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Chapter 117
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
Philip makes it to Ferne, Betty’s hometown. Athelny meets him at the station and takes him to a room at a public-house where he can stay. Athelny tells Philip how much he loves the sun and could live in the country forever. Sally looks nice in a patterned dress and sun bonnet, and Philip compliments her. Betty says people in town like Athelny, who has a childlike sense of glee and mischief when he’s in the country.
Philip initially saw the English countryside as a stifling and ugly place. Now, he comes back to rural England with renewed appreciation. Inspired by Athelny’s childlike enthusiasm, Philip now recognizes that it’s possible to take joy in the simple pleasures of nature.
Active
Themes
Literary Devices
Betty tells Philip how their family gets up early to work, and Athelny insists that Philip should join them. He agrees, and the next morning, two of the small Athelny boys jump on his bed to wake him. They all go down to the marshes. Although it’s cold, they jump in to bathe. Philip joins the family and impresses them with his swimming skills. They have breakfast, then Philip joins them in picking hops, a major local crop of Kent. Athelny himself seems to like overseeing things more than actually picking. He gets distracted telling stories about Greek mythology. Philip sees the beauty of England’s landscape, which he didn’t always appreciate when he was younger, and is glad to recognize it now.
Active
Themes
