Henry James-The Portrait of a Lady(贵妇画像 淑女本色)

.,ThePortraitofaLady,.,ThePortraitofaLady,ItisoneofJamesmostpopularlongnovels,andisregardedbycriticsasoneofhisfinest.Withrich,well-structured,andthepsychologicalportraitofyoungwomen,thisnovelwasregardedasmodernnovelofAmerica.,.,Catalogue,Plotsummary,MainCharacters,Theme,WritingStyles,.,PlotSummary,IsabelArcherisawomaninherearlytwentieswhocomesfromagenteel(上流社会的)familyinAlbany,NewYork,inthelate1860s.Hermotherdiedwhenshewasayounggirl,andherfatherraisedherup.ShortlyafterIsabelsfatherdies,shevisitedheraunt.,.,PlotSummary,IsabeltravelstoFlorencewithMrs.TouchettandMadameMerle;MerleintroducesIsabeltoamannamedGilbertOsmond,amanofnosocialstandingorwealth,butwhomMerledescribesasoneofthefinestgentlemeninEurope,whollydevotedtoartandaesthetics.,.,PlotSummary,MerleisattemptingtomanipulateIsabelintomarryingOsmondsothathewillhaveaccesstoherfortune.OsmondispleasedtomarryIsabel,notonlyforhermoney,butalsobecauseshemakesafineaddictiontohiscollectionofartobjects.Aftermanygoodoffersofmarriage,shechoosesthewrongman.,.,PlotSummary,Themostimportantpartofthebookiswheresherealizeshermistake.AfterRalphsdeath,Isabelstrugglestodecidewhethertoreturntoherhusbandornot.HerindependentspiriturgeshertofleefromOsmondandfindhappinesselsewhere.CasparGoodwoodappearsatthefuneral,andafterwards,heasksIsabeltorunawaywithhimandforgetaboutherhusband.Thenextday,IsabelreturnedtoRome,unabletobreakawayfromhermarriagetoGilbertOsmond.,.,MainCharacters,MR.TOUCHETT,anAmericanwhohaslivedinEnglandformanyyears,headofabankinghouseinLondon.MRS.TOUCHETT,hiswife.RALPHTOUCHETT,hisson.,.,MainCharacters,ISABELARCHER,“TheLady,”nieceofMrs.Touchett.MADAMMERLE,friendofMrs.Touchett.GILBERTOSMOND,anAmericangentlemanlivinginretirementinFlorence.PANSYOSMOND,hisdaughter.,.,MainCharacters,Beingyounganddesirable,likemostofJamessheroinesshegetsmuchofhereducationfrombeinglovedbythetooaggressiveBostonianCasparGoodwood,bythehealthy,manlyLordWarburton,byhercousinRalphTouchett,andbythedilettante艺术爱好者GilbertOsmond.,.,MainCharacters,ISABELARCHERThenovelsprotagonist.IsabelsexperiencesinEuropesheiswooedbyanEnglishlord,inheritsafortune,andfallspreytoavillainousschemetomarryhertothesinisterGilbertOsmondforcehertoconfronttheconflictbetweenherdesireforpersonalindependenceandhercommitmenttosocialpropriety.IsabelisthemainfocusofThePortraitofaLady,andmostofthethematicexplorationofthenoveloccursthroughheractions,thoughts,andexperiences.Ultimately,IsabelchoosestoremaininhermiserablemarriagetoOsmondratherthantoviolatecustombyleavinghimandsearchingforahappierlife.,.,MainCharacters,GILBERTOSMOND“nocareer，noname，noposition，nofortune，nopast,nofuture，noanything.”Acruel,narcissisticgentlemanofnoparticularsocialstandingorwealth,whoseducesIsabelandmarriesherforhermoney.Anartcollector,Osmondposesasadisinterestedaesthete,butinrealityheisdesperatefortherecognitionandadmirationofthosearoundhim.Hetreatseveryonewholoveshimassimplyanobjecttobeusedtofulfillhisdesires;hebaseshisdaughterPansysupbringingontheideathatsheshouldbeunswervinglysubservienttohim,andheeventreatshislongtimeloverMadameMerleasameretool.,.,MainCharacters,RalphTouchett-Isabelswise,funnycousin,whoisillwithlungdiseasethroughouttheentirenovel,whichendsshortlyafterhisdeath.Ralphloveslife,butheiskeptfromparticipatinginitvigorouslybyhisailment;asaresult,heactsasadedicatedspectator,resolvingtolivethroughhisbelovedcousinIsabel.RalphservesasthemoralcenterofPortraitofaLady:hisopinionsaboutothercharactersarealwaysaccurate.,.,Theme,IndividualLibertyvs.therestrictionofsocialconventionsFreeAmericanvs.Europeansociety,.,TheInternationalTheme,ThemeetingofAmericaandEurope,AmericaninnocenceincontractandcontrastEuropeandecadence,anditsmoralandpsychologicalcomplications.,.,WritingStyles,Pointofviewofacharacter:IsabelArchersconsciousnessandperceptionpromotetheplot.这部小说中作者第一次冲破了传统小说的写作方式，以女主人公伊莎贝尔阿切尔为意识中心，将各种不同的观点集于一身，以她的视角去体验现实生活、感悟人生的真谛。作者精微细致地描绘了伊莎贝尔对周围环境与人物的各种内心感受与心理变化，使外部世界通过人物的内心活动得到充分表现，使故事情节在人物的内心活动中自然展开，从伊莎贝尔的人生经历中读者看到她自由独立的性格。,.,Psychologicalrealism:“Thehouseoffictionhasnotonewindowbutamillion”andateachofthesewindowshangingoverthehumanscene“standsafigurewithapairofeyes.Heandhisneighborsarewatchingthes