Of Human Bondage Chapter 35 Summary & Analysis

Philip wakes early the next morning and feels satisfied with himself. Miss Wilkinson wants Philip to call her by her first name, Emily, but Philip feels strange about it because he has an aunt by that name. Still, he feels less triumphant as he thinks about how “plain and old” Miss Wilkinson looked in her petticoat. When he sees her later that morning, however, she is in high spirits and he immediately feels relieved and satisfied again.

Philip’s mood changes overnight, showing again how beneath his quiet exterior he has a more tumultuous inner life. His idealized version of Miss Wilkinson continues to contrast with the reality of his memories of her, making it difficult to ignore the age difference between them.

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Philip is tempted to tell someone about Miss Wilkinson. He ends up writing Hayward an eight-page letter. When Miss Wilkinson suggests that she should move from Berlin to London to be with Philip, he finds that he isn’t excited by the idea. This upsets Miss Wilkinson, who starts to cry. Philip doesn’t like this, so he reassures her that he’s fond of her and would like to see her in London. Miss Wilkinson says it was always an impossible thought anyway, since it’s difficult to find a place to live in London.

The more real the prospect of a relationship with Miss Wilkinson becomes, the more Philip begins to doubt his actions. Philip realizes that he liked the idea of Miss Wilkinson and perhaps the challenge of winning her over more than he actually wants to be in a relationship with her. Nevertheless, in spite of his lack of enthusiasm, Philip says he wants to see Miss Wilkinson anyway, showing how despite of his recent rebellious streak, Philip still goes out of his way to please people around him.

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A few days later, Miss Wilkinson catches Philip flirting with some local young women while playing tennis. She gets furious at him later and accuses him of being just like other men and showing no gratitude toward her. Philip insists that he doesn’t care about the girl he talked to, but Miss Wilkinson insists that he must because the girl is 20 and she herself is old. They eventually reconcile, and Miss Wilkinson makes him promise to write her in Berlin.

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Eventually, the day of Miss Wilkinson’s departure arrives. She goes to the station and kisses Louisa good bye, then Philip, who blushes. Philip is a little relieved when she’s gone. When Philip gets back, he’s received a letter from Hayward. Hayward writes that he envies Philip for having such a poetic first love. Philip puts the letter away, calling it “damned rot.”

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Of Human Bondage: Chapter 35 Summary & Analysis