Must-read bibliography for senior high school students

Weaknesses of human nature, advantages of human nature, chains of life, the moon and sixpence, divorce.

The Chains of Life is a novel by British writer william somerset maugham, which was first published in 19 15.

The novel describes the protagonist Philip's family, school and social life experience for 30 years from childhood, reflecting the protagonist's confusion, frustration, pain, disappointment and exploration in the process of growing up, as well as his physical defects, religion and lust, and his growing process of finally getting rid of these shackles. The text of the work is simple and profound, which can be said to be a declaration calling for the complete and free liberation of human nature.

Creation background

The Chains of Life was written in the First World War. The authorities of major capitalist countries such as Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the United States and Japan brutally exploit and oppress domestic workers, peasants and working people. Abroad, in order to re-divide the sphere of influence. Divide up the colonies and invade, seize, plunder and oppress the vast number of colonial people more savagely.

Whether in capitalist countries or colonial countries and regions, the working people are in dire straits, and social contradictions, ethnic contradictions and ethnic contradictions are very prominent and very dangerous. Major capitalist countries regard waging war as a means to transfer contradictions. Mao Mu's "Chains of Life" and other works published in this period also reflect these contradictions from different aspects.