An Analysis Of Isabel Archer's View Of Freedom In Henry James's The Portrait Of A Lady

Isabel Archer, the heroine of The Portrait of a Lady, a brilliant female figure in the world's literary gallery, has aroused interest of critics and the public ever since the novel's publication. It seems that Henry James aims at portraying a "new woman": Isabel Archer who is frequently labeled as an independent lady.The thesis focuses on the analysis of Isabel Archer's view of freedom in order to illustrate the root of her failure in the fulfillment of her view of freedom. By exploring her ideas about freedom of choice and freedom of consciousness, some paradoxes in her view of freedom are demonstrated. Furthermore, the thesis analyzes several fatal flaws in Isabel's personality: caprice, egotism, innocence and ignorance, and analyzes her blind worship of European civilization and the influence from other four main characters. A conclusion is drawn that her failure in the fulfillment of her view of freedom contributes to the fact that she has learned to perceive the world as it really is and to face up to the harshness of her life. In the end she grows into a mature and graceful lady.