Of Human Bondage · Chapter
LXXI explained
Philip ends his relationship with Norah Nesbit after Mildred's return, struggling with guilt but ultimately choosing to pursue his obsessive love for Mildred.
What happens
Philip ends his relationship with Norah Nesbit after Mildred's return, struggling with guilt but ultimately choosing to pursue his obsessive love for Mildred.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Falling action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This passage marks the dramatic climax because it reveals the full psychological inversion of Philip’s charact…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Love and Obsession
Philip's obsessive love for Mildred drives him to cruelly end his relationship with Norah.
- Suffering and Disillusionment
Norah's silent tears and Philip's guilt highlight the pain caused by unrequited love.
Characters to notice
- Philip Carey
Ends his affair with Norah Nesbit to pursue Mildred Rogers.
- Norah Nesbit
Heartbroken after Philip breaks off their relationship.
- Griffiths
Advises Philip on how to end the affair with Norah.
- Mildred Rogers
Philip's obsessive love for her motivates his breakup with Norah.
Key passages
“It's the simplest thing in the world to have an affair with a woman, but it's a devil of a nuisance to get out of it.”
Griffiths remarks that starting an affair is easy, but ending one is troublesome.
Griffiths' cynical view on romantic entanglements.
“I'm afraid that's always the case. There's always one who loves and one who lets himself be loved.”
Philip observes that in relationships, one person typically loves more than the other.
Philip's reflection on the imbalance in love.
