人性的枷锁（英文版）

It's been quite a long time to finish reading the English version of Maugham's autobiography story The Human Bondage, as having read its translation version, I have no haste in pushing forward in finding out the new plots, it seems more like waiting to see an old friend when you turn to a new chapter and know that Philip has come to a new stage of his life , mind, emotion and spirit.       Deformed as he was, he had been the target of ridicule and contempt all along his cildhood and youth, all his efforts in seeking  and wandering had been results of inner fighting for proof and evidence of his own worthiness and equal chance to realize his heart's desire and dream.His long time solitary has been rewarded with reading, his inward mind has been nourished    by aboundant stories and maybe equally solitary souls in literature and paintings. His reason developed mostly not from his collision with    the world of matter but the world of words and color. His learning experience in Germany and France had been important in enriching his understanding of people, arts and actual living burdens, especially during his contacts with those who had been friends with him even when was back in London, such as Hayward, Cronshaw, Lawson and so on.      His life story's main focus was in London, where he sought to get his doctor qualification. During which He encountered the woman that left him with taste of passion also endless pains. Mildred, a restaurant waitress, young, slim but vainglory, got Philip's attention, affection and mad pursuit. But Mildred had never really loved Philip, even when she was abandoned by Miller, received generous financial support and care from Philip. Mildred ran with Philip's neighbor and schoolmate Griffith, left him with despair of humanity and cruelty of life. His sensation with Norah was a beautiful coincidence and     pitiful mismatch of time and space. Philip suffered despair of being bankrupt due to investment failure, under extreme poverty, to the point of wandering and passing the night in street, he had to quit his medicine learning and went to look for jobs. He was saved by his patient friend Athelny, who helped him locate a humble job and make him survived the worst time of his life, whose daughter Sally finally became his wife.       Philip resumed his medical study two years later after the quit when he inherited his uncle's possessions after the old vicar's death. He managed to get his doctor licence after nearly seven years in all and began medical practice at the age of thirty. At the end of the story, Philip's relation with doctor South and Sally, especially the experience of picking hops with Athelny family revealed Maugham's life ideal. The real joy of life is actually simple, however and wherever one travels and explores, he finally has to settle down with someone, family will be the best medicine for the solitary mind and soul. Whatever high hopes can not match the pleasure and consent provided by the warmth and harmony a family tend to produce.This is what Philip had been missing all his life journey, and finally he tied the knot with simple,young, healthy and kind Sally.       TO Maugham, this is to his heart's desire   work which depicts his own life story and gives readers chance to walk close to him and to  his life, by which we also know  better his The Moon and Sixpence, thus his attitude of life and life's ideal.

最开始套上的是宗教的枷锁，伯伯是牧师，伯母是虔诚的基督徒，这样的成长环境，小小的菲利普自然对上帝深信不疑。第一次怀疑是，有一天伯伯告诉他，只要足够虔诚，上帝会让人心想事成，而因残疾饱受嘲笑的菲最想要的是健全的身体。于是他按照大人的指引，用自虐的方式来向上帝祈祷，一个个目标日期过去了，而他所想要的奇迹并没有出现，后来他去了德国留学，才发现不同地方的人对一些事物的不同看法，有些执着在外人看来毫无意义，在当地人却是不可或缺的，才重新审视自己对宗教的认识，渐渐地明白这不过是一种心灵的寄托，信仰并不能带来确定的幸福 20来岁的时候遇上了喜欢自己的人，这对于从小寄居篱下，最好的待遇不过是伯伯开心的时候分给他的一点蛋尖，因极度缺乏爱而极度自卑的菲来说，这被爱的感觉真是太好了。被爱让自己意识到自己的独特，通过对方的眼睛发现自己的优点，后来发现自己并不能回报同样的感情，对方的爱就像是套脖子上的枷锁，压得喘不过气来，便只能不了了之了 在巴黎学画的两年，见识了各种为了追寻梦想而奋斗的人。我们一直有种错觉，以为喜欢就是自己的优势，假以时日终有所成，但艺术是极挑人的，光学会技术上的东西，充其量只是一个工匠……有个没天分的女生因穷再也坚持不下去而选择了自杀，给了菲利普当头一棒，他战战兢兢请教了颇有名望的教授，确定自己再努力也至多是个二流画家。虽然已学了两年，各种成本都已投入不少，他还是选择了放弃，接受自己能力范围的局限性，是我们一辈子要学的东西 回到伦敦学医，去饭店吃饭的时候遇上了对他不理不睬的米尔德，为了吸引对方的注意力，菲持续光顾。到后来错把征服欲当成了爱情，进行了一系列无脑的操作，每次看到他内心对米无限嫌弃，又为了让米愿意他陪而不计成本，就很倒胃口……毕竟年轻吧，对于想要什么样的爱人，该如何去爱，还没有具体的了解，所以无底限的坚持最终除了感动了自己，一无所获……在米跟另一个人一起的时候，菲遇上了另一个女人，她是真爱着菲，让菲明白女人真爱一个人会是什么样的，只可惜他只是因为寂寞而暂时的停留，当米带着体无完肤的伤口回来找他，他又再次充当圣人般的恋人角色。这一段经历让人看的很想扔书，但回头想想，年轻的时候，是有可能在错误的方向一条道走到黑的，谁又分得清什么是爱，什么只是想要征服的对象呢 跟米尔德在一起花钱如流水，让菲利普迫切需要增加收入，但是作为学徒的他还没有经济来源，刚好有个股票经纪人天天在那里怂恿大家炒股，菲很动心，就投了一些钱，这一次获利30%。这一下菲以为发现财路了，再被邀请的时候就投了自己的所有，结果被套，又因为损失厌恶心理而坚持到全军覆没的地步。一无所有的菲写信向伯伯求救，被对方一口回绝。嗯，细想一下，这个年轻人已经25岁了，败光了父母留下的一切，还找不到谋生的手段，确实不敢帮，谁知道会不会帮出一个无底洞来……走投无路的菲睡过大街。好在在医院实习时，因为对病人态度很好而交到了一个朋友，最后寄居在朋友家，又在他的介绍下开始了两年屈辱的商店职员生活，这两年的经历让他真切感受到贫困才是扼住喉咙的枷锁，没钱就只能放弃所有梦想，为求肉体的生存而耗尽所有。后来伯伯去世，给他一笔遗产，才让他重新回到正轨。 屈从于感情是人性的枷锁。故事写到菲利普向萨莉求婚为止，意味着一直在试图摆脱枷锁的菲这次心甘情愿地给自己套上了。故事有个童话般的结局，日后的生活当然还有很多的磨难，但是相信心智足够成熟的菲可以从容应对。他和萨莉的结合挺符合经济学规律的，一个提供稳定，一个提供健康与年轻。[微笑] 判断一个人是否喜欢，看他愿意为这个投入的时间长短，不喜欢的东西自然坚持不下去。而我为它花了101个小时，从这点来看，绝对是真爱了[调皮][调皮] 打开它是因为听说它是毛姆的自传体小说，最近好长一段时间都在自传里了解喜欢的人，在他们的成长记录里获取营养，在这点上，毛姆提供了很多的思考，甚至给了答案。 从脚有残疾的菲利普九岁因父母双亡，不得不寄养在伯伯家，到他三十岁终于可以轻松接受自己的残疾就像有些人的意志力薄弱一样普通，到终于知道自己真正想要的不是游历世界而是和所爱的人有个小小的家，跟着他走过了成长过程中的大半生

不知道如何点评这本书，全程听完中文，且时而沉浸，时而游离。 但这本书的有声版陪伴了我整个暑假及开学季，同理心了孩子们不想完成作业却要硬着头皮完成任务的感觉😢 最有共鸣的是童年部分，从成长到青年之后就无法带入了。 虽然毛姆写尽人性，但是在同一个人身上把人性的缺点展现得淋漓尽致，导致读来真的很痛苦😣时常忍不住骂人🤬 此番言论倒不是说自己有多高尚，亦或多懵懂不识人间之苦更不是生活太过纵乐无枷锁裹挟。 因为主人公从小双亲病故且留下巨额财富本是诸多玛丽苏的典范开局啊！无人掌控且无经济负担。。。 男主的跛足成了他成长路上最大的羁绊，懂又不懂这种偏执。但是三重buff叠在一起，谁还会在意跛足呢？！ 或许我自己说得轻巧了这，但依据我有限的生命体验，摧毁人或改变人的，往往不是突如其来的重大事件。反而是点滴之中积累起来的无可奈何、无能为力、无法言喻构成了生命中枷锁的一环，继而一环套一环，筑成枷锁，最终禁锢你。 也许人生有许多枷锁，我们套了又拆。也许枷锁就那一个，我们负重前行。。。。。。

OF HUMAN BONDAGE is a classic work by Maugham with autobiographical property.      The story is based on Maugham's personal experience and describes the entire process of the disabled Philip, the orphan, growing up.      In the face of family, love, friendship, campus, art, and ideals, Philip was struggling to seek freedom and was hard to find. In the end, he found that this is the true nature of human nature.     Can we get rid of this human bondage? What is growing and what is maturity? The answer floated in the wind, with laughter and tears.      "Why don't you write a novel like OF HUMAN BONDAGE?"        "Because I have only one life. It took me thirty years to gather materials for this story."       The youthful vigor of young people is not to be envied. What really deserves to be  appreciated is those who have experienced the hardships of life, but still have the ideal kind of fire in their hearts, and those who dance in the bondage of life are the hope of humanity!

花了61个小时读完，看到《人性的枷锁》英文原版，心生一念想尝试读英文版，读完后给了我以后继续读英文原版读物的信心，这本书从各个维度深剖了人性的善恶丑美和成长历程，文笔细腻，有局外人的观感，也有局内人的五味杂陈和代入感； 以菲利普的成长轨迹为时间轴，揭露了人性的复杂、反思、纠缠和抽离的痛苦，再回归自然，拥抱常态，接纳自我。 天生的跛足，父母双亡，寄人篱下，敏感脆弱，缺爱，伯父严苛强势，伯母软弱顺从，书成了小时候黑暗里的那道光，造就了孤僻多疑情绪化的性格缺陷，可本能地又渴望被爱被看见，越渴望越期望越失望，不被世人所关怀。 周围的不同的人就是菲利普的一面哈哈镜，照见了他的真善美丑，人性的多面； 《人性的枷锁》是毛姆中年时期作品，这里体现了人类的本能，即便曾经深陷情感泥泞，最后还是接受了那份纯真的爱，物质的基本富足和爱情这两大人生难题在本书中都没有超脱我们常人理解范畴，而《刀锋》是晚年之作，对爱情和物质却有了截然不同的超脱感。

2020年就喜爱上这本英文版，由于种种原因搁置了很长时间，直到这个夏天，因为不便远行而有了机会静下心来认真读完。Philip 在巴黎学画画时，因为对自己不自信而寻求老师Foinet的意见，他向老师展示了他的画作并问老师他是否有绘画的天赋，老师反问了他一句 “Don't you know if you have a talent?(你难道不知道你是否有天赋吗?)"，我更想把这句话翻译成“如果你有天赋你难道会不知道吗？”，残酷的大实话。老师还说了一句“You will never be anything but mediocre(除了平庸你将什么也不是)"，彻底击碎了Philip的画家梦。临走时老师又抛下一句："It is cruel to discover one's mediocrity only when it is too late.(在为时已晚的时候才发现自己的平庸是很残酷的)”。这些话语对应我们的人生非常贴切啊！谁不是曾经满怀信心地要做出一番事业？可是我们终究不过是通过我们的勤奋与努力过上衣食无忧的生活而已，我们终究变得平庸，终究是走在平凡之路上！读到故事的最后发现原来不单单信仰和热爱可以成为人的羁绊，梦想也可以成为人的枷锁，所幸Philip最终选择了平凡的生活，给了自己一个从小就缺失的温暖的家。大街上人来人往，太阳依旧闪耀着光芒

It seemed to him that all his life he had followed the ideals that other people, by their words or their writings, had instilled into him, and never the desires of his own heart. Always his course had been swayed by what he thought he should do and never by what he wanted with his whole soul to do. He thought of his desire to make a design, intricate and beautiful, out of the myriad, meaningless facts of life: had he not seen also that the simplest pattern, that in which a man was born, worked, married, had children, and died, was likewise the most perfect? It might be that to surrender to happiness was to accept defeat, but it was a defeat better than many victories.

许多人都想成为不羁自由的思特里克兰德，最后却都活成了菲利普的模样。 我们不能说这种生活不好，它平静、安宁，在夫妻之爱中收获性的满足，在天伦之乐中收获家的温暖，但是……我还是直接引用《月亮和六便士》里的一段话吧，我总是隐隐地有着这样子感觉，但难以更好地表达，而毛姆给细致地把它描述出来了 “这一定是世间无数对夫妻的故事。这种生活模式个人以安详亲切之感，会让你想到一条平静的小河，蜿蜒流过绿茸茸的牧场，旁边树影婆娑，最终流入浩渺的大海。不过，那大海过于平静，过于沉寂，过于冷淡，会叫你突然隐约感到不安。也许这只是我自己的一种奇怪念头吧——这念头在那些日子里异常强烈，让我觉得大多数人所过的生活缺少了点什么。” “我承认这种生活的社会价值，也看到这种按部就班的生活自有幸福之处，但我的血液在沸腾，渴望踏上一条波澜壮阔的人生旅途。这种安详寂静的生活固然快乐，却似乎叫我不安——我的一颗心渴望冒险，时刻准备翻越怪石嶙峋的高山，渡过暗流涌动的险滩。我渴望变化，渴望过一种无法预见的激动人心的生活。” 或许我也曾有过瑰丽、自由的梦想，但是现在我已逐渐屈服于对未知事物的恐惧、对平静生活的期望（或许从某一方面而言也是社会加诸的）。但是，期望能去更广阔的世界看看的梦想，仍存留在我的心中。待到有经济能力以后，我还是会为自己的平凡生活创造一些属于自己的火花

我说实话，我只能打3.5🌟 其实中间有一小部分我还没看完，但是我看的体验感确实一般，我也能预测这部分大概在讲什么。这本书看完之后，完全没有想再看一遍的欲望，就连重看其中的某一部分我现在都没有，后面我不知道会不会有。 可能是跟我的预期有关，我之前看过《刀锋》和《月亮与六便士》，故事本身和其中的哲学章节都还比较平衡，这本书就不行，谈恋爱，尤其是跟同一个人反复纠缠的章节实在是太多了，我都忘记了我看的书名叫《人性的枷锁》而不是《爱的枷锁》，我原本预期这本书中会对命运的开局、学习道路、个人成长、独立生活、事业发展、亲密关系各个方面详细展开，然后各个方面都有枷锁，后来发现不是。所以前一小部分我认为还是好看的，出生、读书、辗转城市换专业后面到事业再就业，都很有带入感，中间一大段我认为纯属毛姆个人的泄愤，把自己对于女性的仇恨通过虚拟人物发泄出来。 这书大家整体的评价还挺高，我不知道是否需要时间的沉淀，当我再遇到困难的时候会有再次回看某个部分的欲望。 总结，好看，但没那么好看，完全上榜不了「舍不得看完书单」。

于我而言，毛叔的人性的枷锁这本书比月亮和六便士，还有刀锋更精彩。可能是关乎我感兴趣的话题——人性和人生意义的探讨。用主角Phillip的大半生，讲述成长，价值观，追求与梦想，爱情，金钱等。我从没想过，这些却都有可能是枷锁。人生无意义，但是木心说过，好在人生无意义，我们才可以赋予他意义。最珍贵的就是每一个当下。我现在也可以回归日常琐碎与平凡，创造并感受每一个美好与温暖，而不是活在幻想中，看不到现实。我很庆幸生活在这个时代，自己也把阅读变成习惯，通过阅读、实践，自己在生活上，认知上不断改变。我相信一切会越来越好～