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Chapter 77
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
On Monday, Philip awaits Mildred’s return, and when he’s heard nothing by the evening, he decides to walk over to her home. Her window is dark, but he doesn’t ask anyone whether she’s home. He waits until Wednesday to formally send a messenger over, but the messenger comes back with the reply that Mildred is still away.
With Mildred seemingly gone, Philip once again has to grapple with what gives him meaning in his life. It becomes clear that Philip’s attachment to Mildred is related to his fear that without her, he has no clear goals or bigger purpose in life.
Active
Themes
On Thursday morning, Philip gets a letter in Griffiths handwriting. He begs Philip’s forgiveness, saying he can’t help himself around Mildred. He came back to London on Monday, but she wanted to stay in Oxford until Wednesday. Griffiths says Philip has probably already seen Mildred by the time he receives this letter. Philip tears the letter up, hoping one day he has a chance for revenge on Griffiths.
Griffiths’s letter about not being able to help himself around Mildred comes off as insincere, given how Griffiths lied to Philip’s face about not being interested in Mildred. While this feeling of being compelled by love to do irrational things could be a familiar one to Philip, he instead rips up the letter and takes Griffiths actions as a betrayal.
Active
Themes
Philip takes a cab to Mildred’s place, but a maid tells him that Mildred left just an hour ago and that she took her things with her. Philip realizes that Mildred has been lying and never had any intention of seeing him again. He doesn’t want to be in London anymore, so he telegraphs William to tell him that he’s coming up to Blackstable. Still, even after returning to Blackstable, Philip can’t help hoping that his landlady in London will pass on a new letter from Mildred. Eventually, he decides that both for financial reasons and to make a new start, he has to leave his lodgings in London. He considers humorously how so many of his friends see him as a person with common sense.
Active
Themes
Literary Devices
