The Development Of Henry James's International Theme

Henry James, a prominent novelist and literary critic at the turn of the twentieth century, distinguishes himself in the world literature for his role in bridging the Atlantic in a fictional universe. Considered as "the first writer of any stature to make the international scene a major matter in fiction", (Powers, 1970: 1) Henry James devotes his whole life to the exploration of the "international theme", that is, the encounter of the Old World and the New at each side of the Atlantic in culture and morality. This thesis concentrates on the study of James's development of the subject. According to James, America represents moral honesty but cultural naivete while Europe is the symbol of civilization but also of corruption. He sets out both their strong and weak points "for balance and contrast and mutual criticism", (Thorp & Spiller, 1953: 1056) and concludes in his early works that the two worlds with distinct cultures and morals are incompatible. However, with the development of his artistic vision and accumulation of his experience, the cultural contrast between nations tends to wear thin and James soon transcends it by realizing that underneath the surface of national differences lies the universal of human nature that claims more attention. Consequently, he develops his fictional universe from the restricted American-European theme to an exploration of profound and universal human questions in his later literary endeavors. The evolution of the "international theme" not only testifies James's lasting sensitivity and broadening world outlook, but also reflects his optimistic prophecy of a world fusion in a highly civilized form and his firm faith in a brighter future for the human society, which is exactly what the people in the whole world are striving for today.This thesis comprises four chapters. Chapter One suggests that James's "international theme" has undergone a development from the limited focus on the cultural contrast to the broader concern for human nature. Chapter Two offers an analysis of cultural clash represented in Daisy Miller, the highlight of James's early international works. Chapter Three makes a study of the universal human nature James attempts to explore in his later international novels with The Golden Bowl as an exemplar. And the last chapter explores the sources of the development of James's"international theme" and emphasizes its significance.