Henry James’s novel Portrait of a Lady published in 1881, presents more than the portrait and the destiny of Isabel Archer transposing the ideas of the late nineteenth century in a strong and intense literary work. The elements of the American society from the last decades of the nineteenth-century meet the European society: America, natural, attractive by vitality and by novelty, and Europe, old and sophisticated, but artificial and decaying.
The novel treats, in parallel, two key themes - in the foreground is Isabel Archer and her life story (Bamberg, 2003). "Portrait of a Lady" is a novel of becoming, a novel of destiny and in a subsequent plan treats the slightly overrated antithesis (this is fact that generated the most criticism around the novel) of the old European continent - dusty, frozen in stillness, almost decrepit, decadent and worn, and the promised land – America: new, young, fresh and natural, in constant motion - full of vitality and dynamism, with new reformed principles and values moved forwards by the enthusiasm of youth and newly conquered freedom, just like Isabel. The old world, despite the inviting appearance and hospitality, and the cozy living promised as collateral in exchange for the final establishing of aliens is shown as a trap, an old and dusty wreck that pulls down into itself, all those whom he lures into his nets (Freedman, 1998).
Through her daring, Isabel Archer is in stark contrast with the other ladies from this picture of a quiet, peaceful and seemingly cozy, archaic and patriarchal part of old England, where people take their life by pre-established standards in a monotonous and slow pace, and where the constancy of customs, habits and even of vices is considered almost a virtue. The s...
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Binding to Europe by her marriage to Gilbert Osmond Isabel forget her aspirations for freedom and knowledge: "She's Not the bright American girl SHE WAS". Isabel’s portrait is complex, capturing every detail, every thought, every intention and desire of the heroine: She is "the guardian angel" for Pansy, Lord Warburton is afraid of her "Remarkable Mind" and she had the "fortune to possess a finer mind than most of the persons among whom her lot was cast (James, 1881).” These are just some of the aspects that characterize Isabel Archer.
Works Cited
Bamberg, R., (2003), The Portrait of a Lady: An Authoritative Text, Henry James and the Novel, Reviews and Criticism, New York: W.W. Norton & Company
James, H., (1881), Portrait of a Lady, Penguin Classics
Freedman, J., (1998) The Cambridge Companion to Henry James Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press
James, Edward, Janet James, and Paul Boyer. Notable American Women, 1607-1950. Volume III: P-Z. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1971. Print.
Harris, Susan K.. "'But is it any good?': Evaluating Nineteenth-Century American Women's Fiction." American Literature 63 (March 1991): 42-61.
Living conditions in the Arthurian Legend are presented in distinctly different manners between A Connecticut Yankee and Le Morte D’Arthur. While the quality of life for the poor is consistently harsh for both novels, some differences do exist. The poor in A Connecticut Yankee are portrayed as a battered and oppressed race, while the poor of Le Morte D’Arthur are shown as existing more happily in the idyllic Camelot. Next, the upper class lifestyle is unanimously show...
Clements, Victoria. Introduction. A New-England Tale. By Catharine Maria Sedgwick. New York: Oxford University Press, 1995.
Newland Archer seemed like the typical wealthy New York bachelor. He took part in all of the proper etiquette that was expected of him. He made a limited number of visits to Europe, dined with the finest people, dated the prettiest girl and attended the newest operas. Underneath this exterior lived the heart of an adventurer, a radical. Inside Newland knew that the life he was required to lead was boring; he knew that the view his society had of women was oppressive. Newland rarely let these opinions out into the open, hiding them from the scrutinizing eyes of old New York.
Both Newland and Winterbourne are rich, proud men who have been involved in affairs. But yet, we perceive them both in a positive light. We see Winterbourne as a man carried along for an exciting journey through his affection for Daisy, and Archer as the finest gentlemen torn between two women. The attitude that is allowed by the authors suggests that men are permitted affairs, while women require the protection of the men that might betray them. High society, at the time, was polite, charming, and secret. No one spoke ill of another publicly, though each and every member of society was allowed, and seemingly encouraged, to make their own assumptions.
Johnson, Claudia L. “’Not at All What a Man Should Be!’: Remaking English Manhood in Emma.” Equivocal Beings: Politics, Gender, and Sentimentality in the 1790s. Chicago: U of Chicago P, 1995. 191-203.
The poetry written by Thomas Stearns Eliot, Portrait of a Lady has a strong connection with the novel by Henry James. Both deal with almost the same issues. In the poem Eliot talks about how a person will live his or her life during the 19th century. How they would always do exactly what was considered right during that era in society.
Hunt, Margaret R. The Middling Sort: Commerce, Gender, and Family in England, 1680-1780. London: University of California Press, 1996
Lauter, Paul. The Heath Anthology of American Literature Fifth Edition Volume B Early Nineteenth Century: 1800-1865 2006
It is the aim of this piece to consider how two elements are developed in the opening chapters of three classic novels written by 19th century English women: Emma, Wuthering Heights, and Jane Eyre, respectively. The elements to be considered are a) character; and b) character relationships. Consideration will be given to see how each opening chapter develops these two aspects, and the various approaches will be compared and contrasted as well.
Haralson, Eric L and Kendall Johnson. Critical companion to Henry James. New York: Facts on File, 2009. Print.
Agress, Lynne. The Feminine Irony: Women on Women in Early-Nineteenth-Century English Literature. London: Associated UP, 1978.
The narrator of Henry James’ Daisy Miller contributes to the novella’s realism, as defined by James himself in his essay “The Art of Fiction,” by creating a narrator who acts as an observer to the events described in the story rather than an omniscient narrator who informs the reader of the thoughts of the characters. Rather than focusing on the internal workings of the character’s minds, James focuses on the external details which offers the reader a realistic perspective of the characters and leaves moral judgment to the readers.
Ellis, Sarah Stickney. “The Women of England: Their Social Duties and Domestic Habits.” The Longman