Of Human Bondage

Philip observes the other medical students. He notices that there are men of varying ages and social backgrounds. Some, but not all of them, have previously studied at university. Philip begins to struggle with loneliness again: “He made friends by chance, but not intimate friends, for he seemed to have nothing in particular to say to his companions” (266).

Philip spends most of his time with a fellow medical student named Dunsford, and they sometimes go to an inexpensive local tea shop. Dunsford is attracted to a woman, Mildred, who works there. Philip finds Mildred unattractive and pretentious. One day, after Mildred is rude to him, Philip urges his friend to find a new restaurant. Dunsford quickly forgets about Mildred, but Philip ends up going back alone and is more annoyed than ever when she is rude to him again.

Philip goes to the restaurant alone, attempting to engage Mildred in conversation. He also draws a sketch of her, which seems to attract some attention, and Mildred is kinder to him. However, when he returns the next day, Philip finds that Mildred is preoccupied with a man whom he has seen coming to the restaurant regularly. Philip is jealous and annoyed and begins coming to the restaurant regularly, trying to attract her attention. Eventually, he asks her to join him for dinner and a visit to the theatre. Mildred agrees, but Philip is irritated that “she show[s] no pleasure, but accept[s] the invitation as though she confer[s] a favor” (273).

Philip takes Mildred out for the evening. It is somewhat awkward, and Mildred only seems to be pleased when she can tell Philip has spent money on something. Philip is left feeling that “he dislike[s] her, and yet, he kn[ows] not why, he want[s] to be with her” (275). Philip suggests that the two of them go out again, and Mildred seems indifferent. Philip leaves the date very annoyed, and later, reflecting alone, realizes that he is in love with Mildred. This realization is shocking to him because it is so different from what he expected love would be like.

The morning after their date, Philip hurries to intercept Mildred on her way to work so that he can walk with her. She brushes him aside but is friendlier when he later comes to the restaurant. Philip gets Mildred to agree to another date, but he becomes suspicious when he sees that a man named Miller is coming regularly to the restaurant. At the last minute, Mildred cancels their plans, claiming that her aunt is ill, but Philip catches her going to see Miller instead. Philip tells Mildred that he loves her and begs her to spend time with him, but she responds coldly.

Philip is very embarrassed by the way he has behaved and decides not to pursue Mildred any further. Nonetheless, he cannot stop thinking about her. Philip’s preoccupation leads to him failing an exam that comprises part of his medical training. While this is not uncommon and Philip has the option to retake the exam in a few months, he is embarrassed by this failure.

Overwhelmed, he goes to the restaurant to see Mildred. She greets him calmly and insists on him apologizing for spying on her. Afterward, she informs him that she has broken things off with Miller and is open to going out with Philip again. He is overjoyed by this news.

Philip and Mildred have dinner together; he can tell that she is not nearly as invested as he is, but she lets him kiss her several times.

Philip begins to see Mildred often and to spend a lot of money on gifts for her: “[I]t was only when he gave her anything that she showed any affection” (293). The two of them often get into arguments; Philip is jealous and clingy, but Mildred’s cool indifference just makes him more desperate. She insists on her right to occasionally go out with other men, which Philip reluctantly concedes to.

Philip tries to curb his feelings for Mildred, but his passion is so consuming that he can think of little else. He is desperate for Mildred to have sex with him, and the only way he thinks he can achieve this is by getting her to agree to come to Paris with him. He proposes that he and Mildred go to Paris together in early April; she initially demurs that she isn’t willing to travel with a man whom she isn’t married to. Although Philip doesn’t like the idea of marriage, or believe he would be happy with Mildred, he impulsively proposes, but she doesn’t give him a straight answer. Mildred points out that, as a medical student, Philip has very little money, and she states, “I don’t want to marry if I’m going to be no better off than what I am now” (302).

At the end of March, Philip fails his second exam. He barely cares because he is so preoccupied with Mildred, who seems to be warming up to him. However, Philip is devastated when Mildred tells him that she is now engaged to Miller.

Philip is heartbroken but tries to refocus on his medical studies. By chance, Hayward (Philip’s old friend from Germany) is going to be moving to London, so the two of them meet up. It is a relief for Philip, who “for months had had no one with whom he could talk of art and books” (308). Philip talks about his future, explaining that while he doesn’t like studying medicine, he looks forward to actually working as a doctor, as he thinks this career path will allow him to travel: He could even get work as a ship’s doctor.

Philip feels much better now that he has a friend to spend time with; he also learns that Lawson is in London displaying some of his paintings. Lawson updates Philip on their friends from art school, most of whom remain poor and obscure. Cronshaw is seriously ill after years of excessive drinking. Lawson has a gift for Philip from Cronshaw: a small, shabby Persian rug, referencing the time that Cronshaw told Philip the meaning of life could be found in a Persian rug.

Philip meets a woman named Norah Nesbit, who makes a living writing popular fiction. Norah is cheerful, kind, and pragmatic. Philip becomes very taken with her, and eventually “they bec[o]me lovers but remain[] friends” (317). In July, Philip successfully passes three exams (two of them retaken from the time he failed). Norah is very happy for him and also encourages him to spend a vacation in Blackstable with his uncle.

Philip enjoys a relaxing holiday and then comes back to London in October. He is motivated in his work and enjoying his relationship with Norah. Hayward continues to linger aimlessly in London, unsure of what path he wants to take with his life. However, he continues to make life much more enjoyable for Philip, who regularly spends time with both him and Lawson.

Philip gets sick, and a fellow medical student named Griffiths, who lives in the same building as him, nurses him very kindly. At first, Philip is embarrassed, but then he becomes very fond of Griffiths.

One day in December, Mildred abruptly comes to Philip’s home. Mildred is very distressed, explaining that she is pregnant. When she broke this news to Miller, he became enraged and abandoned her. Mildred is destitute and terrified about the future; Philip is sympathetic and cancels his plans with Norah to help her.

Mildred eventually confides an important detail: She and Miller were never married. In fact, he is married to another woman and has children with her. Mildred has no legal rights to any assistance, and she is going to give birth in early March. Philip offers to support Mildred financially, promising to look for rooms nearby that he can rent for her.

After Philip gets Mildred settled in her new lodgings, he goes to see Norah. Norah is kind, cheerful, and sincere, but Philip realizes that he loves Mildred with a passion that he does not feel for Norah. He begins avoiding Norah and making vague excuses. Even though Philip makes Mildred his top priority, it is clear that she is still thinking only of herself.

Philip confides in Griffiths about being torn between Norah and Mildred and breaks off the relationship with Norah. Norah is devastated, which makes Philip feel very guilty. Eventually, not wanting Norah to blame herself, Philip admits that Mildred has come back. Norah is kind and forgiving, even though she is clearly very hurt.

For the next few months, Philip spends all of his free time with Mildred and happily gives her as much money as she wants. He is somewhat surprised that Mildred plans to have her baby cared for by a nurse in the country while she finds work as quickly as possible. After Mildred gives birth, she is going to recover by the seaside while Philip completes his exams; then, in April, they plan to go to Paris together. Philip has romantic visions for this trip, imagining that he and Mildred will eventually consummate their relationship. In March, Mildred gives birth to a daughter.

Only a few weeks after giving birth, Mildred and the baby go to the seaside town of Brighton. Mildred will finish recovering there and find someone to care for the baby. Philip is far more anxious than she is about who will take care of the baby, and she teases him that “[he] couldn’t make more of a fuss if [he] was the father” (353). Philip successfully passes his exams. He is eager to be reunited with Mildred and excited for their trip to Paris.

Mildred comes back to London while the baby is left in Brighton. Philip introduces Mildred and Griffiths; he has told each of them a lot about the other and is eager for them to get to know one another. At first, Philip is delighted that they get along so well, but he is quickly annoyed when Mildred keeps encouraging Griffiths to join them and he does not get any time alone with her. Philip begins to feel very self-conscious since he knows that Griffiths is much more charming than he is. Philip finally panics and asks Griffiths outright if he has feelings for Mildred. Griffiths insists that he does not, telling Philip, “[Y]ou know I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you” (365).

The next day, Mildred and Philip begin talking about Griffiths. Mildred shows Philip a lengthy love letter that Griffiths has written her and confides that she is attracted to Griffiths as well. Philip is desperate not to lose her; he tells her that he will ignore the knowledge that she is in love with another man and that, in time, her feelings will fade. Mildred, however, tells Philip that she no longer wants to go to Paris since she is not romantically or sexually attracted to him and never will be. Philip is furious and points out that he has been financially supporting her for months; he refuses to give her any more money.

The next day, Mildred comes to see Philip. She has met with Griffiths, who has confirmed that he doesn’t have any money. Mildred accepts that she needs the financial support Philip has been providing, and she is willing to go to Paris with him (and, by implication, have sex with him) even though she is clearly unenthusiastic about doing so. Philip is moved by how much Mildred seems to love Griffiths and impulsively offers to give her money so that she and Griffiths can go on a brief trip together. Philip has a vague hope that if Mildred can consummate her relationship with Griffiths, she’ll be able to get over it and eventually come to love him. Mildred is delighted by Philip’s offer, but Griffiths initially refuses to go, saying it would be wrong. Philip decides to speak with Griffiths himself.

Mildred and Griffiths decide to go away together, and Philip gives her money. Philip wanders morosely around the city.

The day arrives on which Mildred is supposed to arrive back in London. Philip hopes that she will come to him. However, when he eventually goes to Mildred’s lodgings, he learns that she has taken her things and gone away. Philip is devastated; he immediately goes to Blackstable to stay with his uncle.

While he is there, Philip thinks about his future and decides to move out of his lodgings in London. He doesn’t want to be reminded of Mildred, and he also needs to live very cheaply because he has spent a lot of money on her.