# LXXI explained — Of Human Bondage

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

## What happens

Philip ends his relationship with Norah Nesbit after Mildred's return, struggling with guilt but ultimately choosing to pursue his obsessive love for Mildred.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Obsession

Philip's obsessive love for Mildred drives him to cruelly end his relationship with Norah.

### Suffering and Disillusionment

Norah's silent tears and Philip's guilt highlight the pain caused by unrequited love.

## Character check-ins

### Philip Carey

Ends his affair with Norah Nesbit to pursue Mildred Rogers.

### Norah Nesbit

Heartbroken after Philip breaks off their relationship.

### Griffiths

Advises Philip on how to end the affair with Norah.

### Mildred Rogers

Philip's obsessive love for her motivates his breakup with Norah.

## Key lines

> It's the simplest thing in the world to have an affair with a woman, but it's a devil of a nuisance to get out of it.

Griffiths remarks that starting an affair is easy, but ending one is troublesome.

_Griffiths' cynical view on romantic entanglements._

> I'm afraid that's always the case. There's always one who loves and one who lets himself be loved.

Philip observes that in relationships, one person typically loves more than the other.

_Philip's reflection on the imbalance in love._

## Links

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