Movies - The Portrait of a Lady

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The Portrait of a Lady is a novel by Henry James, first published as a serial in The Atlantic Monthly and Macmillan's Magazine in 1880-1881 and then as a book in 1881. It is the story of a spirited young American woman, Isabel Archer, who "affronts her destiny" and finds it overwhelming. She inherits a large amount of money and subsequently becomes the victim of Machiavellian scheming by two American expatriates. Like many of James' novels, it is set mostly in Europe, notably England and Italy. Generally regarded as the masterpiece of his early phase of writing, this novel reflects James's absorbing interest in the differences between the New World and the Old. It also treats in a profound way the themes of personal freedom, responsibility, betrayal and sexuality.

Plot summary

Isabel Archer, originally from Albany, visits her rich uncle Daniel Touchett at his estate near London. There she meets her cousin Ralph Touchett, a friendly invalid, and the Touchetts' robust neighbor, Lord Warburton. Isabel later declines Warburton's sudden proposal of marriage. The elder Touchett eventually dies and leaves much of his estate to Isabel after Ralph had urged him to make this bequest.

With her legacy Isabel travels through the Continent and meets an American expatriate, Gilbert Osmond, in Florence. Although Isabel had previously rejected both Warburton and American businessman Caspar Goodwood, she accepts Osmond's marriage proposal. Isabel is unaware that the marriage was actively promoted by the accomplished but untrustworthy Madame Merle, another American expatriate who Isabel had met at the Touchetts' estate.

Isabel and Osmond settle in Rome, and the marriage rapidly sours due to Osmond's overwhelming egotism and lack of genuine affection. Isabel grows fond of Pansy, Osmond's daughter presumably by his first marriage, and wants to grant her wish to marry Ned Rosier, a young art collector. The snobbish Osmond would rather Pansy accept Warburton's gauche proposal of marriage (after he had previously proposed to Isabel).

This leads to even more strain on Isabel's marriage. She learns that Ralph is dying at his estate in England, and prepares to go to him for his final hours. Osmond selfishly opposes her plans to visit Ralph. Meanwhile, Isabel learns from her sister-in-law that Pansy is really the daughter of Madame Merle, who had an adulterous relationship with Osmond for several years.

Isabel confronts Madame Merle, then leaves to comfort the dying Ralph in England, where she remains until his death. Goodwood encounters her at Ralph's estate and begs her to leave Osmond and come away with him. He passionately embraces and kisses her, but Isabel will not consent to his demands. She returns to Osmond in Rome.

Major themes

James' first idea for The Portrait of a Lady was simplicity itself: a young American woman confronting her destiny, whatever it might be. Only then did he begin to form a plot to bring out the character of his central figure. Ironically, that plot became an uncompromising story of the free-spirited Isabel losing her freedom - despite (or because of) suddenly coming into a great deal of money - and getting "ground in the very mill of the conventional." The theme of freedom vs. responsibility runs throughout The Portrait and helps explain Isabel's final decision to return to Osmond.

But that decision is affected by another major theme of the novel: Isabel's sexual fears and diffidence. Although she is eventually shown as capable of deep arousal, she rejects Warburton and Goodwood, two very strong and masculine suitors, in favor of the seemingly less threatening and hopelessly cold Osmond. Although the conventions of 19th century Anglo-American fiction prevented a completely frank treatment of this part of Isabel's character, James still makes it clear that her fate was at least partially shaped by her uneasiness with passionate commitment.

The richness of The Portrait is hardly exhausted by a review of Isabel's character. The novel exhibits a huge panorama of trans-Atlantic life, a far larger canvas than any James had previously painted. This moneyed world appears charming and leisurely but proves to be plagued with treachery, deceit and suffering. It is only through disappointment and loss, James seems to say, that one can grow to complete maturity.

Critical evaluation

With the inevitable exceptions, The Portrait of a Lady has been the subject of critical acclaim since its first publication in the pages of The Atlantic Monthly, and it remains the most popular of James' longer fictions. Contemporary critics recognized that James had pushed the analysis of human consciousness and motivation to new levels, particularly in such passages as the famous Chapter 42, where Isabel meditates deep into the night about her marriage and the trap she seems to have fallen into. James justly celebrated this brilliant and moving account of Isabel's deepest terrors in his preface to the New York Edition version of the novel.

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Movies - The Portrait of a Lady

Plot summary

Major themes

Critical evaluation

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