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MonkeyNotes-Portrait of a Lady by Henry James
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Notes
This early chapter in which Isabel establishes a rapport with
Ralph Touchett is also very important in the overall scheme of
the novel. Ralph takes note of IsabelÂ’s dominant characteristics
at this point in her life. He notices that she "doesnÂ’t take
suggestions well" but wants to do things in her own way. He
isnÂ’t irritated by this fact, but finds it pleasurable to be opposed
by her. He also notices that Isabel has a natural eye for art as they
walk through his portrait gallery. In their conversation, Isabel
reveals that she is very sociable. She speaks directly about the
people in her life. She is also perceptive about Ralph. It seems
that Ralph might have tried to hide behind his wittiness, but
Isabel recognizes him despite this. She tells Ralph that he wants
people to like him and that he tries to make them do so.
She also shows her innocence. This is brought out in her desire to
see a ghost. She thinks of this as a romantic and whimsical idea.
She is in an ancient English mansion and wants to see a ghost on
her first night there. Ralph, however, cannot join in her
amusement. As a man who is slowly dying of tuberculosis, his
idea of ghosts is quite different from IsabelÂ’s. He tells her this
ghost "has never been seen by a young, happy, innocent person
like you. You must have suffered first, have suffered greatly,
have gained some miserable knowledge. In that way your eyes
are opened to it. I saw it long ago." Henry James notes in the
preface to this edition of The Portrait that he chose to bring out
the characteristics of Isabel Archer by the use of satellite
characters like Ralph Touchett. By way of contrast, he shows up
the freshness of Isabel on her first night in Gardencourt. He will
use this same technique of contrast later in the novel when she
does see the ghost. At this point, Isabel is presumptuous enough
to say she is not afraid of the kind of knowledge he speaks of.
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