The shackles of humanity

The shackles of humanity

[British] William Somerset Maugham

Jiangxi People's Publishing House

2016-05-01

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Summary

[Introduction] Of Human Bondage is a classic autobiographical work of Maugham, and is also considered to be his most important and widely circulated masterpiece. Together with The Moon and Sixpence, The Painted Veil and The Razor's Edge, it established the foundation of Maugham's "story...

Highlights

Of Human Bondage is a semi-autobiographical novel by William Somerset Maugham, which contains many profound thoughts on life, freedom, love, philosophy, etc. The following are 20 wonderful sentences or paragraphs selected from it, numbered and output according to your requirements: 1. "There is such a thing in life: you meet a person every day for several months, so your relationship with him becomes very close, and you even wonder how you can live without this person. Then the two of you separate, but everything goes on as before. The partner you thought you couldn't live without for a moment is now dispensable, day after day, over time, you don't even think about him." Reason: It deeply depicts the variability of relationships between people and the inertia of life. 2. "He didn't understand that on the journey of life, he had to cross a vast arid, barren wilderness with rugged terrain before he could enter the living real world. The so-called 'youth is so happy' is just an illusion, an illusion of people whose youth has passed." Reason: The unique insights into youth, unique perspective and full of wisdom. 3. "He pursued a romantic wandering life, but reality tied him firmly to the land." Reason: The language is beautiful and expresses the conflict between ideals and reality. 4-6. (Merge and output, because these sentences form a paragraph) "He always felt that he had a potential power, and no obstacles could stop him from achieving his goals. This self-confidence is a bit close to arrogance, but it is different from arrogance. It lacks the arrogance, which often harms many talented people. On his bumpy life road, he never gets discouraged when he encounters unexpected setbacks. He admits his failure and looks for the reasons for his failure, but never blames others or feels regretful or discouraged. He can appreciate a peculiar, bitter pleasure from failure, just like some people who love tragedy can get more pleasure from tragedy than comedy." Reason: This paragraph is full of wisdom, describing the protagonist's tenacious character and attitude towards failure, and is creative and has profound psychological insights. 7. "Freedom! It was these two words that burned brightly in his heart. As the years passed, their heat only grew. He left a space of freedom for his soul, and it was the desire for this that made him pursue something hazy and vague throughout his life." Reason: The desire for freedom is portrayed so strongly and movingly. 8. "He didn't understand that on the battlefield of love, he always needed a little self-esteem to support himself so as not to collapse completely." Reason: It deeply reveals the importance of self-esteem in love. 9. "He felt that only by getting rid of the shackles could he truly live. However, these shackles were made and worn by his own hands." Reason: It is philosophical and points out the predicament and self-restraint of life. 10. "There are two tragedies in life. One is that your desires are not satisfied, and the other is that your desires are satisfied." Reason: The language is concise but profound, revealing the dual tragedy of desire. 11. "He gradually understood that life is like a river, which may be beautiful or stormy. All you can do is try your best and then accept the arrangement of fate." Reason: Using a river to metaphorize life is a unique perspective and full of wisdom. 12. "He found that everyone's life is a unique epic, and its value does not lie in its length, but in how it is spent." Reason: Emphasizes the importance of the quality of life and personal choices. 13. "He learned to be patient, to wait, and to find hope in adversity." Reason: Demonstrates a tenacious attitude towards life. 14. "He knows that happiness is not a permanent state, but a process of constant pursuit and discovery." Reason: Unique insights into happiness, full of wisdom. 15. "He realized that what he had been avoiding was not the hardship of life, but the courage to face his own heart." Reason: Deeply reveals the root cause of self-escape. 16. "On the road of life, nothing is eternal, only change is the only constant." Reason: The language is concise but profound, revealing the true meaning of life. 17. "He understands that love is not everything in life, but without love, life loses most of its meaning." Reason: Has a profound insight into the position of love in life. 18. "He understands that true freedom is not to do whatever you want, but to be able to control your own desires." Reason: Full of wisdom in the definition of freedom. 19. "He knows that everyone has his own shackles, some shackles are visible, and some are invisible. But only by untying these shackles can people be truly free." Reason: Deeply reveals the connotation and conditions of freedom

About the Author

William Somerset Maugham is a famous British novelist, playwright and short story writer.< His works are well-known for their sharp social observations, deep insights into human nature and unique literary style.

The following is a detailed introduction to Maugham: 1.

Personal basic information: William Somerset Maugham was born in Paris, England on January 25, 1874.< He is the grandson of Robert Orlando Maugham, a famous British playwright and novelist.

He spent his childhood in France and later returned to England for education.< 2.

Education and career background: Maugham was educated at King's School in Canterbury, England, and later entered the University of Heidelberg in Germany to study philosophy and literature.< He studied medicine at St.

Thomas' Hospital in London, England, and became a qualified doctor in 1903.< However, his love for literature made him give up his medical career and devote himself to literary creation.

3.

Writing career: Maugham's literary career began in the early 20th century, and his works cover a variety of genres such as novels, dramas, short stories and biographies.< His first novel, Lisa's Lover (1897), did not attract widespread attention, but his play, The Portrait of a Lady (1903), made him famous.

Maugham's creative peak was from the 1920s to the 1940s, and his works were widely acclaimed during this period.< 4.

Style and Themes of Works: Maugham's works are known for their realistic style and deep insight into human nature.< His novels usually focus on the inner world and social status of characters, and explore themes such as morality, love, freedom and personal growth.

Of Human Bondage (1915) is one of his representative works, which tells the story of the protagonist Philip Carey's journey of self-discovery.< 5.

Personal Life: Maugham's personal life is quite colorful.< He has traveled all over the world, including Asia, the South Pacific and America.

His travel experiences have provided rich materials for his writing.< Maugham was known for his homosexuality in his private life, but he did not publicly admit this in the social environment at the time.

6.

Social Influence: Maugham's works have had a profound impact on 20th century British literature.< His works have been translated into many languages and are popular all over the world.

His literary achievements have been widely recognized, including honors such as the Fellowship of the Royal Society of Literature and the French Legion of Honor.< 7.

Quotations and evaluations: Maugham's works have been highly praised by many authoritative media and experts.< The New York Times once described him as "one of the outstanding representatives of 20th century British literature.

" The famous writer George Orwell also said that Maugham's works have "unique charm and profound insight into human nature.< " 8.

Latest developments: Although Maugham died in 1965, his works are still widely followed.< In recent years, his works have been adapted into movies and TV series such as "The Moon and Sixpence" (2016) and "Of Human Bondage" (2014), allowing a new generation of readers to understand the talent of this literary giant.

In short, William Somerset Maugham is a prolific and versatile writer, and his works have been widely praised for his unique literary style and profound insight into human nature.< As one of his representative works, "Of Human Bondage" presents readers with a story about self-discovery and growth, which is worth reading.