Philip Carey has a club foot, making him the subject of cruelty at school and ridicule in the adult world. It is discovered that she is incurably ill with syphilis. Philip's intention is to marry Mildred after her child is born, but a bored and restless Mildred is an uninterested mother, and she hands the baby's care to a nurse. He becomes distracted in his studies when he meets Mildred, a rude and unattractive waitress. In Paris, Philip attends art classes and makes new friends, including Fanny Price, a poor and determined but talentless art student and a loner. The kind of love based on these qualities produces pain, shrinking of one's heart, a lack of freedom and happiness. Nora Nesbitt: Whatever you came here to forget. Philip differs from Willie in that he has a club foot, but this touch is simply a substitution for Willies affliction: stuttering. Born with a club foot, Philip Carey is acutely sensitive about his handicap. They meet in the National Gallery where, though learning that it was a false alarm, Philip becomes engaged to Sally, concluding that "the simplest pattern that in which a man was born, worked, married, had children, and died was likewise the most perfect". He becomes friendly with fellow students Griffiths and Mathews and falls in love with Mildred, a Cockney waitress who is impressed by his social superiority. Instead of Barthelmess, Cromwell's attention was drawn to Bette Davis, whose portrayal of a femme fatale brought to mind the slatternly waitress Mildred in W. Somerset Maugham's 1915 novel Of Human Bondage. In Paris, Philip makes a great many friends. [12] Also that year, a reviewer in Life magazine called Bette Davis's performance the greatest ever recorded on screen by an actress. He meets Mildred once more, towards the end of the novel, when she summons him for his medical opinion. Philip begins to forget Mildred when he becomes involved with Norah, an attractive and considerate romance writer working under a male pseudonym. Disillusioned of her artistic capabilities, Fanny commits suicide when faced with what appears to be an enduringly bleak future. Hathaway and Novak clashed from the beginning of the filming and Kim Novak walked off the film. Word Count: 907. I feel like its a lifeline. Philip's guardians persuade him to move to London for an apprenticeship. Heart Beat Ginger Rogers of Human Bondage Bette Davis Double Feature - GOOD. She was awarded a TA scholarship to complete her MA at Idaho State University, where she had the opportunity to instruct English classes of her own. See production, box office & company info, Hollywood and the Stars: In Search of Kim Novak, Ardmore Studios, Herbert Road, Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland. Wolf, Julia . The major theme is reflected in the title, which is taken from the work of philosopher Spinoza who believed that uncontrolled passion constituted human bondage. A desperate escape from danger. From the first time we see Philip opt for art instead of human connection (books in lieu of parental love), he seems to follow a pattern of choosing idyllic passion over sensible security. Philip Carey, the main character of Of Human Bondage, was seeking this very useful end, and became satisfied only after realizing what his aim had been, and having found a person to share this aim with. He witnesses the dangers of giving in to passions when his failed artist friend, Fanny Price, takes her own life. Released in United States Summer September 2, 1964. She returns to prostitution; her baby dies; and she is admitted to the hospital where Philip works. Dated 28 August 1957, author's inscription in a first edition for Californian book collector, Ingle Barr. After reading it and learning RKO held the screen rights, she implored Jack L. Warner to lend her to the rival studio. It is a desire that is universal, making this novel one that readers of all ages will identify with. Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. It is unsurprising that we see our protagonist face such struggles. Philip at the age of nine lost his parents and lived with his uncle and aunt, who had no children of their own, and had no idea what to do and how to treat a child. Both men struggle with passions that torment them in one way or another. When he rejects her advances she becomes angry, destroys most of his belongings, and leaves forever. We might reasonably approach this idea from two different directions. Despite his aristocratic upbringing, Philip suffers from a terrible inferiority complex due to a club foot. Trying to fill in the blanks his search for the meaning of life passed through acquaintances with different people, who later he was keeping up friendly relationships with; through familiarity with different philosophies, which one after another he was rejecting. For Philip it was very difficult to believe in the religion he was studying, as his experience of repression in his uncles vicarage and in school he was attending, where he often was treated with cruelty, came into contradictions with the concepts and ideals of religion. After his uncle William dies, Philip inherits enough money to allow him to finish his medical studies and he finally becomes a licensed doctor. With the inheritance money, Philip is able to return to medical school and pass his examinations to become a physician. There Philip learns that God and religion are not absolutes and begins to embrace a new philosophy on the morality of life. Colbert, starring in three major films that year, nevertheless easily won the award for It Happened One Night (she also starred in two additional Best Picture nominees, Imitation of Life and Cleopatra) with Shearer coming in second. One of the sections in Spinoza's Ethics is titled ''Of Human Bondage, or the Strength of the Emotions,'' which is quite close to the major theme of Maugham's classic novel. By using this site, you agree to our updated, A medical student (Laurence Harvey) risks his future when he falls for a low-class waitress (Kim Novak) in. With Mildred's death, Philip is finally freed of his obsession, and he makes plans to marry Sally. Cromwell knew producer Pandro S. Berman had purchased the rights to Maugham's story for Leslie Howard and when he suggested Davis would be the perfect co-star, Berman agreed. The tale of Philip Carey and his tumultuous relationship with the risk-taking woman Mildred Rogers is intended as a cautionary tale, a fictional message about the dangers of following one's emotions instead of critical reasoning. and 1946 (Warner Bros.). $8.99. Mildred had no moral values and her primary interest was money and prosperity, she took advantage of Philips soft heart and generosity. The result was Of Human Bondage, probably Maughams best-known novel and certainly among his two or three most artistically successful ones. Cast: Kim Novak (Mildred Rogers), Laurence Harvey (Philip Carey), Robert Morley (Dr.Jacobs), Siobhan McKenna (Nora Nesbitt), Roger Livesey (Thorpe Athelney), Nanette Newman (Sally Athelney), Jack Hedley (Griffiths). Philip finds himself living on the streets. Philip lives at his uncle's vicarage. An editor It made me sick when I had to let ya kiss me. Log in here. However, it is interesting to consider what Hathaway might have done with the subject matter, which was far removed from the sort of film he usually directed - Westerns. Many believe the novel to be one of the world's literary masterpieces. Born with a club foot, Philip Carey is acutely sensitive about his handicap. Philip decides he would rather quit and move to France where he can learn to be an artist. A second time, Philip again finds some comfort in his studies, and with Sally Athelny, the tender-hearted daughter of one of his elderly patients in a charity hospital. Ownership, power, control, jealousy, self-abasementthese are characteristic of the kind of love that Maugham identifies as bondage. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Philip Carey is only five when his mother dies. These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. Ed. Of Human Bondage was, as Maugham himself admitted, an "autobiographical novel.". Philip breaks off his relationship with Norah and supports Mildred financially, which he can ill afford. Philip decides to go anyway. Mildred is pregnant, so Philip pays for her keep until the baby comes. Instead Philip decides he will go to London and study at the hospital where his father once worked. And yet Mildred's machinations I miraculously understood when it came to playing her. eNotes critical analyses help you gain a deeper understanding of Of Human Bondage so you can excel on your essay or test. In fact I feel Kim Novak is better in this role than Bette Davis was, less shrill, and Ms.Novak is particularly moving in the End of the film. will review the submission and either publish your submission or providefeedback. The Question and Answer section for Of Human Bondage is a great One of the last is Philips clubfoot, which prevented him to become a military man or a sportsman. Of Human Bondage, semiautobiographical novel by W. Somerset Maugham, published in 1915 and considered his masterwork. Maugham's initial title was Beauty from Ashes, borrowed from Isaiah 61:3, " to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair"; however, it had already been used. Of Human Bondage is the story of a young man's struggle to find the meaning of life in a world that is cruel. Like his famous protagonist, the orphaned Somerset grew up with little affection or attention from his rather cold uncle, a fact that helped shape the later events of his life. Despite her crude behavior and low position, Philip becomes enraptured with her. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Of Human Bondage W. Somerset Maugham 1936 Hardcover Book Club Edition at the best online prices at eBay! Philip Carey has a club foot, making him the subject of cruelty at school and ridicule in the adult world. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Philip is heartbroken, but within a few months he has a new girlfriend. Of Human Bondage Originally published in 1915, Of Human Bondage is considered the masterpiece of English author, W. Somerset Maugham. Before he leaves the institution, an operation corrects his club foot. As is Leslie Howard's .the two play off of each other perfectly - Howard as the shy, introverted and self-conscious "lonely man" and Davis as the brash, insensitive and malicious waitress. The last stages of consumption, poverty, and neglect are not pretty, and I intended to be convincing-looking. Philip's uncle is against this decision and refuses to finance the move. "[7] Film historian Kingley Canham observes that Leslie Howard, in the gentlemanly understatement of his performance, served as a counter-balance to Davis frequent domination of her less-talented male co-stars.[8]. Download the entire Of Human Bondage study guide as a printable PDF! Maugham's mother died when he was eight, and his father's death followed two years later. $9.95. Philip Careys story, with certain artistic alterations, is Maughams own story. Both Philip and Maugham are orphaned at a young age and sent to live with an uncle at a vicarage. Although flattered, Philip refuses because he plans to visit Spain. The Of Human Bondage summary begins with the death of Philip's mother when he is nine years old. When Philips old Parisian friend, Cronshaw, dies, Philip recalls Cronshaws comment that the meaning of life can be found in a Persian rug. Ruth later related, "For one hour and a half of horrible realism, we sat riveted without speaking a word, with only a fleeting glance now and then at each other. I never cared for you, not once! Wipe my mouth! Create your account. Young Philip hears that if one prays fervently enough, all ones prayers will be answered. By this time he realized that he did his best writing when he wrote about his own experience. "[6][7] Her efforts failed to impress Leslie Howard who, along with other British cast members, was upset an American had been cast in the role. Stemming from their shared time in a vicarage under the stern gaze of an uncle, both Philip and Maugham come to question, and ultimately discard, the value of religion in society. Many of his other works are focused on this topic: The Moon and Sixpence (the main character has some resemblance to Paul Gauguin). resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss thenovel. He defines perfectness/imperfectness starting out from the desire, in its meaning of particular aims and plans. At the turn of the century, Philip Carey (Paul Henreid) is a meek, clubfooted man attending medical school after failing to make it as an artist Shown at Berlin International Film Festival June 1964. 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