Ebook Download The Portrait of a Lady (MAXNotes Literature Guides), by Kevin Kelly
As one of guide collections to recommend, this The Portrait Of A Lady (MAXNotes Literature Guides), By Kevin Kelly has some strong reasons for you to review. This book is quite appropriate with just what you need now. Besides, you will likewise love this book The Portrait Of A Lady (MAXNotes Literature Guides), By Kevin Kelly to read considering that this is among your referred publications to check out. When getting something new based upon experience, enjoyment, as well as other lesson, you can utilize this book The Portrait Of A Lady (MAXNotes Literature Guides), By Kevin Kelly as the bridge. Starting to have reading routine can be undertaken from numerous means and also from variant kinds of books
The Portrait of a Lady (MAXNotes Literature Guides), by Kevin Kelly
Ebook Download The Portrait of a Lady (MAXNotes Literature Guides), by Kevin Kelly
The Portrait Of A Lady (MAXNotes Literature Guides), By Kevin Kelly Just how can you transform your mind to be more open? There lots of sources that could help you to boost your ideas. It can be from the various other experiences and tale from some individuals. Schedule The Portrait Of A Lady (MAXNotes Literature Guides), By Kevin Kelly is one of the trusted resources to get. You can discover so many publications that we share here in this web site. And currently, we show you one of the best, the The Portrait Of A Lady (MAXNotes Literature Guides), By Kevin Kelly
But, what's your matter not also enjoyed reading The Portrait Of A Lady (MAXNotes Literature Guides), By Kevin Kelly It is a great task that will always provide excellent benefits. Why you end up being so weird of it? Numerous points can be sensible why people don't like to check out The Portrait Of A Lady (MAXNotes Literature Guides), By Kevin Kelly It can be the monotonous tasks, guide The Portrait Of A Lady (MAXNotes Literature Guides), By Kevin Kelly compilations to read, even lazy to bring spaces almost everywhere. Today, for this The Portrait Of A Lady (MAXNotes Literature Guides), By Kevin Kelly, you will certainly begin to like reading. Why? Do you understand why? Read this page by completed.
Starting from visiting this site, you have actually tried to begin loving reviewing a book The Portrait Of A Lady (MAXNotes Literature Guides), By Kevin Kelly This is specialized site that offer hundreds collections of publications The Portrait Of A Lady (MAXNotes Literature Guides), By Kevin Kelly from whole lots sources. So, you won't be bored anymore to pick the book. Besides, if you likewise have no time to look the book The Portrait Of A Lady (MAXNotes Literature Guides), By Kevin Kelly, merely sit when you remain in office and also open up the web browser. You could discover this The Portrait Of A Lady (MAXNotes Literature Guides), By Kevin Kelly inn this internet site by attaching to the web.
Get the link to download this The Portrait Of A Lady (MAXNotes Literature Guides), By Kevin Kelly and start downloading. You could want the download soft documents of guide The Portrait Of A Lady (MAXNotes Literature Guides), By Kevin Kelly by undertaking other activities. Which's all done. Currently, your rely on review a publication is not consistently taking and lugging guide The Portrait Of A Lady (MAXNotes Literature Guides), By Kevin Kelly all over you go. You can conserve the soft file in your device that will never ever be far away as well as read it as you like. It is like reading story tale from your gadget then. Currently, begin to enjoy reading The Portrait Of A Lady (MAXNotes Literature Guides), By Kevin Kelly as well as obtain your brand-new life!
REA's MAXnotes for Henry James' The Portrait of a Lady MAXnotes offer a fresh look at masterpieces of literature, presented in a lively and interesting fashion. Written by literary experts who currently teach the subject, MAXnotes will enhance your understanding and enjoyment of the work. MAXnotes are designed to stimulate independent thought about the literary work by raising various issues and thought-provoking ideas and questions. MAXnotes cover the essentials of what one should know about each work, including an overall summary, character lists, an explanation and discussion of the plot, the work's historical context, illustrations to convey the mood of the work, and a biography of the author. Each chapter is individually summarized and analyzed, and has study questions and answers.
- Sales Rank: #1714846 in eBooks
- Published on: 2012-09-19
- Released on: 2013-01-01
- Format: Kindle eBook
Most helpful customer reviews
122 of 127 people found the following review helpful.
"The real offense was her having a mind of her own at all."
By Mary Whipple
When Isabel Archer, a bright and independent young American, makes her first trip to Europe in the company of her aunt, Mrs. Touchett, who lives outside of London in a 400-year-old estate, she discovers a totally different world, one which does not encourage her independent thinking or behavior and which is governed by rigid social codes. This contrast between American and European values, vividly dramatized here, is a consistent theme in James's novels, one based on his own experiences living in the US and England. In prose that is filled with rich observations about places, customs, and attitudes, James portrays Isabel's European coming-of-age, as she discovers that she must curb her intellect and independence if she is to fit into the social scheme in which she now finds herself.
Isabel Archer, one of James's most fully drawn characters, has postponed a marriage in America for a year of travel abroad, only to discover upon her precipitate and ill-considered marriage to an American living in Florence, that it is her need to be independent that makes her marriage a disaster. Gilbert Osmond, an American art collector living in Florence, marries Isabel for the fortune she has inherited from her uncle, treating her like an object d'art which he expects to remain "on the shelf." Madame Serena Merle, his long-time lover, is, like Osmond, an American whose venality and lack of scruples have been encouraged, if not developed, by the European milieu in which they live.
James packs more information into one paragraph than many writers do in an entire chapter. Distanced and formal, he presents psychologically realistic characters whose behavior is a direct outgrowth of their upbringing, with their conflicts resulting from the differences between their expectations and the reality of their changed settings. The subordinate characters, Ralph Touchett, Pansy Osmond, her suitor Edward Rosier, American journalist Henrietta Stackpole, Isabel's former suitor Caspar Stackpole, and Lord Warburton, whose love of Isabel leads him to court Pansy, are as fascinating psychologically and as much a product of their own upbringing as is Isabel.
As the setting moves from America to England, Paris, Florence, and Rome, James develops his themes, and as Isabel's life becomes more complex, her increasingly difficult and emotionally affecting choices about her life make her increasingly fascinating to the reader. James's trenchant observations about the relationship between individuals and society and about the effects of one's setting on one's behavior are enhanced by the elegance and density of his prose, making this a novel one must read slowly--and savor. Mary Whipple
61 of 65 people found the following review helpful.
Beautiful, Heart-rending, Poignant, and Tragic
By Cole Ansier
Henry James has truly outdone himself with this book. While it is no longer my favorite James' novel, I still think it among the best novels written in the English language. The character of Isabel Archer is an indelible part of literature. The story begins with an American woman, left parentless and penniless, being discovered by an expatriate Aunt. The Aunt convinces her to go England with her so that she might meet her cousin, Ralph. Isabel eagerly agrees. She is idealistic and has always wanted to see Europe. Her aunt agrees to pay for the expenditures. Once there, Isabel falls in love with their house, Gardencourt, and grows to enjoy her frail, sweet, ironic, and funny cousin. Before Isabel knows it, she has become ensnared in a one-sided love affair with a handsome English nobleman, Lord Warburton, little knowing what to do. Despite the urgings of her aunt, Isabel rejects his proposal in the desire to wait for something better. Soon, her elderly uncle dies, but not before she charms him with her intelligence and subtle beauty. Ralph insists that his father leave Isabel a substantial fortune, so that she might be able to live as she wishes. When the uncle dies, Isabel is left with 70,000 pounds, or about 200,000 dollars. From here is where the true story begins. I will not reveal more of the plot, which unwinds slowly and with assurance. James, being a master of prose, knows how to manipulate a sentence in a multitude of ways. His lilting, ironic, verbose writing style lends class and charm to Isabel's ultimately tragic tale. Some modern readers aren't able to handle James' subtle style. Unfortunately, many of us have had to fight the effects of shortened attention spans. Reading a slow-paced and brilliantly conceived tale like this will surely help cure short attention spans. Once you begin the story, it grows on you and affects you greatly. James is difficult getting used to, but he grabs you with his excellent descriptions of passionate people. Finally, the brilliance of this book lies in its tragedy. Even though many readers can predict early on where Isabel's confidence and naivete will lead her, James makes the journey bumpy and fascinating. He also slowly injects the story with dread, as we begin to sense the true malevolence of Madame Merle's and Osmond's vicious plans. Their acts are pure Machiavellian glee. Only in the final third of the book does it become clear of the true nature of the scheming M. Merle's plans. James also leaves several important plot points until near the end of the novel. All of this leads to a long, engrossing, and sad story of a young woman "affronting her destiny", as James puts it. Rarely has so romantic or so devastating a book been written. The ending is the final kicker. Unlike the happy ending we suspect, James leaves readers with open interpretations and many possible questions regarding Isabel's TRUE feelings about men. It also most vividly presents her sexual repression and fear that dominate the entire book. James knew the reserves of the time dictated that such topics not be discussed, and he cleverly uses this theme discreetly. However, he also uses it as a sort of indictment on the times, with their lack of passion and sensuality. Many readers expect a conclusion to the story, but, as with real life, stories simply go on. The ending is perhaps the most modern thing about the book. It also makes certain readers know that Isabel's life will never be one of happiness. This is an exquisitely haunting masterpiece.
35 of 37 people found the following review helpful.
The other things a woman can do otherwise marrying
By Alysson Oliveira
Isabel Archer --the unforgettable protagonist of Henry James' "The Portrait of a Lady" -- says at some point that she doesn't want to begin life by marrying, and she attests there other things a woman can do. This declaration is the heart of the matter of this amazingly well executed and brilliant book. Naïve as she is, Isabel believes that in the 19th Century she would be able to enjoy her life and meet the world before getting married -- and not marrying is still a possibility.
With Isabel's dilemma American writer Henry James deals with the conflict between society and individual longings. Many writers have dealt this issue -- but only a few succeeded with such grace and competence as this author. The point is that Isabel is not the only one dealing with this problem. As a matter of fact, all characters of this novel, at some point in their life have to face the society against their personal wishes.
James was a master of psychological development. Not a single character in this novel is unrealistic. The cast of supporting characters is as deep as Isabel. With his talent, the writer explores the psychological conflict is a result of the society pressures against the characters beliefs -- and not a gratuitous philosophy like many writers usually do. The depth brings another pleasure in the reading of the novel.
Language is usually the main barrier for contemporary readers, when it comes to classic novels. With James it is a problem that can be easily overcome. His use of language however sophisticated is not difficult. His choice of words and structures are conscious and beautiful. The first chapters tend to be read slowly, but once the readers get the hang of James' prose, reading becomes an undeniable pleasure.
At the same time the writer explore the psychological side of his characters; he never neglects their social conflict. In the last part of the novel, for instance, James explores the results of Isabel choices relating them to her identity -- and how one affected another. At the same time, James makes a curious choice: we never see the main events in Isabel's life, they are told to the reader after they happen. This use of ellipses happen usually when the heroine chooses to value social costume over her independence.
As in most Henry James novels, he doesn't neglect the major conflict of this period of his work: Americans and Europeans. This time round the novel explore many American people living in Europe -- most characters are US born. If on the one hand, they represent the innocence, individualism and capability; the Europeans, on the other, are the sophistication, social convention and the decadence. But with so many Americans living in Europe how can one set the limits?
Isabel moves from America to England and, then, to continental Europe. At each stage she loses her independency, and she realizes she cannot control her life the way she thought she could. And she realizes that there aren't many things a woman of her time could do before marrying.
The Portrait of a Lady (MAXNotes Literature Guides), by Kevin Kelly PDF
The Portrait of a Lady (MAXNotes Literature Guides), by Kevin Kelly EPub
The Portrait of a Lady (MAXNotes Literature Guides), by Kevin Kelly Doc
The Portrait of a Lady (MAXNotes Literature Guides), by Kevin Kelly iBooks
The Portrait of a Lady (MAXNotes Literature Guides), by Kevin Kelly rtf
The Portrait of a Lady (MAXNotes Literature Guides), by Kevin Kelly Mobipocket
The Portrait of a Lady (MAXNotes Literature Guides), by Kevin Kelly Kindle
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar