If you've read OF HUMAN BONDAGE, please respond. SPOILERS

[raccoon]

Why did Philip keep being so nice to Mildred, when time after time she treated him like crap? I could see it when he was besotted with love for her, but when he finds her walking the streets, he knows then that he no longer loves her, so why does he keep being nice to her?

[Tangerine LaBamba]

1. Because some romantic love

is irrational, and the human need to "rescue" a soul we perceive as "damaged" and "salvagable" is deeply ingrained in us. This is why women marry men who cheated on their previous wives, believing that "With me, he'll be different."

Did I just help you write your paper? Tell the truth.

[raccoon]

2. Nope. I'm not taking any classes now. Recently I read THE PAINTED VEIL

and from that I decided to read other stuff by Maugham. Now listening to OF HUMAN BONDAGE, about through with it.

But thank you. :hi:

Also just finished re-reading WOMEN WHO LOVE TOO MUCH. I guess there are some men like that too.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

3. One of my favorites

is his "Razor's Edge." It was a brilliant book, and they made a movie of it back in the forties, I think, starring Tyrone Power. Very wonderful movie.

But - and this is hard to believe, even by me - Bill Murray remade "Razor's Edge" maybe twenty or twenty-five years ago, and I have always thought it was the best thing he's ever done. Understand, I am someone who religiously watches "Caddyshack" at least four times a year.

Maugham is a joy, and I'm glad you're reading such a great writer.

[Captain Hilts]

4. I need to re-read that. And Murray's version of the film is very good. nt

[WCGreen]

6. I didn't like it when if first came out...

I thought he was overshadowed by all the other actors in the movie. But I watched it a little while ago and reassessed my opinion.

It's still not as good as the 40's version, Tyrone and Webb were stunning, but it seems to have gotten better with age...

[Goblinmonger]

5. I would agree with irrationality, but also add

that even though he knew he didn't love her anymore, she was still a part of his past and who he had become. At that level, I think she becomes a symbol of the person he was at the beginning of this bildungsroman and his recognition and support of her serves to remind us of how far he has come in his journey. I think there are a lot of similarities to Great Expectations in this regard (both being part of a very specific genre probably helps) in that Pip's return reminds us of how big of a dick he was when he left his small town.

Loved the book. Recommend it to several students every year.

[OffWithTheirHeads]

7. I'm at the part where she walks back into his life after

the German dumps her and I'm so pissed at him that I'm thinking of giving up on him and the rest of the book.