my favorite characters from Of Human Bondage!

I learned about ‘Of Human Bondage’ in the seminar. And it turned into one of my favorite story. My favorite part of this story is the girl called Mildred keeps hurting the main character Philip. She was skinny and not that beautiful, but for some reason Philip was crazy about her. Even though she wasn’t his type at all, why was he so crazy about her?

When Philip saw her first time, it was at the café. At the first moment, he did not like her at all, since she did not even smile at him whatever he does, he started to want to make her smile. Then he finally asked her out, she didn’t smile, but she said ok. It was his first date that he asked for. He described how he felt right after the date: When he lay in bed he seemed still to see her sitting in the corner of the railway carriage, with the white crochet shawl over her head. He did not know how he was to get through the hours that must pass before his eyes rested on her again. He thought drowsily of her thin face, with its delicate features, and the greenish pallor of her skin. He was not happy with her, but he was unhappy away from her, he wanted to sit by her side and look at her, he wanted to touch her, he wanted… the thought came to him and he did not finish it, suddenly he grew wide awake… he wanted to kiss the thin, pale mouth with its narrow lips. The truth came to him at last. He was in love with her. It was incredible.

Since then, Philip went crazy about her. He did whatever it takes to make her smile or happy. But she hurt him in several ways. She slept with someone while she was dating him. She told him that she is pregnant and left. It ripped his heart off. But after a while, she came back to him without money, Philip just throw everything away just for her and he did everything to help her out.then she suddenly said she is in love with one of his best friend. Then she left him again. But Philip wasn’t mad at her at all, he was just mad at his friend even though he was not that interested in her. And he still kept loving her. Why did Mildred came back to Philip so many times? She actually knew how much he loves her and he does whatever she wants him to do. But she could never love him the way he loved her. But little by little surely she started to like him as a person not a man. She felt really comfortable with him because he was always nice and treated her like a queen. But until she dies, she never loved him as a man. She hurt him so many times in this story, but I think she is really animal like. She was just comfortable with him that’s why she came back to him so many times when she got hurt. Because she knew he will be happy to help her out. He was like family to her at the end. But she wanted to him to stay with her, so she starts to lie that she loves him and use the child. She often make sure that if he still loves her like he used to like:‘D’ you know that you haven’t kissed me once since I came here?’ She said suddenly.‘I supporse [sic] you don’t care for me in that way anymore?’ ‘I’m very fond of you.’‘You’re much fonder of baby.’

He did not answer. And she laid her cheek against his hand. ‘You’re not angry with me anymore?’ She asked presently, with her eyes cast down.‘Why on the earth should I be?’‘I’ve never cared for you as I do now. It’s only since I passed through the fire that I learnt to love you.’

By then Mildred couldn't live without him not the way Philip wanted. She often used the word love and tried to stay with him, unfortunately, she died of HIV at the hospital Philip used to work. After so many betrayal from her, Philip still cared about her, but after her death he could finally moved on from her.

Mildred was one of my favorite character so it was pretty shocking how she died, but this story has the happy ending which made me happy and I know this couldn’t have a happy ending without her death so it is ok I guess.

At the end of this story he end up with getting marry with the girl called Sally who is the daughter of his great friend Athelny. When he met her first time, she was only 15 and of course he did not she her in that way. He shared everything with Athelny family, even though when he lost all of his money, they helped him out. When he went out with them for the country side, he realized she is not a girl anymore. When she bent over and showed him how best to deal with a whole line their hands met. He was surprised to see her blush. He had known her as a flapper, he could not help looking upon her as a child still; yet the number of her admirers showed that she was a child no longer; and though already attractive that she had to endure a lot of chaffing. He realize that she is a beautiful woman not a 15 years old girl anymore. Then they started dating. When she told him she could be pregnant, he was so happy and he could think of the happy future with her which he couldn’t think with the others. That was the trigger of marriage of them. I think this story is about human relationships and love. I read it in Japanese most of the part. So after the exam, I would like to read all of the part in English!

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