Week 1 — Chapters 1-6

[Susan]

The novel begins on a summer afternoon on the lawn at Gardencourt, the English country house of Mr Touchett, a retired banker. Mr Touchett and his son Ralph are both Americans by birth who have lived much of their lives in England. Lord Warburton, an English friend and neighbor, is visiting for tea.

Ralph and Mr. Touchett are expecting a visit (date unknown) from Mrs Touchett, who lives a separate life from her husband and son, mostly in Italy. She is bringing her niece from Albany, New York, who they have never met. Enter Isabel Archer.

In these introductory chapters, James provides a plethora of details and background about the Touchett family, Isabel, and other characters. Regarding Isabel, Lord Warburton remarks to Ralph Touchett: “You wished a while ago to see my idea of an interesting woman. There it is!” Mrs Touchett tells Ralph: “It occurred to me that it would be a kindness to take her about and introduce her to the world. She thinks she knows a great deal of it – – like most American girls; but like most American girls she’s ridiculously mistaken.” What details regarding Isabel stand out for you?

There are a number of interchanges where characters misunderstand a situation or remark. One example is Isabel’s initial delay going to meet Mr Touchett, where Ralph thinks “She remained standing where they had met, making no offer to advance or to speak to Mr. Touchett, and while she lingered so near the threshold, slim and charming, her interlocutor wondered if she expected the old man to come and pay her his respects. American girls were used to a great deal of deference, and it had been intimated that this one had a high spirit. Indeed, Ralph could see that in her face.” What do these misunderstandings reveal?

Has anything surprised you so far?

[Lily]

Susan wrote: "What do these misunderstandings reveal?..."

James' sensitive understandings of the nuances (of society? of ?) between Europe and the United States, especially at the point in time in which he was living.

Who would we liken him to in today's world? His articulate, well educated, forceful family spanned the two continents -- and had its own set of cultural, albeit sophisticated, boundaries.

[Chris]

I was thinking that I hadn't read any James before but then remembered that I read Daisy Miller, that as I recall I thought was quite boring, but I am enjoying this one thus far. I like the slowly peeling away of Isabel's life to understand what makes her tick. It makes me eager to see what change ensues as she moves from her sheltered life but with definite ideas and great curiosity, and now under the auspices of Mrs. Touchett, who herself is quite the character. I loved Isabel's response to Mrs. Touchett Do everything you tell me? I don't think I can promise that.
I knew that in many marriages of the time that a husband and wife led separate lives, but to actually live in two separate countries for a large part of the year is new to me. Very interesting.
I also appreciated the beginnings of the character development of the other players and the hints at the differences in behavior and manners between the English and Americans.

[Thomas]

Is there anything distinctively American about the Touchetts or Isabel? Mostly what I see are wealthy upper class Americans mingling with wealthy upper class English nobility. Their personalities are certainly distinct, but I'm not seeing much distinction in terms of culture. What am I missing?

[Susan]

Lily wrote: "Susan wrote: "What do these misunderstandings reveal?..."

James' sensitive understandings of the nuances (of society? of ?) between Europe and the United States, especially at the point in time in..."

Encounters between European and American society and their differences is definitely one of James’ frequent themes, and something to keep an eye out for as the story continues. I’d suggest the episode of Isabel’s initial delay going to meet Mr Touchett also reveals something of the characters involved. Perhaps, Ralph shows an ability to act as an interpreter between American and English customs, and Isabel has accepted what she was told about Mr Touchett by her aunt without much thought. Of course, the whole episode is set off by Mrs Touchett’s unconventionality/eccentricity in immediately going to her room and leaving Isabel to introduce herself when they arrive.

[Susan]

Chris wrote: " I like the slowly peeling away of Isabel's life to understand what makes her tick. It makes me eager to see what change ensues as she moves from her sheltered life but with definite ideas and great curiosity, and now under the auspices of Mrs. Touchett, who herself is quite the character. I loved Isabel's response to Mrs. Touchett Do everything you tell me? I don't think I can promise that...."

The way James reveals Isabel’s character with details, descriptions, and conversations reminds me of a painter adding one little stroke after another to a canvas until a portrait starts to take shape.

Mrs Touchett is a hoot. I’d forgotten James can be funny, but Ralph’s recounting of her elliptical, brief telegrams is a good example. She chiefly communicates with us by means of telegrams, and her telegrams are rather inscrutable. They say women don't know how to write them, but my mother has thoroughly mastered the art of condensation. "Tired America, hot weather awful, return England with niece, first steamer decent cabin." That's the sort of message we get from her-that was the last that came.”. There also may be a family resemblance between Mrs Touchett and Isabel in their love of personal independence.

[Susan]

Thomas wrote: "Is there anything distinctively American about the Touchetts or Isabel? Mostly what I see are wealthy upper class Americans mingling with wealthy upper class English nobility. Their personalities a..."

There should be more contrast between American and European characters as we read on, since these chapters focus on Americans and Americans who have lived in England for a long time. I think one example of a difference is both Isabel and Mrs Touchett’s directness of speech and the value they place on independence.

These chapters do give some of Mr Touchett’s thoughts on the differences between American and English girls as demonstrated in Isabel:
“Like the mass of American girls Isabel had been encouraged to express herself; her remarks had been attended to; she had been expected to have emotions and opinions. Many of her opinions had doubtless but a slender value, many of her emotions passed away in the utterance; but they had left a trace in giving her the habit of seeming at least to feel and think, and in imparting moreover to her words when she was really moved that prompt vividness which so many people had regarded as a sign of superiority.”

And Mr Touchett and Isabel also talk about cultural and class differences:
“’ 'Gracious’, Isabel exclaimed; 'how many classes have they? About fifty, I suppose?'
'Well, I don't know that I ever counted them. I never took much notice of the classes. That's the advantage of being an American here; you don't belong to any class.'
'I hope so,’ said Isabel. ‘Imagine one's belonging to an English class!'

[Susan]

Isabel is moving in wealthy circles, but she and her sisters are not wealthy. We are told that her father squandered his fortune. She will receive a third of the proceeds from the sale of her grandmother’s house, which is a long way from the wealth of Gardencourt.

In fact, Mrs Touchett tells Ralph that she is paying Isabel’s expenses for this European trip unknown to Isabel. She says:
“ Isabel herself seemed very glad to come, and the thing was easily arranged. There was a little difficulty about the money-question, as she seemed averse to being under pecuniary obligations. But she has a small income and she supposes herself to be travelling at her own expense."

[Susan]

Susanna wrote: ".. Yes, I think I was confusing The Portrait of a Lady with Daisy Miller.."

I hope you’re not disappointed ;). Although it wasn’t written that long after “Daisy Miller” (1878), “The Portrait of a Lady”(1881) is a much more ambitious and complex work.

Incidentally, the names of James’ characters often are revealing. Mrs Touchett is not a warm and cuddly character. Isabel Archer is aiming for something, and so on.

[Chris]

Susan wrote: Incidentally, the names of James’ characters often are revealing. Mrs Touchett is not a warm and cuddly character. Isabel Archer is aiming for something, and so on.

Ah, just like Dickens!

[Susan]

Chris wrote: "Susan wrote: Incidentally, the names of James’ characters often are revealing. Mrs Touchett is not a warm and cuddly character. Isabel Archer is aiming for something, and so on.

Ah, just like Dickens!”

Yes, very similar.

Some of James’ names fit the character but don’t seem to have a meaning, at least that I can see — for example, Henrietta Stackpole, Isabel’s friend the journalist.

[Susan]

Has anything surprised you so far? Yes, reading these introductory chapters I had an overall impression of Isabel’s youth, spirits, and good health as well as her naïveté and idealistic ideas. I felt the energy and interest her lively presence must have brought into the quiet home of old Mr Touchett and the invalided and perhaps disappointed Ralph Touchett, and was surprised by the contrast. I also have a sense that Isabel lives more in a world of ideas and concepts or at least, she does not quite see or realize the less-than-ideal real world situations all around her — her father’s faults, the unhappy Touchett marriage, etc. She’s young, and life has not lost its shine for her as she looks forward, which contrasts with Ralph’s situation, as he is still young but restricted to a quiet and limited life by his ill health.

[La_mariane]

I'm late joining the reading of "Portrait of a Lady", I just picked up my book, and I feel I need to comment on the fist sentence of the book. It's so amazing! Something inconsequential and fun. I feel those words could have been said by Bilbo Baggins!

[Susan]

La_mariane wrote: "I'm late joining the reading of "Portrait of a Lady", I just picked up my book, and I feel I need to comment on the fist sentence of the book. It's so amazing! Something inconsequential and fun. I ..."

Welcome to the discussion! It’s a great opening line, isn’t it? And a rather idyllic scene, even if James begins with the caveat “under certain circumstances”.

[La_mariane]

Susan wrote: "La_mariane wrote: "I'm late joining the reading of "Portrait of a Lady", I just picked up my book, and I feel I need to comment on the fist sentence of the book. It's so amazing! Something inconseq..."

Exactly! And I feel it conveys the message "Don't take me/the story too seriously". Most of the characters seem to think quite highly of themselves, and the narrator pokes a bit of fun at them. And I can't think as highly of them when the opening line is about eating a collation in the afternoon.

I was set to dislike Isabel (I found her a bit rude in the 2nd chapter, and she seemed a bit full of herself), but we get such a nuanced view of everyone that I feel I like all of them. Now that I've read the first 6 chapters, Isabel just seems young and naive.

And I really like Ralph Touchett so far. The passage about his father (how he hope he'll die at the same time as his father) is a bit alarming, but it shows his loneliness, and the pain he goes through.

And his mother is quite a law unto herself... I was entertaining myself during my commute from work today by imagining a conversation between Mrs Touchett and Mrs Bennett (the one from Pride and Prejudice) : not quite the same time period, I know, but the clash of those two characters is funny to imagine.

[Susan]

La_mariane wrote: "Susan wrote: "La_mariane wrote: "I'm late joining the reading of "Portrait of a Lady", I just picked up my book, and I feel I need to comment on the fist sentence of the book. It's so amazing! Some..."

Great point about the humor. And your picture of Mrs Touchett and Mrs Bennett conversing cracked me up. One similarity I think is that Mrs Touchett like Mrs Bennett but for different reasons is probably not the best guide for a young woman launching herself into society and making important decisions about her future..

[Lily]

Susan wrote: "Mrs Touchett like Mrs Bennett but for different reasons is probably not the best guide for a young woman launching herself into society and making important decisions about her future ..."

As I move into the book, as one reading from today's world, were useful "role models" available to Isabel -- and, if so, who would I suggest and why. So far, I'm not sure they exist? (Perhaps characteristics to be picked from here and there -- Mrs. Touchett's boldness and discretion? Henrietta Stackpole's challenges to old assumptions? The nuns? Even the esthetic disciplines of Madame Merle...

(No art museum docent, no head librarian, no lead professor of a university department, .... But what was Mrs. Touchett's group?)

(I don't get any sense Isabel looks to any man as a role model for herself. Did that historically come later than when James is writing?)

Incidentally, don't know if it is relevant to James' naming techniques, but a stackpole is "a pole or pillar, often monumental."

[Lily]

@13Susan wrote: "Has anything surprised you so far? ..."

Susan -- This afternoon, I've been going back over our notes and comments so far. This summary felt particularly useful. Thanks.

(The more I re-read, the more I ask myself if I'll ever make the effort to read the 1881 edition. Would it be like reading a second edition of, say, Oedipus, by quite different translator, perhaps one who could foresee the perspective he/she wanted to place on a core story? This would be the lapse of only about a quarter of a century.)