The Portrait of a Lady

The Portrait of a Lady takes place in numerous locations: Albany, England, Paris, London, and Italy. What is the significance of these settings? What aspects of description of place recur in spite of travel?

The novel features several American-European expatriates, who vary widely in terms of their experiences and attitudes toward life abroad. How are America and Europe depicted? What social, cultural, and/or gendered tensions exist between the “new” and “old” worlds in the novel?

Compare and contrast how two or more women in the novel—e.g., Isabel, Madame Merle, Henrietta, the Countess, Pansy—respond to the gendered expectations of their society. In what ways are these women different or similar in their conceptions of femininity and a woman’s role? What do these different characters suggest about women in society in the late 19th/early 20th centuries?

The potential dangers in the gap between appearances and reality are explored in various ways throughout the text. How do the characters navigate the difficulties of knowing someone’s true character? What does Henry James suggest about the nature of appearances?

Compare the original edition of the novel with the later New York edition. What changes did James make, and what is the significance of these changes? In what ways does the second edition affect the characterization, narrative style, and/or thematic exploration of the text?

Discussions of money and coinage occur throughout Portrait. How does James characterize the positive and negative effects of wealth?

What are the defining characteristics of the relationship between Ralph and Isabel? The narrative includes insinuations about a possible romantic relationship, but they express sibling affection for each other during their final interaction. How does their relationship affect the plot and/or themes of the novel?

Descriptions of architecture are prevalent in Portrait, both in literal and figurative usages. How does James use architecture to shape characterization, tone, and/or to illustrate the novel’s key ideas?