Portrait of a Lady
Examine the treatment of the theme “marital relations” in The Portrait of a Lady
The Portrait of a Lady is considered as Henry James’ masterpiece. The story revolves around Isabel Archer. She is a young American who meets up her destiny. She values her freedom. She does not want to get married because she thinks that marriage will suppress her independence.
James handles the theme of how a young protagonist attains maturation. The Portrait of a Lady relates us how Isabel grows up to explore the world by herself. When the novel opens, Isabel is introduced as “a young person of many theories; her imagination was remarkably well.” James often calls her “our heroine”. Thus, his personification helps to build up a healthy rapport between the protagonist and the reader.
The Portrait of a lady is a realistic novel. At the same time we find a ‘stylized’ form of a narrative as James borrows from fairy tales, folk tales and legends. The heart of the novel is where Isabel has to choose from a series of suitors. She encounters a tragedy when she chooses the wrong man in her life and then she has to enter into a miserable life.
James draws comparisons of Isabel to the ‘Christian Fall.’ The novel opens at Gardencourt; “It stood upon a low hill....” The name, itself carries the glory and the grandeur of the house of the Touchet s’. Isabel is brought into the British English Upper-class society. It is the most stable and safest place for Isabel. It is described at a length and the reader almost feels of it as the paradise . Isabel is first introduced to us at the Gardencourt. She lives virtually by herself. She is very independent, intellectual, beautiful, and a well read charming young woman.
She is first seen through the eyes of Ralph Touchett. “Ralph looked at her for a moment; she was unexpectedly pretty.”(15) Isabel is portrayed as a woman of unearthly beauty and grace. Her state is similar to that of Eve. Like Eve, she is destined with a ‘flaw’ in her character
The Portrait of a Lady is considered as Henry James’ masterpiece. The story revolves around Isabel Archer. She is a young American who meets up her destiny. She values her freedom. She does not want to get married because she thinks that marriage will suppress her independence.
James handles the theme of how a young protagonist attains maturation. The Portrait of a Lady relates us how Isabel grows up to explore the world by herself. When the novel opens, Isabel is introduced as “a young person of many theories; her imagination was remarkably well.” James often calls her “our heroine”. Thus, his personification helps to build up a healthy rapport between the protagonist and the reader.
The Portrait of a lady is a realistic novel. At the same time we find a ‘stylized’ form of a narrative as James borrows from fairy tales, folk tales and legends. The heart of the novel is where Isabel has to choose from a series of suitors. She encounters a tragedy when she chooses the wrong man in her life and then she has to enter into a miserable life.
James draws comparisons of Isabel to the ‘Christian Fall.’ The novel opens at Gardencourt; “It stood upon a low hill....” The name, itself carries the glory and the grandeur of the house of the Touchet s’. Isabel is brought into the British English Upper-class society. It is the most stable and safest place for Isabel. It is described at a length and the reader almost feels of it as the paradise . Isabel is first introduced to us at the Gardencourt. She lives virtually by herself. She is very independent, intellectual, beautiful, and a well read charming young woman.
She is first seen through the eyes of Ralph Touchett. “Ralph looked at her for a moment; she was unexpectedly pretty.”(15) Isabel is portrayed as a woman of unearthly beauty and grace. Her state is similar to that of Eve. Like Eve, she is destined with a ‘flaw’ in her character