Satire In The Americans

In "The Europeans", the Americans (symbolized by the Wentworths) are Puritans who abide by strict Puritan rules, which promote the Puritan way of life. The Europeans, on the other hand (symbolized by Eugenia and Felix), are not Puritans but are sophisticated, opportunistic, and sometimes lax in their way of life. This sometimes causes confusion and conflict when their lives are enmeshed. But it also sometimes brings about an understanding, respect, tolerance and appreciation of one another 's beliefs, values, cultures and opinions.

In the American culture, James appreciated the 'good ', which we associate with the moral earnestness of the Puritans; in the older European culture he admired the life lived, not in terms of moral ideas, but of
James is not 'taking sides '. The author is able to direct gentle satire at European sophistication as well at the 'stiffness ' of the Americans. The European characters Eugenia and Felix embody a highly refined form of opportunism. They become involved with a group of Americans who embody the more conservative quality of discipline. The opposition between opportunism and discipline is a central idea that gives the novel its dramatic unity. The terms of this opposition are presented in a conversation between Felix and Gertrude (James,
Acton has what James calls "a natural shrewdness" which causes him to question Eugenia 's motives in coming to Boston. He is by no means an innocent, artless, American Puritan. He is a well balanced character and is sincere. This is evident when he decides to dismiss his suspicions about Eugenia and succumbs to her charm (James, 1995:121). Eugenia 's reply to Acton 's Niagara proposal sounds like a brush off. She does not elicit our sympathy, because her European sophistication prevents her from responding naturally and sincerely. In the final chapter of the book, Acton discovers that Eugenia has been encouraging Clifford and because of this, becomes less susceptible to her charms. He also suspects that she has lied to him about her 'renunciation '. In his own mind, he has already rejected Eugenia and, by means of his subtle questions, he permits her to see that he has accessed her as a mercenary husband-hunter; at the same time, by witnessing her reactions, he confirms his