The Portrait of a Lady (thematic)

A detailed Summary of The Portrait of a Lady (thematic)

Arnold Kettle's argument that "The Portrait of a Lady, [by Henry James], is a novel is about destiny" is a recurring aspect of the novel. According to the dictionary, destiny means, "the predetermined or inevitable course of events considered beyond power or control of people"(dictionary). However, Isabel Archer's destiny, to be free and independent, was not out of her control. In the denouement of the novel Isabel has a chance to live her destined future. Through her final decision, although swayed by nearly inescapable circumstances, Isabel is forced to conceal her feelings of animosity towards Osmond. Isabel's destiny results in failure for various reasons: Isabel's loyalty to Osmond and Pansy, her traditional morals to be socially correct, and her weakness in making her own decisions to please herself.

Isabel's journey, to find her destiny, comes to a halt the moment she marries Osmond. Isabel tells herself that she will never marry so when she accepts Osmond's marriage proposal she is partly destroying her destiny on her own. When Isabel says, "I don't marry for my friends," she is implying that she married Osm

When Osmond tells Isabel to go visit his daughter Pansy before Isabel leaves, he knows that Isabel will grow to love Pansy (which will help in his plan to woo Isabel). Isabel feels like she can relate to Pansy; she describes her in the same way that Isabel is made to seem in the novel. "Isabel had felt it before; she would be an easy victim of fate. She would have no will, no power to resist, no sense of her own importance...She would easily be mystified, easily crushed; her force would be solely in her power to cling" (James 292). Isabel, like Pansy, always does what is told, especially when the order comes from Osmond. "Her power to cling" signifies why she becomes so close with Osmond.

"Since Jame's purpose is to render the full implications of Isabel's situation it is necessary that we should know more than Isabel" (Kettle 265). By this statement, Kettle is proposing that the reader should know why Isabel make's certain decisions even if Isabel does not know herself. Prior to her marriage with Osmond Isabel had a mind of her own and could do as she pleased. Osmond's possession over her causes her to go along

Some common words found in the essay are:
Osmond Isabel, Isabel Pansy, Isabel Archer's, Isabel Isabel, Pansy James, Henry James, Osmond Pansy, Europe James, Pansy Isabel, Isabel Kettle, osmond isabel, love pansy, isabel feels, novel isabel, socially correct, free independent, own decisions, love osmond, isabel archer's, osmond's marriage,

Approximate Word count = 762
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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The Portrait of a Lady (thematic)

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