***Group Read: The Portrait of a Lady, Chapters 34-44

Moving right along ... here's thread #4

Related threads: General * Chapters 1-11 * Chapters 12-22 * Chapters 23-33

Reference: Sparknotes for this book. An excerpt from the analysis of Chapters 32-36:

James's elliptical technique is in full swing throughout this section; almost all of the scenes that are narrated are conversations that are peripheral to Isabel's life—and even they are almost always shown through the perspective of someone else. The important events are left out altogether, and only implied by the peripheral conversations. The reader loses touch with Isabel almost completely, and in this way James creates the sense that, by giving herself to Osmond, Isabel has been lost.

The question arises: if James leaves so much out, what can we ascertain from that which he leaves in?

Woe is me! I just read Chapter 42. I feel awful for Isabel and indeed feel that she has sold her soul to the devil. For someone who wasn't letting the reader in on what was happening in this short marriage, he let it all out in this chapter. I seem to have read it all in one breath! I may have to go back and do a slow reading to take it all in.

I'm only at chapter 38, so will come back later for discussion.

Oh Donna, I know what you mean. That chapter was gut-wrenching.

I finished the book last night. I think it was in this section that I came to dislike most of the characters in the novel realizing that the story wasn't over and that reflection often changes my mind. I have the feeling that Isabel and Osmond deserve each other.

Robert

I have to say that I found it ironic that Isabel participated in the marriage plans for Pansy after her own great longing for independence and to do things on her own terms.

I am more confused about Isabel these days. I can't wait to finish the book. :)
--BJ

Hmmm....we don't seem to have much to say about this part of the book. Perhaps that's because of all that James has left out. More time has passed -- somewhere between 3 and 4 years? -- and we learn that Gilbert and Isabel have lost a 6-month-old son (Ch. 36). Again, James throws this in as part of a conversation between Madame Merle and Mr. Rosier without any details.

Instead, he focuses on Pansy's suitors. Was anyone else surprised to see Lord Warburton seemingly smitten by the "limited" Pansy? It's not clear to me what role Isabel is going to play in Pansy's future marriage - or even whom she favors between L. Warburton and Mr. Rosier. At least these brief courtship scenes provided the means for James to backtrack and give us some information about the marriage between Isabel and Gilbert. It's still a mystery (to me) why Isabel married him. She is uncertain as well: "That was the work of--Isabel scarecely knew what: of nature of providence, of fortune, of the eternal mystery of things" (Ch. 40). Could James be any more vague than this?

We do know that the marriage created barriers in her friendships with Ralph and Henrietta, although they are both back on the scene at the end of this section. I like how Henrietta, the countess, and Mr. Goodwood (heavens, I thought we were done with him!) are all about to converge on Rome. It's almost as if they know that Isabel is going through a crisis and they need to be there. And I need to go on and finish this compelling book!

Doesn't it just seem like Isabel is not going to be happy?
--BJ

I just finished the section last night, which is why I was keeping quiet so far.

As has been pointed out, it's interesting to see how most of what we learn about Isabel is conveyed through casual conversations between the other characters, and indeed, chapter 42 was difficult, but at the same time, I couldn't find it in me to feel sorry for Isabel. After all, she chose that wretched husband when she had a solid offer from the lovely Warburton and a possibility of many other suitors in future.

I'm not sure why she's devoting herself to finding Pansy a husband. Though I do recall that one of her motivations for marrying Osmond was because she wanted to be there for his daughter, and maybe she's thinking that she can help the girl make a better marriage than she did. In this case, favouring Warburton would make sense; she'd give them both something that she denied herself. I didn't see what that Lord could see in the young maid either, but the explanation James gave for it, of Lord Warburton wanting to be associated with Isabel even if indirectly, made some sense to me. These people are definitely not simple creatures!

I like how Isabel's old friends are converging on Rome to see her; sounds like an intervention! Though of course they wouldn't have called it that at the time.

#8 As this is a late 19th century story about people with complex motivations and personalities, I think I'd almost be disappointed if the heroine ended up happy to be alive in the end. :-)

I think it would be a tour de force if she did credibly end up happy at the end. (editorial note: I have finished the book and know whether she did).

Robert

I've been holding back waiting for others to join in. I felt bad for Isabel after the dreaded chapter 42. But I truly don't understand what Osmond's appeal was. It seems she could not resist his charms and intellect, but I don't feel James portrayed him all that well.

>9 Smiler69::
I'm not sure why she's devoting herself to finding Pansy a husband.
First off, didn't Osmond basically tell her to do so? That it was her role as a dutiful wife?
Second, while it seemed fairly obvious that Warburton was doing this to be near Isabel, I also thought she was rather tempted by that possibility. Tempted, but also torn, knowing it was wrong to use Pansy in that way. I think she truly cares for Pansy.

As this is a late 19th century story about people with complex motivations and personalities, I think I'd almost be disappointed if the heroine ended up happy to be alive in the end.
Ha, I like that, Ilana!

At this point I, too, have finished the book. I'm really enjoying the discussion with all of you. It has made this book much more pleasant to read, and more meaningful. Thanks !!!

Laura, I should have said congrats on the hot review much earlier. But I guess it's never too late. I'm holding off reading it until I've finished the book as I don't like reading reviews for books while I'm reading them. I'm sure you understand.

But why would Isabel play the dutiful wife if she is supposed to be so independent? Even if she is torn, it seems like she would avoid forcing Pansy into the very situation that she did not want. Or maybe she is torn because she did things her way, and they did not work out very well in the end with Osmond. The whole marriage thing is a conundrum.
--BJ

>12 Smiler69:: Thanks Ilana, I didn't realize I had a hot review! Woo hoo. And of course I understand, I do the same thing!

>13 billiejean:: I am waaaay extrapolating from the book here, BJ, but I suspect in that time period the independence thing only went so far, and it would take tremendous effort to sustain it over the long term. Once she married, she really gave up any notion of independence.

>13 billiejean:: The whole marriage thing is a conundrum.

Oh my, what a line. I love your thinking, BJ. I know you are probably referring to the 19th century version of marriage, but I have to say, after 42 years of marriage, I still have those days when I'm befuddled by what I've done!!! Thanks for brightening up this dreary morning.

One more thing about marriage and Henry James. I highly recommend the novella, Washington Square, which is written about a controlling father and daughter (sound familiar) and whom she should marry. It's a quick read that gives another view of this puzzling marriage thing!

Congratulations on your hotness, Laura! I'm going to take the easy way out and refer to your review when I compile my thoughts.

Well, I've almost finished this section now. It's been quite depressing and I don't like Isabel as much as I used to. I can't figure out why Warburton is interested in Pansy - somehow that seems wrong.

I'm hoping at the end of this novel that SOMEONE will have a happy ending, because I don't think the majority of the characters here are going to find happiness.

But it's an interesting look at people and the choices they make. I'm enjoying it for that most of all.

I agree about it seeming wrong for Warburton to be interested in Pansy. I do think that Pansy and Isabel are closer in age than I think of them as being. But still, it comes off strange.
--BJ

Yes, I think Isabel was 23 or 24 when Pansy was 16...or something like that. So when Warburton comes and meets Pansy she's probably 19 and Isabel is 26 or 27. Warburton's probably around 40 or so...I think he mentions a 20 year age gap between him and Pansy.

I guess the age difference isn't so out of the norm for that time period. But it seems even worse because Pansy is young for her age, and the stepdaughter of the woman Warburton loved most of all.

Right, a 20 year gap. Seems like we saw some of that in Sense and Sensibility. But I agree that transfer of affection from Isabel to her stepdaughter just seems creepy.
--BJ

I thought it was creepy too. I remember at first thinking Pansy was still 16, and that made it really creepy. Once I realized some time had passed and Pansy was a bona fide adult, it was a little better. But I still felt it was all for the wrong reasons.