Free Choices In The Predicament

Maugham's autobiographical novel Of Human Bondage is acclaimed as a masterpiece, which has always been favored by world-wide readers and probed by critics. Up until now, it has been analyzed from the perspectives of realism, naturalism, ethics, and so on. However, the thesis attempts to focus on the existentialist embodiment of the novel according to Sartre's viewpoints, which have barely been applied to the text at both home and abroad.Emerged in the mid 20th century, Sartre's existentialist philosophy is considered as the most influential and comprehensive philosophy, in which Sartre not only exposes the dark situation of human existence, but more importantly, highlights man's existentialist values via free choices and actions. Similarly, in Of Human Bondage, Maugham not only explores the plight of human existence, but also reflects Sartre's existentialist ideas such as"Existence Precedes Essence"and"Free Choices"and so on. Therefore, the existentialist tendency in Of Human Bondage will be argued to a large extent, which shows Maugham's forward-looking vision in his literary creation.The study consists of three chapters. In the first chapter, the predicament of human existence is presented in so many aspects regarding misery of life, meaninglessness of death, anxiety of man, as well as alienated human relationship. The second chapter is associated with man's free choices and actions which play a key role in Sartre's existentialist ideas. It is composed of two sections: the hero Philip's longing for freedom and his free choices in religion, career and love. Chapter three exposes significances of Philip's free choices.Through the existentialist analysis of Of Human Bondage, the thesis aims to make people have a deeper and broader understanding of the novel and the existential state in the transitional age of the 20th century. More importantly, it can trigger our serious contemplation over the existence of modern people.