Carey

Philip is consumed by obsessive love for Mildred, humiliates himself by apologizing, and struggles to concentrate on his studies, ultimately failing his biology exam.

### Mildred Rogers

Mildred is indifferent to Philip's suffering, demands an apology, and agrees to dine with him after he humbles himself.

### Dunsford

Dunsford accompanies Philip to tea, but Philip is too distracted by thoughts of Mildred to engage in conversation.

### Griffiths

Griffiths is mentioned as having a noisy party on the floor above Philip's rooms, adding to Philip's misery.

## Key lines

> I’m such a blasted fool as to love you with all my heart and soul, and I know that you don’t care twopence for me.

Philip admits he is a fool for loving Mildred completely while knowing she feels nothing for him.

_This captures the core of Philip's obsessive and unrequited love._

> He loved the woman so that he knew he had never loved before. He did not mind her faults of person or of character, he thought he loved them too: at all events they meant nothing to him.

Philip realizes his love for Mildred is unlike any he has felt before, accepting her flaws as irrelevant.

_Highlights the irrational and all-consuming nature of his obsession._

> He felt just as he had felt sometimes in the hands of a bigger boy at school. He had struggled against the superior strength till his own strength was gone, and he was rendered quite powerless.

Philip compares his helplessness in love to being physically overpowered by a stronger schoolboy.

_Illustrates his sense of powerlessness and the theme of determinism._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/of_human_bondage_se/chapters/lix
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/of_human_bondage_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/of_human_bondage_se/chapters