An Exploration of Philip’s Upbringing in Of Human Bondage

Lingchen Chen; Jingdong Zhong

doi:10.63313/ah.9013

Authors

Lingchen Chen School of English, Zhejiang Yuexiu University, Shaoxing, China Author
Jingdong Zhong School of English, Zhejiang Yuexiu University, Shaoxing, China Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.63313/ah.9013

Keywords:

Growing Up, Philip, Bondage, Erickson’s Theory Of Stages Of Psychosocial Devel-Opment

Abstract

Of Human Bondage is a growing-type novel, which tells the story of the com-plete life process of the protagonist Philip from childhood to marriage, finding freedom in the shackles of family, love, friendship, campus, art and ideals. His upbringing was full of struggles. The physical defects, the loss of parents from childhood, the road to study is bumpy, and the face of many difficulties in love. Every step of his life is a testament to his freedom from bondage. This paper mainly interprets Philip’s growth experience from the perspective of Erikson’s personality development theory and analyzes how he continues to mature psy-chologically and emotionally, and finally obtains inner freedom and peace, as well as the personality characteristics presented in different life stages. At the same time, combined with the literary classic of the theme of growth, this paper discusses the profound enlightenment about human nature, growth and the meaning of life shown in the novel, which provides guidance and thinking for us when facing the difficulties of life.

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