Chapters 1-4 Summary

Of Human Bondage is the story of a young man's struggle to find the meaning of in a world that is cruel. Philip Carey has a club foot, making him the subject of cruelty at school and ridicule in the adult world. Philip allows this treatment to warp his personality, making him introspective and solitary. Due to this, Philip suffers greatly in silence, aching only to find someone to love him without condition. It is a desire that is universal, making this novel one that readers of all ages will identify with.

Philip is awoken in the middle of the night to go see his mother. Philip's mother has just given birth to a stillborn child and the effort was too much for her. Philip's mother is dying. Philip is too young to understand what is going on, but his mother...