Surpassing Inferiority In Of Human Bondage—An Analysis Of Philip’s Growth And Development

William Somerset Maugham (1874-1965) is a world-renowned English realist writer in the twentieth century. He has written numerous works in his life, including novels, short stories, plays, travel notes and literary reviews. Maugham is an acknowledged master storyteller, and one of the most popular writers that write in English in the twentieth century. His novels mainly focus on the theme of searching for freedom and breaking off bondages. And human nature is a favorite subject of Maugham’s novels. Of Human Bondage is an autobiographical Bildungsroman and many incidents are Maugham’s personal experience. Philip, the protagonist is the embodiment of young Maugham. It is the most important work of Maugham and has been immensely popular all over the world since its publication. It is a classical English Bildungsroman and depicts Philip’s spiritual growth and search for freedom.The thesis studies Philip from the perspective of Adler’s individual psychology, and reveals the clear manifestation of inferiority complex and compensation on Philip. Adler is a famous psychologist and created the term inferiority complex. He believes that everyone has a feeling of inferiority, and people will make every effort to supply their deficiency in order to overcome inferiority. Adler called this effort compensation, and he stressed that the feeling of inferiority and physical defects.Philip’s deformity is the origin of his inferiority complex which has a profound impact on the formation and development of his personality. Philip finally overcomes human weakness and inferiority complex, and lives a quiet and happy life. In his steady efforts to surpass feeling of inferiority, he achieves self-realization. No matter how indifferent and inferior a person is at the beginning, there is always the possibility of self-improvement. People can eventually get rid of the former disadvantageous condition, become a mature person and integrate into the society. It is of great significance to modern people, to make use of positive compensation to make progress and development, and surmounting inferiority.