The Analysis Of Isabel's Pursuit Of Freedom In The Portrait Of A Lady From The Perspective Of Erich Fromm's Theory

This thesis intends to analyze Isabel's pursuit of freedom in The Portrait of a Lady from the perspective of Erich Fromm's theory.As is elaborated by Fromm,many of us misunderstand the essence of freedom.The status of being free in economical and political sense doesn't mean we are free,because removing external impediments can only bring us negative freedom.The ultimate form of freedom is positive freedom where we can live spontaneously as a complete individual closely connected to this world.In the first chapter,I will explicate Isabel's fallacious concept of individual freedom as a well-educated but inexperienced girl,who at first dismisses marriage as something that can stymie her pursuit of independence and evades intimacy with others to preserve her individuality.How her inexperience has led to her wrong choices will be also scrutinized.In the second chapter,Isabel's behaviors of escaping from freedom will be closely elaborated.Her pursuit of negative freedom has smashed her hope of living as a free soul,leading her into a loveless marriage of plots.The absence of marital felicity aggravates her situation of loneliness and she gradually adapts to the depressive reality.The third chapter elucidates how Isabel's understanding of freedom undergoes substantial changes after she is informed of the dual betrayal of her husband and her confidante Madame Merle.Instead of wallowing in despondency,she takes her responsibility and affronts her destiny with the faith of creating her new kingdom of freedom.Her courageous attempts attest to her pursuit of positive freedom after all the suffering and adversity.This freedom transcends the social values and conventional standards,and instills in an individual the confidence of following one's heart and act spontaneously but not arbitrarily.Isabel's journey of freedom illustrates how an individual experiences the painful growth and finally attains self-realization as a free soul,but her indomitable will of pursuing freedom and finding self is of great significance.