# Chapter XIV explained — Of Human Bondage

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

## What happens

A wave of religiosity sweeps through King's School, and Philip becomes devout, joining a Bible League. He fixates on the biblical promise that faith can move mountains and prays fervently for his clubfoot to be healed. Despite his intense belief and nightly prayers, the miracle does not occur, leading Philip to doubt his own faith and feel resentment toward his uncle for misleading him.

## Themes in this chapter

### Religion and Doubt

Philip's fervent prayer for a miracle and subsequent disillusionment highlight the tension between religious faith and personal doubt.

### Suffering and Disillusionment

Philip's clubfoot and the failure of his prayer lead to a painful loss of innocence and trust in divine intervention.

## Character check-ins

### Philip Carey

Philip becomes intensely devout, joins a Bible League, and prays for his clubfoot to be healed, but his faith is shaken when the miracle does not happen.

### William Carey

Uncle William dismissively explains that faith is required for miracles, leaving Philip feeling misled when his prayers go unanswered.

### Mrs. Carey

Aunt Louisa gently supports Philip's religious inquiries but does not intervene in his crisis of faith.

## Key lines

> He read industriously, as he read always, without criticism, stories of cruelty, deceit, ingratitude, dishonesty, and low cunning. Actions which would have excited his horror in the life about him, in the reading passed through his mind without comment, because they were committed under the direct inspiration of God.

Philip read the Bible diligently but uncritically, accepting violent and immoral acts as justified because they were attributed to God's will.

_Highlights Philip's uncritical religious devotion and the moral contradictions in his reading._

> He knew that God could do it if He wished, and his own faith was complete.

Philip was certain that God had the power to heal him and that his belief was absolute.

_Shows Philip's initial unwavering faith before his disillusionment._

> He thought his uncle had been playing a practical joke on him.

Philip concluded that his uncle had deliberately misled him about the meaning of the biblical passage.

_Captures Philip's resentment and loss of trust after the failed miracle._

## Links

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