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Major themes The Portrait of a Lady
James's first idea for The Portrait of a Lady was simple: 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.This was the 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”.[3] It is a rather existentialist novel, as Isabel is very committed to living with the consequences of her choice with integrity but also a sort of stubbornne.The richne 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.The Portrait of a Lady Chapter 6 Summary Finally, we get a detailed glimpse of young Mi Archer.Isabel thinks quite highly of herself – actually, everyone thinks quite highly of her.She’s intelligent, creative, and, most certainly, in the words of Lord Warburton, an interesting woman.Her pride is one of her distinguishing characteristics – though it can come off as arrogance sometimes, she is the first to admit when she’s made a mistake.Her greatest desire is to perfect herself. Isabel’s best friend is Henrietta Stackpole, another independent, intelligent, and apparently quite interesting young woman.Henrietta is some kind of intrepid girl-reporter, and supports her sister’s young children with her earnings. Isabel, like Henrietta, considers independence very important, and thinks that women should be able to live without men.She vaguely wonders about marriage, but has never been in love.
Isabel reminds Mr.Touchett a little of the young Mrs.Touchett.Newly planted in English soil, Isabel is very curious to know about the country and its people.She asks Mr.Touchett if England really is how it’s depicted in books. Mr.Touchett says that anything he’s learned he’s learned by observation and
participation, not from second-hand sources.The amiable pair discues the role of the American in England, undefined by social cla. Mr.Touchett says that English people are very “inconsistent,” which pleases
Isabel, since she herself is unpredictable, too.The Portrait of a Lady Chapter 7 Summary As interested as Isabel is in English society, she has seen very little of it.Mrs.Touchett has few contacts in the neighborhood, and Mr.Touchett and Ralph are accustomed to keeping to themselves.Lord Warburton is the lone exception. Mrs.Touchett is too funny – she doesn’t visit anyone in the neighborhood herself,but she does love it when people visit her and leave their calling cards.Isabel asks her aunt what her national identity is.She claims that her point of view is distinctly American, but Mrs.Touchett’s is neither American nor English.Mrs.Touchett responds that her point of view is personal and not aigned to a nation.Isabel sees the sense in this.
Isabel aligns herself so much as an American that Ralph jokingly draws a picture
of her as Columbia(a symbol of America represented as a beautiful woman – for you film buffs out there, she’s the logo of Columbia Pictures)wrapped up in the American flag. Isabel doubts that Ralph really cares about anything, since he jokes so much and
criticizes most things.Ralph says that he cares about her alone.It turns out that he’s not completely joking about this.Ralph has worried ever since Mr.Touchett’s gout has gotten worse.He cannot bear the thought of living without his father, and has been paranoid ever since.Isabel’s presence, however, is a bright spot in his life.
Ralph has decided, however, that he doesn’t have the hots for Isabel.He just
thinks she’s fascinating and enjoys spending time with her.He compares her arrival to the surprise delivery of a precious Titian painting in the mail. Ralph is Isabel’s tour guide, especially since neither of his parents take on the
role(Mr.Touchett can’t, Mrs.Touchett won’t).They go by horse and boat through the local countryside, with Isabel taking the reins, literally and figuratively, on their adventures. One day, upon their return, they find Lord Warburton chatting with Mrs.Touchett
in the garden.Isabel had decided, upon first meeting Lord Warburton, that she liked him.Who wouldn’t? He’s a generally great guy, as far as all of us can tell.
Lord Warburton stays overnight at Gardencourt for a couple of days, clearly lured
in by Isabel’s company.One night, Ralph, Isabel, Lord Warburton and Mrs.Touchett are in the drawing room.Mrs.Touchett gets up to retire for the night and expects Isabel to follow her.Isabel says she would rather not, since she’s having such fun with the guys.Mrs.Touchett puts on a martyr act and says she’ll stay up too, if she must.Isabel,confused, doesn’t get what her aunt means by all of this.They have a little spat – Mrs.Touchett reminds Isabel that she’s not in Albany anymore.Isabel gives in and says she’ll go to bed.
Mrs.Touchett explains to Isabel that, in England, proper ladies are not supposed
to stay up at night alone with men.This is news to Isabel, and she asks that her aunt always tell her of different social standards she might not know about. Mrs.Touchett asks Isabel if she only wants to know about the rules just so she
can rebel against them.Isabel coolly says that she would like to choose whether to obey or not.
