HenryJames-ThePortraitofaLady(贵妇画像淑女本色).PPT

The Portrait of a Lady The Portrait of a Lady It is one of James most popular long novels, and is regarded by critics as one of his finest . With rich, well-structured, and the psychological portrait of young women , this novel was regarded as modern novel of America. Catalogue Plot summary Main Characters Theme Writing Styles Plot Summary Isabel Archer is a woman in her early twenties who comes from a genteel(上流社会的)family in Albany, New York, in the late 1860s. Her mother died when she was a young girl, and her father raised her up. Shortly after Isabel’s father dies, she visited her aunt. Plot Summary Isabel travels to Florence with Mrs. Touchett and Madame Merle; Merle introduces Isabel to a man named Gilbert Osmond, a man of no social standing or wealth, but whom Merle describes as one of the finest gentlemen in Europe, wholly devoted to art and aesthetics. Plot Summary Merle is attempting to manipulate Isabel into marrying Osmond so that he will have access to her fortune. Osmond is pleased to marry Isabel, not only for her money, but also because she makes a fine addiction to his collection of art objects. After many good offers of marriage, she chooses the wrong man. Plot Summary The most important part of the book is where she realizes her mistake. After Ralph’s death, Isabel struggles to decide whether to return to her husband or not. Her independent spirit urges her to flee from Osmond and find happiness elsewhere. Caspar Goodwood appears at the funeral, and afterwards, he asks Isabel to run away with him and forget about her husband. The next day, Isabel returned to Rome, unable to break away from her marriage to Gilbert Osmond. Main Characters MR. TOUCHETT, an American who has lived in England for many years, head of a banking house inLondon. MRS. TOUCHETT, his wife. RALPH TOUCHETT, his son. Main Characters ISABEL ARCHER, “The Lady,” niece of Mrs. Touchett. MADAM MERLE, friend of Mrs. Touchett. GILBERT OSMOND, an American gentleman living