"The Shackles of Humanity" is Maugham's masterpiece and has an obvious autobiographical color.
The protagonist of the novel, Philip Carey, lost both his parents when he was young. Unfortunately, he was also born with a disability. He spent his childhood in an indifferent and unfamiliar environment, making his character withdrawn and sensitive. The years he spent in boarding school made him suffer from the unreasonable school system, and when he entered the society, he experienced pain in love. On the bumpy road of life, he had to struggle hard every step he took, but Kaili, who was independent in thought and personality, had been trying to break away from the two shackles that restricted his spirit, religion and petty citizen consciousness, and tried to find the true meaning of life in the chaotic and chaotic whirlpool of life.
I have read the whole life of a person in this novel, and no one can describe the desolation and separation deep in the human heart so aptly. I saw myself in Maugham's writings, and saw the fear and pursuit of life in this world. In the process of reading, I experienced empathy again and again, whether it was facing Mildred's desperate love, the desolation when she was impoverished, or the moment of enlightenment after a long struggle, they all shocked people's hearts and echoed endlessly in the empty heart. Maugham is the most spiritual person among the writers I have experienced. His doubts and thoughts about life make him more detached from the world. It is the fire in his soul that enables his words to ignite every dry heart. But he was full of tenderness towards the world, and realized that it was impossible for him not to understand the so-called destiny of life, but he just brushed that destiny off, and still left a happy ending to everyone who could be saved from the darkness: he left hope to the world, no matter how likely it was in life. I saw Maugham sitting tenderly next to everyone, smiling softly.
In his opinion, all his previous life had been following the ideas that others had instilled in him through words or texts, and he had never had the desire in his heart. His trajectory is always swayed by what he thinks he should do, rather than what his whole heart wants to do. He is now impatiently abandoning all these... Surrendering to happiness may be admitting failure, but this kind of failure is better than thousands of successes...
Reader comments
The writing style of this book is authentic and delicate, and the writing is smooth and emotional. It reminds me of "The Moon and Sixpence". They both depict the complexity of human nature with profound insight and sharp writing. Maugham is like a dear friend, using his words to guide us to think about the true meaning of life. The protagonist Philip's experience made me empathize with him, and it also made me cherish the happiness around me more. This book made me understand that the meaning of life is to pursue your true desires instead of being swayed by other people's expectations.
If you don't get the sincerity of the other party, you will retaliate and act on your feelings. This kind of psychology is so realistically written.
When the protagonist learned that Mildred was having an affair with other boys and was not devoted to him, it was fine not to be angry or to blame him, but instead he paid for Mildred to go out alone with other boys as if he was self-absorbing because he was not well-off [I almost cried]
Philip's love for that mad woman was so deep that I could not understand it.
Maybe it's because I've never experienced such love, it's crazy, uncontrollable, like a moth flying into a flame but willing to do so.
Love is really harmful sometimes.
Have a good time, good book and good news, dear brother
Philip's experience described by the author can be said to be an exploration from growth to human freedom, revealing the true face of human nature step by step, which is thought-provoking!
The writing style of this book is authentic and delicate, and the writing is smooth and emotional. It reminds me of "The Moon and Sixpence". They both depict the complexity of human nature with profound insight and sharp writing. Maugham is like a dear friend, using his words to guide us to think about the true meaning of life. The protagonist Philip's experience made me empathize with him, and it also made me cherish the happiness around me more. This book made me understand that the meaning of life is to pursue your true desires instead of being swayed by other people's expectations.
If you don't get the sincerity of the other party, you will retaliate and act on your feelings. This kind of psychology is so realistically written. When the protagonist learned that Mildred was having an affair with other boys and was not devoted to him, it was fine not to be angry or to blame him, but instead he paid for Mildred to go out alone with other boys as if he was self-absorbing because he was not well-off [I almost cried]
Philip's love for that mad woman was so deep that I could not understand it. Maybe it's because I've never experienced such love, it's crazy, uncontrollable, like a moth flying into a flame but willing to do so. Love is really harmful sometimes.
Have a good time, good book and good news, dear brother
Philip's experience described by the author can be said to be an exploration from growth to human freedom, revealing the true face of human nature step by step, which is thought-provoking!