1. What earlier scene in the novel helps explain Newman’s refusal to use his letter for revenge against the Bellegardes? 2. What does Newman learn from Mademoiselle Noemie and M. Nioche? 3. In what ways is the aristocratic Valentin similar to Newman? In what ways different? 4. If the Bellegardes […]
Read more Study Help Essay QuestionsCritical Essays Special Jamesian Problems and Interests
Central Intelligence and Point of View One of James’ contributions to the art of fiction is in his use of point of view. By point of view is meant the angle from which the story is told. For example, previous to James’ novels, much of the fiction of the day […]
Read more Critical Essays Special Jamesian Problems and InterestsCritical Essays Meaning through Social Contrasts: The American Versus the European
Henry James was the first novelist to write on the theme of the American versus the European with any degree of greatness. Almost all of his major novels may be approached as a study of the social theme of the American in Europe in which James contrasts the active life […]
Read more Critical Essays Meaning through Social Contrasts: The American Versus the EuropeanHenry James Biography
Henry James was a true cosmopolite. He was a citizen of the world, and moved freely in and out of drawing rooms in Europe, England and America. He was perhaps more at home in Europe than he was in America, but the roots of his life belong to the American […]
Read more Henry James BiographyCharacter Analysis Mrs. Tristram
Mrs. Tristram is a woman of great sensitivity and perception who has been somewhat embittered by some bitter strokes in life. She functions mainly in the novel as a confidante to Newman. Once in her youth, she had been engaged to a clever man who had spurned her. She married […]
Read more Character Analysis Mrs. TristramCharacter Analysis The Bellegardes
Madame and Urbain de Bellegarde represent the old order of the aristocracy. They are cold. They are content with their own limited circle of friends and desire no new experience and no intrusion upon their own way of life. They present, however, a formidable front to the world. We never […]
Read more Character Analysis The BellegardesCharacter Analysis Valentin de Bellegarde
Even though Valentin is a European, he does possess many of the qualities and attributes associated with the American. As seen in his duel, he is truly European. His sense of honor, his sense of form and ceremony demand that he perform the duel. Even though Newman tries logically to […]
Read more Character Analysis Valentin de BellegardeCharacter Analysis Claire de Cintre
We hear about Claire de Cintre long before we get to know her. We hear that she is beautiful but not a beauty. Mrs. Tristram thinks that she is perfect in all ways. James presents her as a representative of the aristocratic world in its best form. She is virtually […]
Read more Character Analysis Claire de CintreCharacter Analysis Christopher Newman
Our first clue in analyzing Christopher Newman lies in his name. As Columbus discovered the new world (America), now Newman makes the reverse trip. He is the new-man discovering the old world. One approach to the novel is therefore through the concept of observing the actions of a new-man placed […]
Read more Character Analysis Christopher NewmanSummary and Analysis Chapter XXVI
Summary Newman is still nursing a desire for revenge, but he does not want to be trapped in an act of revenge. He cannot escape the fact that he is the “good fellow wronged.” But more and more he begins to see that the Bellegardes are suffering because they are […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter XXVI