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Chapter 9
Themes
and Colors
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Of Human Bondage, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Maturation and Finding Purpose
Marriage and Family
Religion and Belief
Poverty and Injustice
Summary
Analysis
Louisa and William decide to send Philip to a prep school connected to King’s School at Tercanbury, where neighboring clergy send their sons. Philip is excited but also nervous, and when he arrives at the school, he feels it looks a little like a prison. They wait outside until eventually the headmaster, Mr. Watson, comes to let them in. He asks Philip about himself and tells Philip to always call him “sir.” Louisa and William leave, and Mr. Watson gives Philip a brief tour of the school.
Although Philip is excited about the possibility of getting away from his aunt and uncle, the prison-like appearance of the school and the strictness of Mr. Watson provide a glimpse of Philip’s future there. The school’s rigid approach to discipline seems like a poor fit for Philip who has started to become more imaginative due to his reading.
Active
Themes
Philip and Mr. Watson run into Venning, a boy who’s even smaller than Philip. Venning introduces himself and asks about Philip’s club foot. A curious Venning tries kicking Philip’s shin and it causes extreme pain. Philip doesn’t understand why Venning kicked him. New boys arrive and one asks if Philip can play cricket, but Philip declines because of his club foot. The boy gets embarrassed and seems to realize that he asked an awkward question.
Active
Themes
