Of Human Bondage

As an only child in the vicarage, Philip leads a solitary life. Mary Ann, the 35-year-old daughter of a fisherman, becomes his closest friend. Louisa notices that Philip seems happier with Mary Ann, but William says this is just a sign that he’s been poorly brought up. Josiah sometimes taunts William, calling him “popish” (meaning Roman Catholic) for the elaborate way he decorates his altar with candles. In fact, William likes to think of himself as Catholic, believing that the Church of England is “Catholic” in the best sense of the word, though he clarifies that he himself is not Roman Catholic. He refuses to remove the candles.

One Sunday afternoon, William snaps at Philip when he catches him playing on a Sunday. He says that Sunday is a day of rest and that Philip is displeasing his mother, Helen, in heaven. Philip wants to cry but tries not to because he feels that he should never let other people see him cry. William accuses Philip of sulking and tells him he’s not allowed to attend the evening service. He leaves. Louisa tries to comfort Philip and offers to recite the service with him and play the songs on the family’s harmonium, but Philip refuses, saying he just wants to be left alone. When Louisa persists, Philip says he wishes Louisa was dead. She begins to cry, and Philip is shocked. He apologizes by kissing her, and Louisa’s tears turn to tears of joy instead, as she feels that a barrier between her and Philip has finally fallen.