The famous British writer Maugham devoted himself to creating a masterpiece with a deep autobiographical color - "The Shackles of Human Nature". This work embodies the idea that he has conceived since he was 23 years old, and after 14 years of precipitation and tempering, he was able to complete the full volume at the age of 37.
Upon its publication, The Shackles of Human Nature was hailed as a "literary treasure of genius" and quickly gained worldwide acclaim, was translated into many languages, and was included in the list of classics in the temple of world literature.
The book is an affectionate depiction of the life of the protagonist, Philip, who suffers from a deformity of his feet and faces the shackles imposed by fate: the troubles of his natural disability, the frustrations of his career path, and the twists and turns of his emotional world.
However, Philip persevered and fought bravely in the torrent of life, and finally managed to break free from the cage of fate that bound him.
As the saying goes, reading a ** is like experiencing a variety of life situations. And when we deeply study "The Shackles of Human Nature", we can realize a profound truth: breaking the shackles that imprison our destiny often begins with inner relief and letting go.
With its unique narrative charm and deep-rooted themes, this work inspires readers to find the power of self-redemption and growth in the difficult situations of life.
Only by letting go of external flaws can we truly reconcile with ourselves
In **, the fate of the protagonist Philip has been clouded since he was nine years old, and the sudden death of his parents has forced him to snuggle under the wings of his conservative and rigid uncle and aunt. His childhood world was shrouded in heavy depression and endless monotony, and he experienced the coldness and ruthlessness of life early.
What's even more distressing is that Philip was born with a deformed foot, a faltering gait, and every step is accompanied by a limping struggle.
When he stepped onto campus, this physical defect became the object of malicious ridicule from his classmates. Some imitated his unique walking posture for amusement, and some even cruelly and deliberately kicked at his lame, exacerbating his pain.
Despite Philip's efforts to fit in with his peers and his desire to walk side by side with those around him, reality responds to him in a cruel way: the more he tries to prove himself, the easier it is to become the target of public criticism.
This psychological pressure oppressed him like a boulder, causing his academic performance to decline day by day, and even his teachers vitriolically disparaged him as a "lame fool".
Deep down, low self-esteem and pain follow him like a shadow, like vines wrapped around his heart, unable to break free. He had religiously pinned all his hopes on God, but he did not wait for a miracle to come while praying all night in front of the statue of Jesus.
The physical disability is like a thorn that pierces deep into the atrium, always reminding him of his difference.
Even as the years passed, the adult Philip was still extremely sensitive to the word "lame", and every time these two words drifted into his ears, he would trigger a physiological reaction that made his face red and his hands tremble.
At that time, he was filled with deep disgust and hatred for his mutilated body, and this emotion was deeply engraved in the course of his life like a brand.
After years of precipitation, until a memorable day, the appearance of a little boy was like a light of dawn, which brought a profound change to Dr. Philip's outlook on life.
Philip was already a skilled physician at the time, and he received a faltering young boy in his office. In the face of this lame child, he seemed to have a glimpse of his long-sealed childhood memories, and his words naturally revealed a deep sympathy and understanding for the boy.
However, the little boy responded to Philip's concern with a bright smile, and he said indifferently: "It's just a small flaw in my appearance, and I don't think it has caused much trouble in my life." These words were like a spring breeze, light but powerful** shook Philip's heart.
The boy's words awakened an epiphany deep in Philip's heart:
If you can't change your natural disability, why bother to torture yourself for a long time? So, in the upheaval of his mentality, he began to re-examine his life experience.
He suddenly realized that although fate had given him a crippled body, it had also given him a unique gift—a kind of superhuman insight and appreciation honed by lameness. He said with emotion: "If it weren't for this lame existence, I might not have the ability to perceive the world as deeply and delicately as I do now." ”
At this point, Philip finally broke free from the shackles that bound his heart, realized self-redemption and inner harmony, and his life took on a new brilliance.
There is a deep-rooted aphorism circulating on the Internet:
At all times, we are the only creators of our own suffering, and the only redeemers of it.
The well-known "Festinger's Law" in psychology reveals a profound philosophy of life: only 10% of life is made up of things that happen to us, and the remaining 90% depends on the attitudes and reactions we take towards them.
After deep thought, whether you choose to deal with it indifferently or fall into the whirlpool of internal friction; Whether it's suffering or seeking liberation, it's all in our minds.
The so-called internal friction is essentially a process of endless self-torture.
If a person chews on pain repeatedly and stubbornly consumes his own energy, he will never be able to break free from the quagmire of pain.
Only by learning to let go of the attachment to external shortcomings, going all out to change the things that can be changed, and trying to face the facts that cannot be changed with an accepting attitude, can we untie the shackles of self-internal friction and truly achieve harmonious coexistence and deep reconciliation with the self.
Let go of the inner attachment, and only then will you see the right direction
From an early age, Philip had an extraordinary love for the art of painting, and his paintings were always appreciated by his friends, which always attracted high praise and expectations for his talent as a future painter.
This affirmation was quietly sown in his heart like a seed, giving birth to a persistent dream - to become an outstanding painter.
After a lot of hard work and sincere pleading, he finally moved his aunt and received her generous financial assistance. So, full of longing and passion, Philippe resolutely embarked on the road to study art in Paris.
As soon as he arrived in Paris, he felt like he was in a sea of inspiration. There, he quickly integrated into a group of like-minded people who held their brushes every day, enthusiastically appreciating the profound connotations of art and the colorful colors of life.
However, life's turning points often come unnoticed. When Philip meets a woman named Price, his world begins to change subtly and profoundly, and this encounter adds a bit of unknown charm and challenge to his artistic journey.
Price is a figure known for his extreme diligence and unmatched tenacity.
After careful observation for a period of time, the instructor who taught painting came to the conclusion that she did not seem to be endowed with an innate talent for painting, and out of concern, he gently suggested that she should judge the situation, face the reality, and try to change direction.
However, Price showed remarkable dedication and determination to this teaching, and she remained faithful like a rock, immersing herself in the art of painting day after day.
Regrettably, despite her efforts, her paintings never found themselves on the market and not a single one was sold. This tenacious and unyielding girl, under the double oppression of hardship and poverty, finally chose the tragic ending of suicide by hanging herself in that simple and cramped rental house.
Price's tragic experience was like a thunderbolt that shook the heart, deeply touched Philip's inner world, and made him deeply reflect and question his choice for the first time.
He couldn't contain his curiosity and confusion, and mustered up the courage to ask the teacher if he had a talent for painting. However, instead of responding directly to his appeal, the teacher chose to tell a far-reaching story:
There was once a ** exchange broker named Strickland, who was at the top of society, living a prosperous life and a harmonious family.
However, the twist of fate came suddenly, and he resolutely gave up his existing stable life and went to Paris alone, just to pursue the dream of a painter hidden in his heart. He describes his state of mind as that of a drowning man, and only through painting can he find the boat of salvation.
With his almost crazy dedication and love, Strickland forged ahead on the road of art, and finally got his wish, became a high-profile painter, and found his own happiness in the world of art.
After listening to this story, Philip suddenly realized that a true artist not only has an innate talent, but also has an endless passion and pursuit of art. Comparing himself to himself, he realized that he seemed to lack the artistic talent and passion that was deeply rooted in his blood and blood.
After much deliberation, Philip decided to put down his paintbrush and pursue a career in medicine instead, stepping into the doors of St. Luke's Medical School in London. This choice is not to retreat, but to find a new path. During his medical school life, he showed unprecedented hard work and tenacity, and his hard work day after day and year after year finally earned him recognition as a medical qualification.
In the process of saving lives and diseases again and again, Philip became more and more confident and full of strength. He gradually discovered that his true talent was hidden in the field of medicine, where he was able to use his strengths and realize the value of life.
There is a deep-rooted warning on the Internet:
Sticking to one's mistakes is not courage, but rather a kind of ignorant and blind stubbornness.
In the journey of chasing his dreams, Philip was able to find and devote himself to what he is really good at and love, which is closely related to his deep and clear self-awareness and the courage to let go of unnecessary attachments in his heart.
Philip's experience is like this, in fact, each of our lives is not such an exploration and choice.
Think about it, if you know that you don't have the ability to do a certain job, but still stubbornly insist on doing it, then the end result will be in vain.
Only by learning to let go of the excessive attachment in our hearts can we have a clear insight into the correct direction of moving forward like seeing the sun through the clouds.
Only by courageously abandoning those wrong insistences can we open up a life path that is truly suitable for us and full of infinite possibilities.
Let go of the emotion of wrong payment in order to reap the benefits of a successful marriage
While studying painting in Paris, Philippe met Mildred, a pale-faced waitress in the restaurant.
Although she did not have outstanding looks, she captivated Philip with an indescribable charm that plunged him into a frenzied love vortex.
At that time, Philip did not realize that Mildred's inner vanity and lies were intertwined, and her conduct was not as pure and immaculate as it first appeared.
Whenever they meet and wander the bustling streets, Mildred will always indulge in a shopping spree greedily, while Philip, who is strapped for money, will do everything to get a smile.
Mildred's emotional world is complex, she navigates between multiple men, and her loyalty to Philip has been trampled upon and humiliated countless times. However, in the face of this ensuing betrayal, Philip has never been able to let go of this obsessive emotional bond.
When the wheels of fate were mercilessly swept over, Mildred became pregnant and abandoned, but Philip showed amazing tolerance and generosity, and resolutely took on the responsibility of caring for her and her unborn child.
In this emotional purgatory, Philip's love is so low that he almost loses his self-boundary, and he firmly believes that his sincerity will eventually awaken the true love response in Mildred's heart. However, the reality is cruel, Mildred is stepping into the abyss of depravity, and his rotten lifestyle has caused Philip to experience countless painful pains.
Eventually, Mildred, who was coerced by materialism, went astray, became a dusty woman, and unfortunately contracted a venereal disease, and disappeared from Philip's world.
It was only then that Philip woke up from this dream of love, but at this moment he was destitute and could only wander the streets, licking the scars on his heart alone.
A misguided emotional entanglement left Philip with a heavy mental shackle and a painful price. However, by fate, he met a woman named Sally, which gradually freed him from the bitter love that he could not look back on.
Sully not only has a healthy and bright appearance, but also has a gentle and considerate personality, and her enthusiasm as warm as the sun penetrates into the depths of Philip's devastated heart, slowly healing those past scars.
The two are affectionate and snuggling up to each other, and whenever they spend time together, there are endless topics and laughter, and as time goes by, their emotions become more mellow and sweet, as sticky and intoxicating as honey.
Finally, at some heartwarming moment, Sully revealed the good news of her pregnancy to Philip with a shy smile. After the ecstasy, Philip felt a great sense of responsibility and cautiously proposed to Sally. At that moment, the sunshine of happiness was like a golden ribbon, gently draped over the shoulders of this love-in-love couple.
When Philip bravely let go of the wrong relationship that once made him miserable, he finally reaped his own happy marriage and started a new chapter in his life.
* Leonard Cohen once profoundly explained: "There is a crack in everything, and that is where light penetrates." This sentence is like a ray of wisdom, illuminating the twists and turns and ups and downs in the journey of life.
Everyone has carried their own regrets and imperfections on the stage of life, and they are as tenacious as a lonely walker.
This imperfection may be a physical defect, or the ups and downs of a career, or the torment and tempering of the emotional world; The unsatisfactory life often occupies most of the chapters of our lives.
When you are at a loss in the fog of life, you might as well read the book "The Shackles of Human Nature", perhaps it can ignite the spark of courage for you to restart your life and give you the strength to move forward.
Philip, the protagonist of the book, reveals a profound philosophy of life to us with his ups and downs in life:
Only by truly accepting and letting go of one's own external defects can one achieve inner harmony and self-reconciliation;
Only by letting go of those stubborn and wrong insistences can we find our true love and strengths; And only by letting go of the emotional entanglement that was once wronged can it be possible to finally embrace a complete married life.
In a moment's time, let go and feel at ease. When we truly understand the art of "letting go", we will be able to break free from the invisible shackles in life one by one and move towards a broader and freer world of life.