伊莎贝尔的成长之路—从文化冲突中探寻文化的融合 53页

摘要亨利·詹姆斯被公认为美国最伟大的小说家和评论家之一，以展现欧美文化冲突的国际性题材小说而著称。《贵妇画像》是他的国际性题材小说主要代表作品，许多评论家从各个角度对其国际性主题进行了分析。在该书中亨利·詹姆斯已不满足于简单描写欧美的文化差异，而是更加关注欧美文化冲突中人物复杂的命运，试图表现在文化冲突中逐步实现文化融合的主题。本论文中试图从《贵妇画像》中女主人公伊莎贝尔·阿切尔的成长历程来展现欧美两种文化从冲突到融合的过程。伊莎贝尔从美国到英国，再从英国到意大利的旅程中，伊莎贝尔经历了成长过程的三个认知阶段，即从美国式的少女，欧洲的成长体验到最终成为一个成熟优雅的贵妇。这也是在欧美文化从文化冲突到追求文化到最终实现文化融合的过程。本论文由引言，三章正文和结论构成。引言部分首先简单介绍了作家作品，之后系统梳理了国内外作家对《贵妇画像》不同角度的分析，最后介绍了本文写作的理论知识和历史背景。第一章主要论述了年轻的女孩伊莎贝尔身上所具有的独立、天真等美国特色。在与欧洲化了的人物的对比过程中新世界和旧世界文化之间的矛盾得到了清晰的展示。第二章主要分析了伊莎贝尔在欧洲的成长历程。伊莎贝尔在欧洲追求知识，艺术。从而扩充了知识面，得到了许多新的想法和思考：在婚姻问题上，在拒绝了两个求婚者之后，伊莎贝尔接受了她理想化的奥斯蒙德。但事实证明这场婚姻是痛苦的。在这一阶段，伊莎贝尔为她周围的环境所影响，经历了众多的事情，为真正的成熟和文化融合打下了良好的基础。在第三章中伊莎贝尔回到欧洲，回归婚姻生活。在欧洲的经历使她增长了许多知识，丰富的阅历使她最终成长为一个高雅，成熟的贵妇。伊莎贝尔的成熟过程同时也是实现欧美文化融合的过程。最后为结论部分：伊莎贝尔的成长过程一从幼稚走向成熟：从无经验到阅历丰富：从无知到有知识f‘从低文化到高文化一最终完成：经过伊莎贝尔坚持不懈的追求，最终实现了她理想的文化，从文化冲突走向了文化融合。关键词：成长美国特色文化冲突成熟文化融合 AbstractHenryJames，whoisbestknownforhis‘internationaltheme’fictionwiththeexplorationoftheconflictsbetweenAmericanandEuropeancultures，isgenerallyacknowledgedtobeoneofthegreatestAmericannovelistsandcritics．ThePortraitofaLadyiswidelyregardedasoneofthebestinternationalnovelsofHenryJames，whichhasbeeninterpretedfromvariousperspectivesbymanycritics．ThisthesisattemptstodisclosethesignificanceofstudyingThePortraitofaLadyfromthreestagesofIsabel’Sgrowingup，i．e．hergrowthfromayoungAmericanstyle鲥toaknowledgeableandmaturelady，whichisalsotheprocessofculturefusionfromcultureconflictbetweenAmericansandEuropeans．Thisthesisincludesanintroduction，threechaptersandaconclusion．Intheintroductionpart，firstlyitgivesabriefsummaryofthewriter’Slife，literaryreputationandthenovelThePortraitofaLady．Thenitpresentsliteraturereviewofdifferentperspectivesofstudyonthenovelandfinallyintroducesthewritingtheoreticalandhistorybackground．ChapteronemainlyfocusesonIsabel’Searlylifeasayoung酬．Herindependence，naiveinnocentandsimplisticoptimismmakehertheembodimentoftheAmericanstyle鲥．Fromwhomwecanfindoutculturalconflictsbetweentheoldworldandthenewworld．ChaptertwoputsitsemphasisondiscussingIsabel’SexperiencesinEurope．IsabelmakesgreatefforttopursueEuropeanculturesinceherfirststepintoEurope．Afterrefusingtwosuitors，sheacceptsGilbertOsmond，aEuropeanizedAmerican，butsuffersalot．Atthisstage，Isabelisdeeplyinfluencedbyhersun"oundings，getsmanynewideas．HerlifeinEuropeenrichherexperience，whichpreparesforhermaturityandculturefusion．ChapterthreedwellsonIsabel’ScomingbacktoEuropeandhermarriage．Throughpursuitandsuffering，sheisnowamatureandknowledgeablelady．Shestrengthensherselfandthuspavesthewayforperfection．Thelastpartistheconclusion．Isabel’Sgrowthfromnaivetytomaturity；frominnocencetoexperience；fromuninformedtoknowledgeable；fromlowculturetohighculturehascompleted；thusthroughIsabel’Sstubbornpursuitforheridealizedculture，theculturefusionisachieved．Keywords：growing-upAmerican·stylematurityculture-conflictfusion 学位论文原创性声明本人所提交的学位论文《伊莎贝尔的成长之路一从文化冲突中探寻文化的融合》，是在导师的指导下，独立进行研究工作所取得的原创性成果。除文中已经注明引用的内容外，本论文不包含任何其他个人或集体已经发表或撰写过的研究成果。对本文的研究做出重要贡献的个人和集体，均已在文中标明。本声明的法律后果由本人承担。论文作者(签名)．渺易纠年9月，·日指导教师确认(签名)：年月日学位论文版权使用授权书本学位论文作者完全了解河北师范大学有权保留并向国家有关部门或机构送交学位论文的复印件和磁盘，允许论文被查阅和借阅。本人授权河北师范大学可以将学位论文的全部或部分内容编入有关数据库进行检索，可以采用影印、缩印或其它复制手段保存、汇编学位论文。(保密的学位论文在——年解密后适用本授权书)论文作者(签名)．渤q少少年夕月／夕日指导教师(签名)：年月Et IntroductionHenryJames(1843—1916)，AnoutstandingAmericannovelistandstylist,writesnearly22novels，113tales，7plays，lotsofliterarycriticisms，andmanyextraordinarylettersOVerthecoBrseofhisprodigiouslifetimeofwriting．James’Sachievementsandhisinfluenceonliteraturerestnotjustonhislargequantityofliteraryworksbutalsoonhiscontributiontofictionwriting．Heisalsoacknowledged嬲apioneerofpsychologicalrealismandformalarchitectonics，themasterofarichhighlycomplexprosestyle，theprecursoroftheinternationaltheme，whichinevitablyleadsJamestobecomeaprincipalfocusandconstanttopicofliterarycriticismintheworld．AmongJames’Sliteraryworks，theintemationalnovels，whichdealwiththetransatlanticencounterbetweenEuropeandAmerica,arethemostconspicuousandwidelydiscussed．Inthesenovels，JamesalwaysputshissimplecharactersagainstsuchasettingasAmericansinEuropetoexaminesomeputativeAmericannationalcharacteristicsunderthepressuresofaliencircumstances．Jameswishes，bywayofexperiment，toscrutinizethecross-relationsbetweenthesourcecultureandthederivedculture．Mentioningthechoiceof“internationaltheme”，readerscannotignoreJames’Sfamilyandhisupbringing．JamesowedhiswritingtheinternationalnovelsmuchtohislifeexperiencesinEurope．HenryJamesWaSborninawealthyculturedfamilyofNewEngland．HisfatherHenryJames，Sr．isaneminentphilosopherandreformerwhopaidgreatattentiontohischildren’Seducation．HepreferredEuropeaneducation，SOveryearlyhetookhischildrentotraveloutsideAmerica．ThereforetheeducationHenryJamesreceivedWaSfromchildhoodon，cosmopolitan．HeWasexposedtotheculturalinfluenceofEuropeataveryearlyage．HeeverstudiedinEngland，Switzerland，andFranceandSOon．TheextendedtravelandpermanentstayinEuropeprovidedJameswithanunusuallycosmopolitaneducationandstimulatedhimtobeawareofthepeople，places，artandideasonthecontinentandalsomadehimgraduallynoticethecontactandcontrastbetweenthetwoworlds．Hewasalsoinitiatedtoconsiderthewaysinwhichpeoplebehaveandsee，especiallywhathappenedwhenanAmericanwasinEurope．Thusthe“intemational’’becameJames’Sfavoritesubject．DaisyMillermadehimfamousonbothsidesoftheAtlanticandwasaproofenoughtoshowthatthe“intemational”washistrueelement．ThePortraitofaLadyprovedtobethemasterpieceonhishandlingofthetheme．InApril1883Jameswrote：1wishedtowriteaveryAmericantale,ataleverycharacteristicofour socialconditions,andIaskedmyselfwhatwasthemostsalientandpecuBarpointinourlife．TheanswerWasthesituationofwomen,thedecline矿历esentimentofsex,theagitationontheirbehalf．“ThispaperreflectsthatJamesattemptedtocreateanewAmericantype．InThePortraitofaLa咖，hispurposeistodepicttheculturalsituationsandlivingconditionsofAmericainthe1880s．AccordingtothePreface，thenovelbeginssolelywiththeconceptionofacertainyoungwoman“affrontingherdestiny’’。Isabelaffrontsherdestinyinordertoprovokeittorevealitself．Heraffrontinghasprovidedherwithmoregroundsforself-scrutinythanshecouldeverhavelongedfor．Brieflyspeakingtheplotofthestoryissimple：IsabelArcher,atypicalAmericangiftoriginallyfromAlbany,NewYork，isinvitedbyheraunttovisitherdchuncleDanielTouchettathisestatenearLondon,followingthedeathofherfather．ThereshemeetshercousinRalphTouchett,afriendlyinvalid,andtheTouchetts’robustneighbor，LordWarburton．IsabellaterdeclinesWarburton’Ssuddenproposalofmarriage．ShealsorejectsthehandofCasparGoodwood，charismaticsonandheirtoawealthyBostonmillowner．AlthoughIsabelisdrawntoCaspar,hercommitmenttoherindependencecontradictssuchamarriage，whichshefeelswouldbesacrificialtoherfreedom．TheelderTouchergrowsilland，attherequestofhisson，leavesmuchofhisestatetoIsabeluponhisdeathshortlyaRerwards．WithherlegacyIsabeltravelsthroughtheContinentandmeetsallAmericanexpatriate，GilbertOsmond，inFlorence．AlthoughIsabelhaspreviouslyrejectedbothWarburtonandAmericanbusinessmanCasparGoodwood，sheacceptsOsmond’Smarriageproposal．IsabelisunawarethatthemarriageisactivelypromotedbytheaccomplishedbutuntrustworthyMadameMerle，anotherAmericanexpatriatewhoIsabelhasmetattheTouchetts’estate．IsabelandOsmondsettleinRome，andthemarriagerapidlysoursduetoOsmond’Soverwhelmingegotismandlackofgenuineaffection．IsabelisfIolldofPansy，Osmond’Sdaughterpresumablybyhisfirstmarriage，andwantstograntherwishtomaltyNedRosier,ayoungartcollector．ThesnobbishOsmondwouldratherPansyacceptWarburton’Sproposalofmarriage(afterhehaspreviouslyproposedtoIsabel)．ThisleadstoevenmorestrainonIsabel’Smarriage．ShelearnsthatRalphisdyingathisestateinEngland，andpreparestogotohimforhisfinalhours．OsmondselfishlyopposesherplanstovisitRalph．Meanwhile，Isabellearnsfromhersister-in—lawthatPansyisreallythe2 dau窖蚍erofMadameMerle，whohasanadulterousrelationshipwithOsmondforseveralyears·Con自ontsMad锄eMerle，IsabelthenleavestoseethedyingRalphinEngland，wheresheremainsurltilhisdeath．GoodwoodencountersheratRalph’SestateandbegshertoleaveOsmondandcomeawaywithhim．Hepassionatelyembracesandkissesher,butIsabelwillnotconsenttohisdemands．ShereturnstoOsmondinRome．A1thoughthenovellaisnotsophisticated，itsparksendlessdiscussions．Manycriticsand、柑tersbegintostudyHem3,Jamestheperson，andhisworksfromdifferentpointsof访ew．BeforethepublicationofThePortraitof口Lady，peoplehavealreadyknownHenryJames·HoweveritisThePortraitof口LadythatwonHenry．JamespopularityonbothsidesoftheAtl砒1tic．ThPPortraitof口Ladyisundeniablythebestworkofhismiddleperiod，andthestudiesofhisworksarenumerous；Therefore，thefollowingshouldbehelpfulforthebe西nningandtheadvancedstudyofthenovelist．Besidestheworksmentionedhere，therearen哪eI．ous锄五clesinmagazines．Thefollowingitemswillleadthestudenttothebetterarticlesiftheyareconsultedfirst．AfldelilleR．TintnerisoneoftheforemostauthoritiesontheworksofHenryJames．Herbooks砌e朋钒e“mWormofHenryJames，TheBookWormofHenryJames，ThePopWormD厂He玎ryJames，TheLibraryofHenryJames，andSOonhavebecomeknownaSthe“worldseries，，．HerneweStbook，TheCosmopolitanWorldofHenryJames，focusesontheinteractionbetweenthecontincIltalliteratureofthelast19也centuryandJames’Sliteraryimagination·RobertW葫sbuchisaProfessorofEnglishattheUniversityofMichigan，andhaveservedasChairoftheEnglishDepartmentandDeanoftheGraduateSch001．HemainlyanalyzesHenryJames’Sviewson“evil”．HewritesHenryJamesproblemembodiedinThePortraitofaLady．3andtheIdealofEviltotalkaboutthisDorothyVanGhentstudiesHenryJames’SThePortraitof口Ladyfromanotheraspect·ManycriticsthinkHenryJamesusedIsabeltosymbolizeinnocence，exuberance，andfreedom·However’DorothyVanGhentthinksHenryJamesbeganwritinghisIsabelwithoneattitudetowardllisheroineandconcludedwithdifferentattitude．ThereisamixedinterpretationofIsabel．sheisliteralinnocent，wretched，“ThePortraitisnot，likeTess，atragedy,butitISasdeeplyinformedwithtragicviewoflifethattragicviewwhoseessenceiscontainedmthewords．cHewholoseshislifeshallfindit’，and‘Exceptacornofawheattallintothegroundanddie，butifitdie，itbringforthmuchfruit’(590)．’’4Ghent’SwordsareechoedbyDortheaKrook．Hemain|taillSthat‘"NowIsabelArcher,wediscover,isnotinfactamerevictim·Onmecomary，shecarriesapropershareofthemoralresponsibilityforthedisasterthat3 overtakesher’(623)．5RuthBernardYeazellstudiesThePortraitofaLadyandstatesthatIsabel’Sbehaviorsshouldprimarilybereadinthecontextofthenovel’Sextendedexplorationofthepossiblemeaningsof‘freedom’fromheroriginal，prototypicallyAmericanbeliefinanindependencethatdefiesalllimits；Isabelgraduallyarrivesatthesenseoffreedomthatislargelyastateofconsciousness?Theparadoxicalfreedomofaselfthatdeliberatelyacceptsitsownconstraintsandfacesresponsibilityforthechoicesthatitmakes．6Aboveareliteraryreviewsfromforei盟countries．InChina,therearealsosomepeoplewhohavehadatryonstudying．ChenLiwhoprobesthemoraldimensionofThePortraitoya三口ay，arguingthatIsabelrepresentsaspiritoffreedom．Jamesdefinesnovelasapersonal，directimpressionoflife，andinsiststhatthemoralsenseofaworkofartdependsontheartist’Sprimesensibility．7AccordingtoKierkegaard，freedomme．Ispossibilityforpossibility,itistheimaginationarousedbypersonalimpression，andthebewildermentwhichinevitablyaccompaniesthepersonalimpressionoflifethatguaranteestheinfinitepossibilityandpluralityoflife,embodyingaspiritoffreedom．LiLiangyan，oncestudiedintheHarbinEngineeringUniversity,inhismasterdegreethesis，exploredthefigureofIsabel．Isabelisanembodimentofthespiritoffreedominanewcontinent，andherpersonalcharmcomesfromherfreshandnatural，persistentandunremittingcharacter．However,thelackofsomeculturalcultivationholdsherbacktobecomeatoughandperfectpersonillustratestherootofherfailureinthefulfillmentofherviewoffreedom．8GuChaomeiintheForeignLanguagesDepartmentofNanjingAuditUniversitywroteThePortraitofa／adyisacknowledgedasafounderofpsychologicalrealisticnovels，whichappliestheartistryofpsychologicalanalysistothenovel，transferstheartisticallyexpressiveobjectsinthenovelfromexternaleventstocharactersofinnerworld．Andbyadoptingthedeviceofmetaphor,itdepictsthewholepsychologicalprocessofanaiveandsimpleAmericangirlwhoinordertopursuitfreedomandindependence，goestoEuropealoneandwhoseidentityisfinallydestroyedbythe“freedom"’shehaspursued．InitsownwaytheironicalartisticeffectthenovelhasachievedHenryJamesasagreatAmericannovelist．⋯WuLingteachinginGuaugxiNormalUniversityemphasizesherownperspectiveofIsabel．Throughherobservation，considerationandpsychologicalaction,readersbegintoknowthefigureandthecharacteroftheheroineIsabel．Inthisnovel，shenotonlystressestheoutstanding‘Internationaltheme’onwhichfamerestsbutalsorepresentsJames’SvividanatomizationofIsabel’Sconsciousnessthatforeshadowshisfutureofbeingregardedasapsychologicalrealist．4 Fromabove，wecanseethatcriticsstudyThePortraitofaladyfromdifferentaspects：thecharacter,thetherne，thetechniqueandSOon．ButfewpeopletakeanoticeonculturalconflictsandfusionthatIsabel’Sgrowingexperiencerepresents．TheprocessIsabelgrowsfromaninnocentindependentgirltoamatureknowledgeablelady，isalsotheprocessoffromculturalconflicttoculturalfusion．Ifwewanttodiscussmythesismoreclearly，weshouldpayattentiontothetheoryofcultureanditsotherrelatedterms．AccordingtoJohnTomlinson，cultureis“oneofthetwoorthreemostcomplicatedwordsintheEnglishlanguage．’’9Thecomplexityofthewordleadstoavariousofdefinitionsthatexist：Usuallytherearetwokindsofdefinitionsofculture．Oneemphasizesideas，suchasart，literatureandideology,theotherstressessocialpractices．Meanwhile，cultureusuallyhasthreefeatures：first，itisacollectivephenomenonthatisaboutsharedvaluesandmeaningstoenablepeopleofthesamegrouptoseethesamethingsinthesamewayanditisthesepattemsthatholdthemtogether．Second，cultureisrelative．Eachnationalcultureisrelativetootherculture’Swaysofperceivingtheworldanddoingthings．Thereisnosetstandardforconsideringonegroupasintrinsicallysuperiororinferiortoanyother．Third，cultureislearnedrathernaturallyborn．Itisderivedfromone’Ssocialenvironment，notfromone’Sgeneticmake—up．Closelyrelatedtocultureisconflict．CulturalstudiesadvocatethatallconflictsoccurinacultLlralcontext．Inotherwords，cultureaffectsconflictingbehavior．Theconflictsofconcernherearecollectiveactions(notindividualintrapersonalorinterpersonalactions)whichpartiesengageinwhenfacedwithdivergentinterestsorincompatiblegoals·Rossholdsculturemayinfluencepeopleinvariousways．Cultureshapeswhatpeopleconsidervaluableandworthfightingover,investingparticulargoods，positions，oractionswithmeaning．Cultureaffectsconflictbehaviorwhenitsanctionsspecificwaystopursueindividualorgroupinterestsanddisapprovesofothers．TheimpactofcultureOnconflictbehaviorappearsatmanylevels．Atthesociallevel，itisseeninthediversenorms，practicesandinstitutionsfoulldinsocieties．Atthelevelofindividualdisputes，cultureshapesthedisputant’Schoiceofstrategiesandtactics．Moreover,cultureCandeterminedisputants’differentassumptionsabouteachother，Sactionsandintentions．Inshort，culturalconflictandfusionarebothoriginatefromtheculturalbackgroundsofpeople．JustasKateMillett,afamoustheoristarguesmatS0lCial锄dculturalcontextsmustbestudiedifliteratureistobeproperlyunderstood．5 Viewingthemethodtosolveculturalconflictsculturalstudiessuggestthat‘‘diversity,’’“multiplicity"’shouldbethefundamentalprincipal．Habermascallsfora‘"paradigmS_lli付’fromthephilosophyofconsciousnesstoaphilosophyof“communication"’．Accordingtohim,communicativeactionisactionorientedtowardunderstandingandagreement．Habermas’Sphilosophyofcommunicationisrootedininter-subjectivecommunicationandisgroundedinsocialsolidarityandtheUtopianpotentialsoflanguage：toengageinmutualunderstanding，andtoforgeuncoercedconsensus．10Onthebasisofthetheoriesofculture，thisthesisattemptstoapplythosetheoriestothestudyofHenryJames’sinternationalnovelThePortraitofaLady．Therefore,inordertohaveamuchdeareranalysis,weshouldanalyzethehistorybackgroundofthenovelwiththecontrastoftheAmericanandEuropeanculturalconflictsandalsothepossibilityoftheirculturalfusion．AmericanbackgroundisquitedifferentfromEuropeanbackground．AmericaisreferredtotheNewWorld，incontrasttotheOldWorldofEurope；objectivelyspeakingt11．ehistoryofAmericanisveryshortandyoungespeciallyinJames’Sdays．Theculturalclimatewaspoorthere．FollowingColumbus’Sadventure，manyEuropeanswenttheretolookfor‘"happyland”inordertoevadethepersecutionofnativeland．Withtheeffortofgenerations，a‘"NewWorld"’waseventuallybuiltup．ThesubsequenttwoorthreecenturieswitnessedafloodofmillionsofnewcomersfromEurope．111eyarenewpeoplehere．Thesemadethemhaveopenmindandeasilyacceptnovelties，andalsomadethemtoleranttowardpersonsandgiveothersenoughtimeandplacetodevelop．ThisspiritbecametheessentialpartsoftheAmericancharacter．Furthermore，ontheprocessofdefendingthemselvesagainsttheunexpectedattacksbyIndians，theirdesiretosurvivemadethosefromdifferentplacesunitetogetherasawholewithlittleracialandclassdiscrimination．Soamiability,equality,fraternity,andlibertyalsobecameprominentfeaturesoftheAmericanspirit．Thesevalues，takingdeeprootsinthefirstgenerationofthe‘"newAmericans’""formedthebasicfoundationofAmericanmoralityandhadaprofoundandlastinginfluenceonAmericansoflatergenerations．Therefore，America,withitstypicalandspecialhistoricalandculturalbackground，formedasetofdifferentculturalvaluesincontrasttothoseofEuropethathadalonghistory．——Incontrast，Europeanhistoryisfairlylong．AndEuropean-centrismwasaprevailingforceintheei曲teenth，nineteenth(andeventwentieth)century．AreviewoftheworldhistoryenablesUStoseeGreatBritain，France，SpainandPortugal．TaketheBritishnationasanexample．TheAnglo，SaxonandJudessettheirfootin459A．D．ItwitnessedtheNormanConquesttheHolyWar,theDarkAge,theRenaissanceandSOon．Accordinglytheircultures6 hadoccupiedacentralpositionintheworld．Londonusedtobethecommercialcenteroftheworldbeforethesecondhalfofthenineteenthcentury．Needlesstosay,European—centrismwentagainsttheinterestofthenewly-builtU．S．SoitiSnowonderthatsuchculturalconflictsarewellembodiedinIsabelwhensheisyoung．AlthoughAmericaandEuropehavedifferentbackground，AmericancultureandEuropeanculturehavethepossibilitytofuse，becauseAmericancultureoriginatesfromEuropeanculture,andmeyCannotbeseparated．AmericanculturealwaysbeconsideredastheextensionofEuropeancultureontheAmericancontinent．Theearly17thcenturywiththeBritishcomingtotheinfidelAmericancontinent，theyhavebroughtalloftheirEuropeancivilization．Includingreligionmorality、culture，customs，etiquetteknowledgeandothertraditionalEuropeancivilization．Thisisbecauseanyhumanethnicgroupsmustrelyonthecultureofsurvival，SOtheAmericanculturereliesonEuropeansMostofAmericansareimmigrantsofEuropeanswhowerenotpureEnglishmenbutthemixtureoftheEnglish,theScottish，theIrish,theFrench，Hollander,German，andSwissandSOon．Sincethe‘MayFlower’arriveinPlymouth，Massachusetts，nearly300yearsago，thousandsofthousandsofBritishcometothisnewplace，theyarecallednewEnglanders，HenryJames’SancestorswhocomefromIrelandisagoodcaseinpoint．AmericansinheritedmanyoftheEuropeantraditions，suchastheChristianreligion,festivals，ChristmasandEaster,theofficialEnglishand，ethics，philosophy,law,etiquette，dress，customs，education，municipaladministration，management，architectureandart，andSOon．Atthenationalpolityandsocio-economicaspects，italsoinheritedanddevelopedtheideaofEurope，andestablisheddemocraticinstitutionsandmarketeconomy．Therefore，theU．S．cultureandEuropeanculturecomefromthesameroot．Therefore，weknowtheAmericancultureoriginsfromEuropeancultureandareanimportantpartofwesternculture．IfTheUnitedStatesCanbecomparedwithbranchesandleaves，thenEuropeistheroot．Theyarebothbelongingtoacommonculturalsystem．AsfarasIhaveconcerned，AmericancultureentirelyoriginatedfromEuropeanhistoricaltraditions，SOtheEuropeancultureandtheAmericanculturehavethepossibilitytofuse．Allaboverelatedinformationprovidethebasisforthewritingofthisthesis．ThisthesisregardsIsabel’SgrandtraveltoEuropeasajourneyoftheroadtogrowup，Asforthemeaningofthewordgrowing-upitCanbeunderstoodbothasaprocessandanoutcome．Firstlyitistheprocessoffacingconflictsandgainingknowledge，Asanoutcome，itrefersto7 thedeepunderstandingofexperienceandfullconsciousnessofone’Smaturityinsuchexistence．ThegrowingprocessofIsabelisaprocessofacquiringknowledgeandtruthofworldthroughexperiences．Isabelayoungnaive，independentAmericanstyle百dlivinginlatenineteenthcenturyEurope，sheexperiencesaforeignculturebaptismonroadpursuingcultureidealfromAmericantoEurope．Inhercultureconflictsisveryobvious．Becauseofinsufficiencyofexperiences，shehashadculturalshock，howeverafterhersearchforknowledge，choosinghusbandandexperiencepainfulmarriage，sheachievesfullrefinementandthenreachestotalknowledgeandmaturity．Likeaphoenixwhichobtainsrebirthfromnirvana,shehascompletelybecomeamaturewomen，whichreconstructedherinterculruralideal--thefusionofUSandEuropean’scultureessence． ChapterOneAnAmerican．StyleGirl——InevitableCulturalConflictsEmbodiedinIsabel．．11ne1m锄an。删n1锄“sone。fthemaintopicsinJ锄es’swork，锄ditappearsinme‘yplc龇eIlcounterofAmericanandEuropeanCulnlres．．烹呶岫。8纰way。findividua／’sthinkingandacting．细砌vi捌isi11鼬a竺删b??a80耐beingduringwhichheinternalizesme∞砌堍ide0蛔illmesoci呶177砌啊蝴扭酬删谳如cul删懈s啪觚dwecaIl1ealllmecul嘶。f：曼锄●c1童‰ughobserVinganindividual’sactivities．InJ跚es，smoStc。nSpiCuous：m=雩on鼍协锄en。vel砀PPortraitof口肠咖wecanfindthecul咖lconflictsemlb。died?廿leher01neyo吼gIsabel，sAmericans叫echa￡acter．IsabelisⅡ1eemb。diment。ftheAmen，Canidealof廿1ei11dependent，sel。c。nfident，andoptimisticindividual．Isabel，sidentity，lay。in栅m拍nalroots，whichdistinguishthisAm碰cangifti11meIlineteenthce咖舶二儿urr_．uropeancounterpart．一：『：警n0喇舭m0吼gen耐tenns‘c。n慨“sseenasf011。ws(theAmeric觚)m?1砌姐H8m砌freedomvs．(theEuropean)向maIldcereIIl。ny仃aditj。nalism；‰。cenc：：alvet)，vs·Sopm蚶cati。n．Sp。ntaneityvs．ritual；acti。nvs．inacti。n；natll】嘣VS．anificial；A·Isabel"sConceptofIndividualismandLibertylSabe!觚her’smm订dualisminoppositiont0Europealltraditi。nalism{Scle曲describedmt11enoV“Isabelisdepicted鼬atypicalAm嘶can、Ⅳomallwi廿1indivi-vdualis：She，i．syo嫩。砌确出祈龇。sense。frootsingeography。r跏ition．Sheistotallym。d锄：d●d印end毗semwilledandself-reliant．IsabeIshowsher黟eateIIlphaSis0n二dividual抒eedom。A玎101dK砌ecl击msThePortraitof以三口@tobethen。velab。ut舶edom．Tosome二?nt，鼍鲍k’8∞mm咖bc嘶ct·mnovelsh。ws妇thekeynote0fIsabel，se羽ybehavlor1shcrwisht0如eherself舶m觚ydet删ngcircumstallces。fs。cial(锄dseXua五，：『『I『entl_nshebellevesstronglyinher。wn。pini。n觚dch嘶shesmeri龇t0eVaJuat：1ndep姐d髓tIya11ypersonorsituati。n·ShetellsRalphintheir矗rstmeeting"I锄ve珂f-ondofmyli．ber，ty"(．30)Asa蝴0ffact，fromthebeginningt0thee11d。fsto巧Isabel0r锄plst。翟啪h舶幽舶”痂gEurope，choosingahusbandather。wnwill，andgoingbalcktoAmericaisthenationofallnationsthathasandparticularlyintheIlineteelltllemphasizedtheimportanceoftheiIldividualcelltury,theheydayofAmericanindividualism．Thevalueof9 religion,poetry,virtue，friends，publicoffice,marriage，everything，infact,wastobemeasuredonlybyitsusefulnessinhelpingtheindividualtoadvancehimself．Americanstooktheconceptofindividualism，inEurope,anegativeconceptconnotingselfishnessandsocialanarchy,andtransformeditSOthatitcametorepresentthepositivequalitiesoffreedomandself-assertion．BecauseoftheemphasisonindividualisminAmerica，theindividualwasapttoimaginethathiswholedestinyWasinhisownhands．AndthisemphasisalsoledAmericanstoapresumptuousconfidenceintheirownstrength．ThefirsttouchonIsabel’Scharacterishercharacterofbeingquiteindependent．Lydia’Scondensedtelegramisagoodcaseinpoint：“Changedhotel，verybad，impudentclerk,addresshere．Takesister’Sgirl，diedlastyear；,gotoEurope，twosisters，quiteindependent"’(10)．And“Itoftenseemedtoherthatshethoughttoomuchaboutherself．”(56)．Isabelisveryf．ondofherindependenceanddoesnotliketheintimationthatheraunthasadoptedher．That’SwhyshetellsRalphthat“I"mnotacandidateforadoption"’(71)and“I"mfondofliberty"’(19)．．Later,accordingtoLydia’sreplyattherequestofherson,wegettoknowthatIsabelinsistsontravelinginEuropeatherOwnexpense，sinceshehasastrongaversiontobeunderany‘"pecuniaryobligations"’(39)fromtheverybeginning,theambiguousqualityofthisindependenceisstressed．Itshowstheindependentnatureoftheyoungheroine．ThiskindofindividualismCanbetracedbackwhenIsabelisyoung；Mr．Archerowesmuchtothecultivationofhisdaughter’Sindependentnature．Theindulgentandaffectionatefatherhasabroadwayoflookingatlifeandrearshisdaughtersinaveryfreeway．HebringsthemalongonhistripstoEuropewhentheyareonlylittlekids，butthetripsarejustlongenoughtostimulatethechildren’Scuriosity．Hehasanextremefondnessfortheyoungestdaughter,Isabel，andprovidesherwithnumerousadvantages，thechiefofwhichisnottobringheruptoostrictly．Isabelisquiteacleverlittlegirlwitha谢shforfreedom．Onceherfathertriestosendhertoanearbyschool，butunaccustomedtotheregulationsoftheschool，shereturnshomeafterspendingonlyasingledayinit．Onmostoccasions，Sheisleftwithnursemaidorgoverness，oneofwhomprovestobeasirresponsibleasMr．Archerhimself--shediscardsIsabelandelopedwithaRussiannobleman．Asaneleven-year-old鲥，Isabelfeelsneitherfrightenednorashamed．一IsabelArcheralsoshowsherindividualismintherelationshipwithothers．IsabelmakeherdeclarationtoGoodwoodthatsheprefersherpersonalindependencetoanythingelseintheworld，Shealsoclaimsthatshebelongs“quitetotheindependentclass"’(172)．ThisCallbeprovedbyIsabel’SrefusaltoCaspar’Sproposal．Caspar,whoisthefinestyoungmanIsabel10 haseverseen，hastwiceaskedIsabeltomarry渤becausehethinkssheis“恤mogfbeautifulyoungwoman。fhertime’’(34)·Inthis∞nteXt，becauseshewould1i：kelyto舭sue搬ownind印饥d钮ce·Isabelrefusedhisproposal，justItrytojudgethingsformyself,"tojudge⋯wrong,s嚣think,煮篙honorablethannottojudgeat．Idon"twishtobe删甜℃酣比⋯“¨”．：⋯：“’。1wish幻砌。∞P删弦纪口以砌。ws。mgthingofh“m口，laffa泌6缈。翮砌谢。砌删Dp纪历加kitc。唧肋跆w砌prop庇tytote胁州159)FromtheabovewordswecandiscoverthatIs—abeldee⋯ply1．ov⋯esfrkee=independence,sheherownwayofwouldoidnng，ttlh妇ingtos．ShewouRl．ratIle⋯rlu一一oan嫣。cka．Beingjudgmentthannotajudgmentata11．Shew：蓑：墨础bea；cme．ermesiameeaapein删meyx：：：；胁v；ewinsistentonherideas，sheisreluctanttoacceptca8p孤sau⋯mLu“““～个⋯。。f舭e州domisIc．1e，‰arlyrevealed．，)el"sidualismhaSc。Illlectionw⋯feminism．tTlleo础c兆osomeextent，IsabelindividualismhaScomec【loⅡwlIll．1l。lllllUb．。⋯啦to‰咄一c==：=∞mⅣi掣怒=，：th．enineteenfthcenturyAmerican胁雠删篡叫yp—erspectiv～e,一tszt舭u饥00蛳t．u’,Jz．1rmfch触oIeminism．Sh湘eha拙sas佩ubv咖ersivgaiefnorthcee‘ofaCtch：all—engetlaeman-一oomrriumedt,girlsh二eamenovel，fromIsabel"s妇啦讹c：，舞慧嚣砌Thebyyou位ng螂,m出m眠t砒L胁egenn锄enfre．edo，mgr，eaterinAmericathaninE啪衅；=：=，：：：=二：at二丘eeaom伍e11dsa11denjoythemselvesgenerallyattheirown1elsUure，砸eu儿吼1砂⋯“1伊一⋯th缸也eir姗e龇∞硼|te印ans·．，t一一，．acquisitionf、fHistorically,Americ-anhistorywillenableusto—u．ndersta．nats—aro．ehtenpl=ac,．qe．。,of．w．．．。．m．en．．s．elf-ind．ep。endence·Intheearlynineteenthcnen籼turyal,tw凇odiffer⋯entvle—wsoxu1三ion。fmemso姗wereevident．Onewasthen兰蛆n叩plulos⋯opn～y,a】n一磊e舻sgiventoEnlightenment,whicharguedthwaeretwocitimezndeserred—thue．ssa．mFer删ngms嘶anu啦ptch；i。nedme—simplybecausetheytoow唧mzenn矾s．。I璐nt甜he。∑二二篡i摹：v；州k二bys。menaturalrightsview．Against，t蝴hisw鼬eretih吼e=咖n姗蔷：：■0rk⋯纛eawomenandmanymen．，Inq==：篓inSdene船cat,al胁lS,INCW0n’Isul腑t,U㈣l*,4．1zzz_lJvn。矿declarationofwomen’8d笔竺：?0=∞_‘÷_=二⋯⋯entIndependence．Callingfor∞如一。≥篇优∞and，proper—ty—la—w蹦a,‰-矗-o～．州．．．．．．．i．vn．．．eⅢmphasizedalltheneedforwomentoh=gadeiltto汹votee．dl黜lnm训etllatcebreiyt拙uttu*,础u,e,№m删womenfeltthatthetimehad∞metoraoe删幅““⋯””“⋯。1l WhileinEuropetraditionalism，submissivenessandobediencewereprevailingatthattimeespeciallyforwoman．Herewomenweresaidtobepartnersofmen,butbecauseoftheirbiologicalandemotionalmake-uptheyweresuitabletoparticipateinpoliticsorpubliclife．Womenweresupposedtoguardtheirfamilyandhome，providingasafehavenformenengagedintherough-and—tumbleofthenineteenthcenturymarketplace．Thesecharacteristicsareperhapsthemostfemininevirtuethatisexpectedofwomen．IntheBible,Eve，thefirstwomanmadefromAdam’Srib，isnotcreatedforherownsake，but鹊acompanionfortheman．Fromearlychildhoodon,girlsaretaughttoobeytheirfathers，husbandsandevenbrothersandtocreateanatmosphereofsupportandnurturanceformen．Therealnatureofthetruewomanisthatsheisothersi罂卜叫沁doesnotexistforandinherself．SimonedeBeauvoirargues：Throughouthistory,womenhavebeenreducedtoobjectsformen：Womanhasbeenconstructed,嬲nlan’sother,deniedtherighttoherownsubjectivityandtoresponsibilityforherownactions．Or,inmoreexistentialistterms：patriarchalideologypresentswomanasimmanence，manastranscendence．11Women．havenoindependencetospeakof．Inaddition，Europe,withitslongfeudalismtraditionandrichhistoricalconvention,hasdevelopedcomplicatedsocialceremoniesandnormsinwhichanyonewhodarestoviolatethemwouldbepunished．Thesocietyisrigidlystratified．Widegapexistsbetweenpeopleofdifferentsocialclasses．Asaresult,theseEuropeanizedAmericansattachgreatsignificancetotheproprietyofones"manners，andtheclaSsoftheirfriends．TheybecomesoaccustomedtotheEuropeanculturethattheyfcclatalosswhenfacedwiththeircompatriotsfromthenativeland．Insummary,youngIsabel’Sindependenceandtheprideinpersonalfreedomprovesthatsheiseagertoarrangeherlifeaccordingtohervolitionandwishtothrowofftheshacklesofcustomandtradition，whichgoforwardtothedevelopmentofanewanddistinctlyAmericanculture．AllherbehaviorsrepresentonemajordifferencebetweenAmericancultureandEuropeanculture．B．PurityandInnocenceinIsabelThoughthemajorityofAmericanswereoriginallyfromEurope，theydidestablishaculturaldifferencebetweenthederivedcultureandsourcecultureinthe19thcentury．ThegreatdifferenceisemphasizedinthepartisthedifferencebetweentheAmerican’SpurityandinnocenceandtheEuropean’SexperienceandsophisticationwhichbaSedupontheformandceremony．Generallyspeaking,inJames’Swriting，theAmericanpeople嬲Isabelareinnocent，honestandnaivewhiletheEuropeanpeople(Europeanizedpeople)asMadameMerleareinert,experiencedandsophisticated．IfyouexamineinthefollowingpagesHenryJames’SThe PortraitofaLady，youwillseethefullestimageofinnocenceinthisnovel．ThispartdoeslookforwardtodescribingthestoryofIsabel，舔allrepresentativeAmericancharacter,Isabelisconceivedasacross-breedingbetweentwosectionaltypes：thewesternfarm-pioneerandnortheasternbusinessman．HispersonalitiesarereflectedinhispracticesinEurope．ThroughthesocialcontrastsbetweenthenewworldandtheoldworldanewAmericanisvividlypresent．WhatJamesmeansbyaninnocentpersoninthisnovelisonewhohasnotbeentouchedbydeepexperienceinworldlymatters．Theinnocentareeagerforlifeandtheyusuallyseelifeinothers勰anobjectforherowndesires．Usually,inJamesnovels，theseintelligentandeagercreaturesarecorruptedandspoiledbythesophisticatedones．Theinnocentsarecandidandhuman．Theyhavestrengthandrespondwithdeepconvictionwhentheyseetheiridealscorrupted．Andtheyarealmostalwaysintelligent．WhenarrivesinEurope，Isabelpossessesinnocence．Shedoesnotyetpossesssophisticationandexperienceintheworld，especiallyintheEuropeanemphasisonthecorrectformandceremony．Isabel’SinnocenceandtheEuropean’SsophisticationareinsharpcontraSt．WeCanseefromwhatEuropeanizedpeople(whorepresentEuropean)MadameMerlesaid：Everyhumanbeinghashisshellandthatyoumusttaketheshell伽幻account．BytheshellImeanthewholeenvelopeofcircumstances．There§nosuchthingasanisolatedmanorwoman；we"reeachofUSmadeupofsomeclusterofappurtenances．Whatshallwecallourself7．Wheredoesitbegin?Wheredoesitend?ItoverflowsintoeverythingthatbelongstoUS～andthenitflows施砖again．1knowalargepartofmyselfisintheclothesIchoosetowear．1"veagreatrespectforTHINGS!(171)WhatMadameMerlesaysexpressedthedeepsophisticationinEuropeancorruptculture，andshetotallydevotestotheworldofthingswithnorespecttohumanspiritandtheinnerself-truth．ThroughoutthetalktheEuropeanskeeponpreservingformsandexperience．Yetbehindalltheformsandexperience，behindthesenseofhonor，aristocracy,andrituals，thereliescunning．Isabeljustthinkstheotherway，thoughtheoutsidethingsandappurtenancesarenotidenticalwithIsabel’Swill，becausenoonecouldexistisolatedfromtheoutwardcircumstances．Isabel’Sidentityisimposeduponherselfbysociety．Butshestillprocessesher trueselfandmoralintegrity．Iknowthatnothingelseexpressesme．Nothingthatbelongstome西anymeasureofme；everything"sonthecontraryalimit,abarrier,andaperfectlyarbitraryone．Certainlytheclotheswhich，asyousay,Ichoosetowear,don}expressme；andheavenfo而掰theyshouM!(171)ToIsabel，wecanfindwhoknewlittleofthesortsofdisguisetowhichyoungwomenaleexposed，flattered．Jamesposesusuallyaninnocentfigure．Usually,“Innocence’’hastwomeanings，onereferringtoignorance，whiletheotherreferringtomoralintegrity．Isabel’SnaivetyandinexperienceinlifeCanalsobeseenevenwhensheisveryyoung,exceptsomebookishknowledge,IsabelknowsnomoleaboutEurope．AstohermoraUty,Isabel’Snatureislikeabeautifulgardenfullofperfumedflowers．Andherinexperiencemakesherbeliefinthebrightnessoftheworld．TherehasbeensomeforeshadowinginasignificantdiscussionwithRalphabouttheghostatGardencourt，whichhebelieves“hasneverbeenseen砂ayoung,happy,innocentpersonlikeyou．Youmusthavesufferedfirst,havesufferedgreatly,havegainedsomemiserableknowledge．Inthatwayyoureyesareopenedtoit⋯”“ItoldyoujustnowI"mveryfondofknowledge,”Isabelanswered“Yes,ofhappyknowledge,ofpleasantknowledge．Butyouhaven?suffered,andyou"renotmadetosuffer．Ihopeyou"llneverseetheghost．t’’．．．Charmingashefoundher,shehadstruckJjl砌asratherpresumptuous-indeeditWasapartofhercharm；andhewonderedwhatshewouldsay．“I：mnotafraid,youknow,”shesaid,whichseemedquitepresumptuousenough．“You"renotafraidofsuffering?’’“Yes,l"mafraidofsuffering．ButI"mnotafraidofghosts．AndIthinkpeoplesuffertooeasily,’’shesaid．一一“Idon鼍believeyoudo,”saidRalph,lookingatherwithhiShandsinhispockets．“Idon、thinkthat"safauU,”sheanswered．’"It"snotabsolutelynecessarytos“ffer；wewerenotmadefo，．that”(39)．Attheendofthisearlyportentousdialogue，RalphtellsIsabelthatthegreatpointisto beashappyaspossible．Sheassureshim，rathertoosmugly,thatwhatshecomestoEuropeforistoashappyauspossible．Despitehergettingreadyforthepossibilityofsuffering，despiteherromanticdesiretoinadifficultpositiondemandingheroism，Isabelhastheyouthful，strong，blinkeredself-assurancethatisaconvictionofimmunitytosuffering．SheisliabletoⅡlesinofself-esteem；sheoftensurveyswiththefieldofherownnature，sheisinthehabitoftakingforgranted，onscantyevidence，thatsheisright；shetreatsherselftooccasionsofhomage．Thisyoungwomanbelievesthatpeoplearerightwhentheytreather嬲someonewhohasundeniablyattractivequalities．Theinitiatingpurposeofthestoryistheimageofayoungwomanaffrontingherdestiny；thedevelopingformprovidesaspectacleofalternativesSOwide，ofchoicesSOhandsome，嬲t0m狄emereaderfearforIsabelalmostfromthestart．Thereisinfactacertainamountofforeshadowingalmostfromthebeginningofthenovel：锄thewhole,reflectively,shewasinnouncertaintyaboutthethingsthatwerewrong．Shehadnoloveoftheirlook,butwhenshefixedthemhardsherecognizedthem．Itwaswrongtomean，tojealous,tofalse,tocruel；shehadseenveryBttleoftheeviloftheworld,butshehadseenwomenwholiedandwhotriedtohurteachother．Seeingsuchthingshadquickenedherhighspirit；itseemedindecentnottoscornthem．Ofcoursethedangerofahighspiritwasthedangerofinconsistency—班edangerofkeepingup历eflagaftertheplacehassurrendered；asortofbehaviorSOcrookedastoalmostadishonortotheflag．1zThequalifieswhichIsabel，stillayouthfullybravetheoristaboutlife，recognizesSOclearlytowronghere—．tomean,tojealous，tofalse，toCmel—provetoafaidvaccuratedescriptionofthemansheisallinnocentlytomarry．Thereisaniceironyinherthinking，thatissherecognizes“womenwholiedandwhotriedtohurteachother,’’whilethelastsentenceofthisquotationforeshadowsamovementinthenovelthatwillnotaltogetherilluminatedexceptbythewholehistoryofIsabel’Srelationships．Thatabovesentences，besidescontributingtoOursenseofIsabel’Sengaginglyinnocence，mayreadaSareference，thoughallambiguousone，toIsabel’Sdecisionattheendofthenoveltoupholdthehonorofhermarriage．Herlifeshouldalwaysinharmonywiththemostpleasingimpressionsheshouldproduce：shewouldwhatsheappears，andshewouldappearwhatsheis．Sometimesshe goesSOfarastowishthatshemightfindherselfsomedayinadifficultposition,SOthatsheshouldhavethepleasureofbeing嬲heroicastheoccasiondemanded．ThatmaybetakenasadirectforeshadowingofIsabel’sreturntoItaly,andofanalmostclassicallystatedhubris，eventhoughsomehavearguedwimtheparticularheroismandtheparticularoccasioninwhichIsabelfindsherpleasure．Isabel’SpurityandinnocencecanbeseenfromherkindnesstoPansy．WhenIsabelseesPansy,sheisgreatlyimpressedbythelovelygirl．Isabelwishestoshowkindnesstoher．Atthemomentshecannothelpthinkingofthegirl’Seducation,herfutureandherdestiny．ThefollowingiswhatisgoingoninhermindwhensheistogetherwithPansy．Babelwonderedather；shehadneverhadSOdirectlypresentedtohernosethatwhiteflowerofcultivatedsweetness．HowwellthechiMhadbeentaught,saidouradmiringyoungwoman；howprettilyshehadbeendirectedandfashione&andyethowsimple,hownatural,howinnoce．ntshehadbeenkept：Isabelwasfond,ever,ofthequestionofcharacterandquality,0jsounding,aswhowouldsay,thedeeppersonalmystery,andithadpleasedher,uptothistime,tobeindoubtastowhetherthistenderslipwerenotreallyall-knowing．(314-315)Pansyisnaiveandinnocence嬲wellasIsabel，buttheirinnocencearequitedifferentinessence．Isabel’Sistheinnocenceofnature，ofspontaneousspiritnurturedbyayoungsocietylackingformsandtraditions．Pansy’s，however,istheinnocenceofachievedart,thenurturedandcontrolledproductofasystem．Isabel’SiStheinnocenceofanineteenth—centurynewworld；Pansy’Sofalleighteenth-centurypastoral．Pansyis‘‘cultivated’’inthemostliteralsense；hersimplicityistheproductofsophisticationasintenseasachild’Sportrait．ItCallbethegroundworkforanachievedhappinessandbeautyintheexpressionofanaturedirected，noteliminated，byart．Oritcanbeused，asafortunecallbeused，fordeceitfulpurposes．OsmondchoosesthatPansy’Sinnocence，whichiSherfortune，shallbeusedtoachieveaprofitablemarriage，howeverlittletheprofitmightbePansy’S．Thepoorgidisbetrayed，andhersmallerdramathrowsmanylightsonthelargeroneofherstepmother．Isabel’Sinnocence，toalargeextent，isoutofherimaginationandidealism．Beinginsistentonherunrealisticideas，sheisreluctanttoacceptothersadvice．Theinadequacyofherviewofignoranceisclearlyrevealed．IntheenditinevitablyleadstoheridealisticbutpainfulmarriagewithOsmond．16 Innocentidealistsheis，Isabelfailstoseethatsheusestherightreasonsforthewrongchoice．MadameMerle，whostrikesherasthemostcivilizedcreatureIsabelhaseverknown,hasofcoursetakenherin．WhiletheEuropeanpeople(Europeanizedpeople)asMadameMerleisinert，experiencedandsophisticated．EvenMrs．ToucherisalsocaptivatedbyMadameMerle(thoughsherecoversapropervisionlongbeforeIsabeldoes)，andrecommendshertoIsabelwithoutqualification：‘‘SerenaMerlehasn’tafault．”ButIsabel，beforehermarriage，asksRalphwhyhedislikesMadameMerle．HeseesmanyofthesamethingsthatIsabelhasseen，butwimtheimportantdifferencethathedoesnotconstruethemasanepitomeoftheculturedlife．RalphalsoironicallypraisesSerenaMerle：‘"Hermeritsareimmense”，saidRalph．‘"She分indescribablyblameless；apathlessdesertofvirtue；theonlywoman1knowwhonevergivesoneachance⋯Shepushesthesearchfo，．perfectiontoofar⋯hermeritsare加themselvestooover-strained．She"stoogood,tookind,tooclever,toolearned,tooaccomplished,tooeverything．She分toocomplete,inaword．(391)AsfaraswehavementionedMadameMerleistypicalEuropeanstyleofsophisticationandexperienced．Thispartisveryimportantforaclearlydescriptionofdifferencebetweennewworldandoldworld．ThenaturalsimplicityinnocencekndofAmericancharacter(oftenNewEnglanders)，andthecultivatedcomplexityofanother(usuallyEuropeaninoldworld)C．LowCultureEmbodiedinIsabelByhi曲cultureitmeanstheknowledgeacquiredfromschoolandliteratureSOaStoleadabetterlife，andtobewellmannered．InaSenSe，thisknowledgereferstothefamiliaritywithtraditions，institutionsandformationsSOastobehaveproperlyinagivenculturalcontext．Asanindirectexperience，suchknowledgeaboutsocialpracticeisderivedfromone’Ssocialenvironment，notfromhisgeneticmake—up．LisaHecklingpointsout，eachpersoncarriesaroundseverallayersofcultural‘programming．’Itstartswhenachildlearnsbasicvalueswhatisrightandwrong，goodandbad，logicalandillogical，beautifulandue；1y．Cultureisaboutone’Sfundamentalassumptionsofwhatitistobeapersonandhowoneshouldinteractwithotherpersonswithinhisowngroupandwithoutsiders．Thislevelofcultureisthedeepest，muchmoredifficulttochange．InThePortraitofaLaayJamesadoptsacontroversialattitudetowardtheEuropean cultureandAmericanculture．HeworriesaboutsomevaluesoftheAmericanbysayingthattheAmericanisacountrywithleftout．TheEuropeanhemeanshereis，ofcourse,advancedhighculture；thegreatcharmofEuropeisinthedifferenceinitssocialculture，whichisembodiedbytheoldthingspregnantwithmemoryandhistoryinEurope，itsintricateamenity,itsworldlywisdom，itstraditionallyorderedexperience，andSO0n．Forexample，theopeningofThePortraitofaLaayisaleisurely,old-fashionedsocialsceneknownastheaRernoontea．ThisBritishcustomoftakinglightrefreshmentinthelateafternoons’emphasishereisonanimposingsocialorderintheEuropeanculture．EuropeisofspecialimportancetotheeducatedAmericansofthenineteenthcenturywhoⅡ1i11l【thebondlinkingthemtoEuropecouldaffordthemculturalandsocialadvantages．Afterall，theinthisolderlandismoreancient，anditcouldbecharacterizedbyitssocialstratification，conventions，sophistication,manneredandart．WhileIsabelArcher’Sappearanceinthegardenisasharpcontrasting．Isabel，whosuddenlyappearedinthedoorwayatGardencourt,alloldEnglishcountry-house，is舶shfromhernativecountryandnewtoEngland．WhatshedemonstratedisadistinctiveAmericancharacter,Isabel’shabitsandbehaviors，aswellascustomsandwayofthinkingknittheunderstanding，theexpressivecitizensoftheyoungercountrytothescenesandthehighoftheolderland．ThoughMrs．ToucherregardsIsabelasaclever西dwitllastrongwillandahightemper,andfeelsthatitwouldbeakindnesstotakeheraboutandintroducehertotheworld，sheyettakesonacriticalairandstatesthatIsabelthinkssheknowsagreatdealoftheworld，butlikemostAmericangirlssheisridiculouslymistaken．IsabelhasbeenaccustomedtoreadinganddaydreaminginaroomknownaStheofficethatlaybeyondthelibrary．Sheisemptyofallrealknowledgeorrealexperienceandwithalimitedviewoflife．Sheisinmanyrespectsinexperiencedandnaive．Suchquestionsaswhatoneshoulddowiththemiseryoftheworldneverholdherlong．“SheWastooyoung，tooimpatienttolive，toounacquaintedwithpain"’．Herapproachtolifeisveryromantic，idealistic，andtheoretic．Shebelievesintheidealsofherworldbutdoesnotunderstandhowtheyaremaintainedinreality．InthenovelIsabelisdescribedasayoungromanticgirlwithhilghnotionofwhatlifewouldbringtoherandalsoaSonewhotendstoseeherselfinastrongdramaticlight．ApparentlyIsabelisill—equippedtofacethecosmopolitansocietythatherauntSOboldlycarriesheroffto．ButjustasMrs．Ludlowsaystoherhusband，Isabelisthepersontogoabroadtogetachancetodevelop．TherewouldreallybeachangeinIsabel’Slife．Whatit18 wouldbringtoherisasyetextremelyindefinite．Thepoorgirllikedtobethoughtclever,butshehatedtobethoughtbookish；sheusedtoreadinsecretand,thoughhermemorywasexcellent,toabstainfromshowyreference．Shehadagreatdesirefo，knowledge,butshereallypreferredalmostanysourceofinformationtotheprintedpage；shehadanimmensecuriosityabout蜘andwasconstantlystaringandwondering．Shecarriedwithinheragreatfundoflife,andherdeepestenjoymentwastofeelthecontinuitybetweenthemovementsofherownsoulandtheagitationsoftheworld．(34)．Besides，theEuropeanandAmericansdiversegreatlyintheirmallners．EuropeanizedAmericansappearmoresophisticated，morefamiliarwiththeEuropeannormsandconventionsthanAmericans，SOtheybehaveproperlyandappeartobeelegant．WhileAmericanseverywhereappearsimpolitevulgartosomeextentrude．WhenIsabelseeshermaternalaunt,AuntLydiaToucher，sheboldlysays，“YoumustbeOUrcrazyAuntLydia．”(20)Isabelisfresh，naturalandquicktounderstandandtospeak．Shesayswhatshepleases，oftenpraisesprofusely,andenjoysboltretorts．Thesemusthaveseemedbluntandpresumptuous，andhavebeenregardedaswildandfreemannersbysuchEnglishladiesasthetwoMissMolyneuxswho‘"ratherlookedthanspoketheirgoodwishestoIsabel”．NotonlyIsabelshowedbluntandpresumptuousbutalsoherchaserMr．GoodwoodseelIIstohaveastrongcharacter,anaturalforce，nurturedbyandservingnothingbutwhatJameselsewherecallsthe‘worldofgrab’．Hispoweristoolittleshapedornurturedbythecomplexstructureofcivilization，weCanfindCasper’Sarrogance，impolite，vulgar,nocultivatedinawordoflowculture．Inaddition，EuropeanandAmericanresponddifferentlytowardEuropeancivilization．ThoseEuropeanorEuropearfizedAmericansadoptaskillfulapproachtowardEuropeanhi曲culture．MadameMerlemakesanefforttoacquaintherselfwiththeEuropeansociety,91．1StOIllS，ere．Thus，theybehaveproperlyinEurope．Besides，LordWarburtonisfamiliarwiththeEuropeanhistory,customsandclassicliterature．HehasalleyeforbeautyandknowshowtoappreciatetheEuropeancivilization．LordWarburtonisalsoaliberalaristocrat．HeembodiesthearistocraticcultureofEurope，whichisassociatedwith“greatresponsibilities，greatopportunities，greatconsideration，greatwealth,greatpower,anaturalshareinthepublicaffairsofagreat19 country"’(59)．AnotherEuropeanizedAmericanOsmondisafamousartist．BecauseofhisknowledgeoftheEuropeanculture，hisartisticandliterarytaste,hiselegantmanners，heliveslikeafishinwaterinEurope．EvenIsabeltakeshim嬲asuperiorbestmanatfirstsigla_t．Incontrast,IsabelandherfriendstakeanawkwardmethodtowardEuropeancultureofwhichtheyknowlittle．Comingfromaneconomicallypowerfulcountry,theytakeintenseprideoftheirownland，andevendiSplaysomeblindarrogance．Isabel’SgoodfriendHenriettainfact，throughoutthegreaterpartofthenovel，toalmosttheveryend，representstheAmericanpointofview．TosomeextentHenrietta’Sattitudeandbehaviorrevealshershallownessandarrogance．ShewiUdefendAmericaninstitutions，Americanmen,andtheAmeriCanpointofviewtoa11thepeopleshemeets．AsIsabel’Sclosefriend，sometimestooclose，shewillbetheconstantchampionofMr．CasparGoodwoodinhissuitforIsabel．Y．etHenriettarepresentsmore．InherownwaysheregardsthemanneredlifeasthemeaninglessritualsthatsheseesinEurope．SheiSdirectandhonest；sometimessheisrude,sometimesshemisconstruesherplace,butsheishonestandalwaysconcernedforIsabel，althoughintheendshemayleastunderstandhergoodfriend．ShelacksthegracesmosttreasuredinEngland．Henriettahasabouther,asIsabelsays，theodorofhergarments，andthescentofAmericastretchingtothePacific．AstoEuropeansocialnorms，conventionsandmanners，Isabelandherfriendsknowsevenless．ShesimplylivesinawayofhernativeplacehereinEurope，aworldmorecivilizedandsophisticatedthanhersmallhometowninAmerica．Thoughinaforeignland，sherefusestolistentoothers’kindadvice．Mrs．Touchettadviseshersometimesbutshedoesnottakeitforgranted‘‘Idon’twanttoknowwhatyoumean⋯Ifthisisimproper,thenIanlallimproper,andyoumustgivemeup”(12)．RefusingotherskindadviceshestickstoherOwnwaydespiteallthegossipandthenfinallyleadtohertragicmarriage．Thesaying,wheninRome，doesastheRomandoes，haslongofferedpeopleguidancebywhichtheycanbehaveina南rei弘land．Ifapersonrefusestoadapttothenewenvironment,he／shewillinevitablyrunintodifficultsituationandbeisolatedbytheloc：alpeople．HenryJamesshowsdetestandconcernforAmericansarroganceandignoranceinviewingothernations’culture．HehassimilarcommentsonthenegativesideoftheAmericanqualities．TheAmericans’travelinginEuropeisaphenomenonreadilyencounteredduringthelatterhalfofthenineteenthcentury．，nlerolesinhisnovelsarei11一made，ill-mannered，andilldressed．JamesoncestatedhisimpressionofAmeriCallSinalettertohisbrother：Thereisbutonewordtollseinregardtothem--vulgar,vut窖ar,and vulgarTheirignorance--theirstingy,defiantgrudgingattitudetowardseverythingEuropean--theirperpetualreferenceofallthingstosomeAmericanstandardorprecedent砌砌exbztsonly伽theirownunscrupulouswindbags---andthenourunhappypovertyofvoice,研speech．andofphysiognomy--thesethingsglareatyouhideously．13InJames’Swords，theyarevulgar,ignorant，andstingy-minded；Althoughtlleyseemtohavecharacter,seemtohaveenergy,capacityandintellectualstuff,itistheabsoluteandincrediblelackofculturethatstrikesyouincommontravelingAmericans．Culture，inJames’Ssense，isanaccumulationofhistoryandcustomaswellas“complexityofmannerandtypes．”孔eAmericans，inaword，areincompleteandinsufficientthisnegativesideofAmericanqualities，accordingtoJames，iscreatedbytheyouthofthecountry,byitslackoftraditionsandarichlyculturalcivilization．InhisNotebooks，JameslistedtheitemsofhighcivilizationthatexistedintheOldWbdd，butwereabsentfromthetextureofAmericanlife：NoState,intheEuropeansenseoftheword,and{孙deedbarelyaspecificnationalname．Nosovereign,nocourt,nopersonalloyalty,noaristocracy,nochurch，noclergy,noarmy,nodiplomaticservice,nocountrygentlemen,nopalaces,nocastles,normanors,noroldcountry—houses,norparsonages,northatchedcottagesnor如主edruins；nocathedrals,norabbeys,norlittleNormanchurches；nogreatUniversitiesnorpublicschools，noOxford,norEton,norHarrow；noliterature,nonovels,nomuseums,nopictures,nopoliticalsociety,nosportingclass--noEpsomnorAscotl14SofromabovewordswefindtheculturesoilofAmericanisverythin．ThedissatisfactionwithAmerica’SlackofcultureisnotonlyevidentinJamesbutalsoinhiscontemporarywriters．In1888WilliamsDeanHowellswrotealettertoHenryJames，expressinghisworriesaboutAmericanculture．I"mnotinaverygoodmoodwithAmericamyself．ItseemstobethemostgrotesquelyillogicalthingunderthesunandIsuppose1loveitlessbecauseitwon"tletmeloveitmore．IshouMhardlyliketotrustpenandinkwithalltheaudacityofmysocialideals，butafterfiftyyearsofalloptimisticcontent withcivilizationanditsabilitytocomeoutallrightintheendInowabhorit,andfeelthatitiscomingoutallwrongintheendunlessitbasesitselfanewonarealquality．15Europeanhighculturemainlyembodiesinknowledge，artandhistory，whileAmericalacksallthesethings，whichwillcontributetostrengthenthecommercialandmaterialatmosphereinAmerica．Itisinessenceacountryofimmigrantswhocometoseektheirfortune．ThetypicalAmericandreamistoamasshugewealth，andthenationalheroisnlillionaire。insuchallenvironment，itisnaturalthatAmericaremainedbackwardculturally．ManyAmericanwriters，suchasHawthorne，Cooper,complainedofthethinnessofAmericanculture．HenryJames，perhaps，feltacutepainforthisdeficiencyinhistoricalandculturaldeposits．Heshowedheart．f．eltpityfornarrowness，provincialismofNewEnglandinthisway．ManyreadersarejustifiedincriticizingofAmericancultureforitsthinness．Therearesomef．actorstoaccountforhisdissatisfactionAmericanculture．America’SlackofhighcultureislinkedAmericanhistory．Objectivelyspeaking，AmericanhistoryisveryshortwhileEuropeanhistoryisfairlylong．Incontrast，theUnitedNationswasyoungenoughinJames，Sdays．TheculturalclimateWaspoorthere．ThusonecanfindJameswritingabouttheAmericaoftheearlynineteenthcentury,whichtohim，theflowerofartbloomsonlywheresoilisdeep，andittakesalonghistorytoproducealittleliterature．ThereforeAmericanswouldhavedifficultyinlearningrules，conventionsfrombooks．HisfeelingforthepovertyofAmericancultureisobviouslysympathetic．Forthepotentialwriter,saidJames，Americansociallifesimplyhadtoolittletooffer,comparedthedensityandrichnessofEurope．“Europetakessuchallaccumulationofhistoryandcustom，suchasacomplexityofmannersandtypes，toformfundofsuggestionforanovelist．’’10ne仳11IlessofAmericancultureisalsoduetoAmericanindustrialism．Americansocialandeconomiclifechangedrapidlyduringtheyear’Sbetweenl865-1914．Theexpansionofrmlroad．theexploitationofsuchresourcesasiron，coalandoil，thedevelopmentofimprovedmachinery,theprocurementofcheaplaborthroughimmigrationandthegovernment"spolicyofprotectinginfantindustriesbyhightariffsandbyallowingafreehandtobusinessworkedtogethertostimulatethisnation’seconomicgrowth．Undertheseconditions，therapidlyexpandingindustrialcapitalismbecamethedominantworldeconomy．ThespreadofthissortofAmericanindustrialismhelpedtocreatetheeconomic，socialandculturaltransformationofthecountry． MaterialismsoonbegantobecomerampantinAmericanatthattime．Highbuildings，straightroadsandsplendidchurcheswereerected．AmericanpeoplesoonbegintoenjoythefreedomandconveniencebroughtbymoneyTheyopposedcourts，titlesandelaboratedistinctions，whichtheyassociatedwithoppression．InthedistancewasthememoryofhavingsufferedreligiouspersecutioninEurope．TheabovelistisinformativeinoutliningthebasicvirtuesorqualitiesoftheOldWorldandtheNewWorldinyoungIsabelArcher．Tosumup，youngIsabelisendowedwithmoralidealismandbeliefinthenewworldculture．Inotherwords，IsabelistheembodimentoftheAmericancharacterofindependence，innocence，naivetyandlowculture，whoactswithunrestrainedfreedomandthebeliefthattheworldisgood．Onceoutoftheirvirginland，theAmericansareincapableofcopingwiththeworld．RomanticallyattractedtotheOldWorld，meyaredoomedtomeetwinlthetragichappeningsofhumanexistence，theinescapablelimitationsandthewidespreadevils，butlifeisanadventurethatmustbemet，fraughtthoughitiswithdreadfuldifficulties． ChapterTwoProcessofIsabel’SGrowingup—Isabel’SPursuitofCulturalFusiontwoisIsabel’SgrowingupperiodinEurope，themiddlestageofherroadtomaturityandknowledgewhichisalsotheprocessofherexploringexpeditionandherexperiencingEurope．Onherwaytomaturity，Isabelthinkshighlyofexperience，SOonceshearrivesinEurope，IsabelisattractedbyboththeEuropeanpoliticsandthecustomsandthemannersandthewayofliving．Shemakesgreatefforttosearchforknowledgeandart；Meanwhile，throughhermarriagechoices，inwhichsherejectsthefirsttwosuitorsandacceptsOsmondwhilefromwhomshesuffersalot，andthepeopleandthingssheencounters，sheseesmoreEurope，learnsmorefromEuropetoenrichherlife．HergrowingupexperienceinEuropelayasolidfoundationforherlatermaturity．A．Isabel’SQuestforKnowledgeandAn．AsfaraswehavelearntthoughyoungIsabelisignorantandlowcultured，sheisagiftwhoshowsgreatconcernforbooks，andIsabel’SrecognitionoftheEuropeanhighcultureismanifestedinherquestforknowledgeandarttomakeherbecomeknowledgeable．Shemakesgreatefforttorealizethisdream．Isabel’Sgreateraimistogainknowledge，evenwhensheisyounginAlbany,sheisspokenofasa‘"prodigyoflearning，acreaturereportedtohavereadtheclassicauthorsintranslations",(56)Sheusedtoreadsecretlyand，thoughhermemoryisexcellent，toabstainfromshowyreference．Sheisagiftwithagreatdesireforknowledge，awidereadingandwonderfultalk,towhomyoungmenareafraidoftalkingifwithoutspecialpreparation．Shepassesatthattimeasayoungwomanofextraordinaryprofundityamonghercontemporaries，asmostofthemareignorant．Shealsoreads“theLondonSpectator,thelatestpublications，themusicofGounod，thepoetryofBrowning，theproseofGeorgeEliot"’．(56)Introducedtotheoldworld，IsabeliseagerforcultureandcouldnotwaittoplayoutherapproachtolifegainedinthelibraryatAlbany．Shesurveysitasafieldofpotentialactionandchoice．AsallopenandunaffectedAmericangirl，sheisinterestedintheoldworldandwantstothrowherselfintoit．Shehasthedesiretoleavethepastbehindand“beginafresh’’(PL26)．Accordingtoherinnocentinterpretationoftheworld，Isabelthinksshecallleadaromanticlife，livingbypleasinghersdfandpleasingothersaswell．Justasshesays，shewantstobeashappyaspossibleinEurope．Shewishestochooseherownfateandis confidentofthebeautifulfreemovementsinEurope：togetasmanynewideasaspossible，toacquireknowledgeandexperiencefirst-hand，andtodowhatshechooses．JustaswhatAlwynBerlandsaysinhisbookCultureandConductintheNovelsofHenryJames．Whatsheistolookingfor,Isuggest,issomefulfillmentofherdesirefor,hersearchfor,ahighcivilization．Herdemandsforitsrealizationaresomewhatromantic,andcertainlyhard,ashardasJames≥ownmusthavebeenin1884whenhewrotethisnovelinthosestillearlyyearsofhisdiscoveryofEurope．Wemayhesitatetoreadasself-portraitIsabel"scombinationofthedelicate,desultory,flame一矗彪spiritandtheeagerandpersonalcreatureofconditions：evenofanauthorwhowasstillunderthespellofWalterPater．Butsheshares,withmanyofJames量characters,thePater-likehungerfo，experience,andthedescriptionjustquotedissurelyJames奢versionofburningwithahard,gem—likeflame．Sotoo，lsabel"svocation,hersearchfo，．anidealcivilizationorculture,exemplifiestheRuskin-Pater-ArnoMsanctificationofCultureasspendingonindividualemphasis-thevesselofthehighertruth，thegreatexalterofthehumanspirit,thestudyofperfectioninartandinconduct．Inanycase,shewillfallshortofhervague,beautifulideal,andtakewhatis坳．”Isabelisnotonlyf-ondofbookknowledge，butalsoofworldlyaffairs．Infact，theoldworldissomewhatacomprehensiveland，whichwilltakesomeoneyearsinandyearsouttobeassimilatedbyEuropeanculture．InordertoacquiretheexperienceandknowledgeinthecontextofEuropeancultureIsabel’SpurposestocometoEuropeistoseemoreaboutEurope(aplaceofhighcivilization)byvisitingoldcities，whichconcentrateshistory,power,politics，sexuality,art，andmostimportantofall，itconcentrateslanguage．Itrepresentsallintrinsicinstabilityofform，thealternativesofseeingmultitudinouschaosandautocratic，totalingunity．AssoonasshereachesEurope，shefallsinlovewiththenewplace．Heruncle’Shouseseemsapicturewimthelargelowrooms，thedeepembrasuresandcuriouscasements，thequitelightondarkbutpolishedpanels，thedeepgreennessoutside，whichis‘‘aplacewherethe骶adWasmuffledbytheearthitselfandinthet11ickmildairallfrictiondroppedoutofcontactandallshrillnessoutoftalk．Thesethingsweremuchtothetasteofouryounglady,whosetasteplayedaconsiderablepartinheremotions”(33)． InthenovelGardencourtissurelyasymbolofEurope，whichpreparesIsabelavastspacetotravel，tosee．ThemostnoticeablecharacteristicofIsabelisherfineperceptionandcarefor‘"knowledge．’’SheisdeterminedtoseeEuropeandtolearnmuchmoreaboutitforM曲cultureisnotgeneticbutlearned．ItisamovingtributetothecultureoftheEuropeplacesofinterest，richinitssuggestionsoftherefinementsandaccumulationsofawholewayoflife．Closelyrelatedtoherquestforknowledgeishersearchforart．Atthebeginningofthenovel，itisLordWarburton,whodeclaresIsabeltobehis‘"ideaofinterestingwoman．”(28)Heressentialfeaturesaremobility,vivacity,andconfidence，theabilitytotakeimpressions，acuteperception,and“acomprehensivenessofobservation"’．(30)Shepossessesadelicateflame—likespirit,andiseagertodrainthecupofexperience．ObviouslythereisagreatportionofaninIsabel’Smentalpicture，andhersubsequentactionsextendthisinitialaestheticism．Thesequalitiessuggestherpotentialcreativityasawomanartist．HeraestheticismcanbeseeneverywherefromthejoumeytoEurope，forexample：WhenIsabelarrivedinFlorence，sheisoverwhelmedbythequaintbeautyofitsarchitectureandtheperfusionofitsarttreasures．ToherItalyisalandofpromise，“alandinwhichaloveofthebeautifulmightbecomfortedbyendlessknowledge"’(190)．Itseemedtobetherightplaceshehasbeenlookingfor,andshepromptlybeginstoputherselfintoit．JustasJ．N．Sharmasays，“IsabelisconqueredbyItaly．”(203)IsabelalsolikestoorganizehertrainofthoughtintheopennessofRomanSquare．EventhoughshesuffersfromhertragicmarriagesheenjoyssittinginthetwilightamongtheRomanrelics．Byestablishingal(indofcontactwiththebeingoftheuniverseherheartfindsunitywiththenatureoftheearth．Isabelconfidesagreatmanysorrowstotherelics．Thoughtlleyrespondwimevenmoreprofoundsilence，theyanyhownourishherbrokenheart、析廿1alltheirlatentmeaningandsignificance．Isabelseemstohearherownheartvibratingwiththosethathavebeendeadforthousandsofyears．111eRomanrelicshelphertorealizethatnooneisalwaysfortunateandhappyandthathersorrowsandsufferingarenothingascomparedtothoseoftheancientRomans．So，bycomparinghersmallquestionwiththegreatone，sheseesherownsmallnessandgainsconfidenceforherfuture1ife．。Isabel’SquestforartCanbeobviouslyseeninOsmond．Fastidiousandindifferenceasheis，Osmondstillpossessessomethingelegant，artisticandreserved，especiallyinIsabel’Seyes“ShecommitstheerrorofmistakingOsmond’Spassivityformystery,hisfastidiousnessforsubtlety,hisindifferenceforreserve．Andsherespondstothemysteryofhispovertyby mentallytransforminghimintoaworkofartthatcouldmeettherequirementsofherimagination．’’(298)ThisprocessreachesaclimaxinamomentatwhichsheimaginesOsmondasafinelydrawnpicture：Shehadcarriedawayanimagefromhervisittohishill-topwhichhersubsequentknowledgeofhimdidnothingtoeffaceandwhichhappenedtotakeherfancy肛矾比谢西咖砒imageofaquiet,clev研sensitive,distinguishedman,strollingOnamass-grownterraceabovethesweetVald"Arno,andholdingbythehandalittle酬whosesympatheticdocilitygaveanewaspecttochildhoodThepicturewasnotbrilliant,butshelikeditslownessoftone,andtheatmosphereoftwilightthatpervadedit．(476)TosomeextentobviouslyIsabel’Saestheticsimagination,whichprogressesintoaheightenedandpurifiedformofaestheticism，grantsheranessentialotherness．．IncontrasttoIsabel’srecognitionofEuropeanculture，hersearchforartandknowledgeisalsorelatedtoherdespiseofAmericanmaterialism，whichisbecomingrampantinAmericaatthattime．TheepidemicofmoneyseekinginfectsalmosteveryAmericancitizen．InnotimemoneytUlTISouttobethesorestandardtomeasureman’sachievementsandman’slife．Inthatcontext，Isabelholdsanegativeattitudetowardmaterialpossession．Sheadmitsthatshedoesnotknowanythingaboutmoney．HerdisputewithMadameMerlemakesherstancedearer．MadameMerlestatesthateverybodyhasashell，andismadeupofappurtenances，andthusconcludesthatsheholds“greatrespectforthings”(175)，whileIsabelcareslittleaboutmaterialthings．Isabel’Sdespiseofmaterialismisalsoreflectedinherattitudetowardherinheritance．Facingthemoney,shedoesn’tfeelexhilaratedbutregardsitasacall，nottopleasurebuttoduty．‘"Atbottomhermoneyhasbeenaburden，hadbeenonhermind，whichwasfilledwiththedesiretotransfertheweightofittosomeotherconscience，tosomemorepreparedreceptacle．’’(375)ItmightbearguedthattoJamesmoneyisnecessarilyevil．Actually,moneyenablesIsabelt0befreetochoose，andthatiswhyRalphshouldpersuadehisfathertobequeaththemoney．ButthismoneydoesmakeIsabelatargetoffortunehunters．So，whatJamescriticizesisman’soveremphasisonmoney．Insteadofemphasizingitsmaterialandfortunesheultimatelymakesuphermindtoberich嬲avirtue．Herinterpretationofhermoneyismerelyapartofherbetterself,whichgiveshereven，toherownimagination，acertainidealbeauty．SheobjectsthatOsmondassociatehermindwimhermoney．Insteadofseeingthemoneyasan27 externalizationofherinnerbeauty,sheonlyregardsknowledge，art,virtueandself-cultivationasherbest．Inthenovel，whohaslearnedtostudytovisit，capableofconstructingacomplexarchitectureofart,meldingthetwodifferentculturesshehasexperienced．InSOdoingshetriestoenrichownknowledgeandapproachthepositionoftheartisticquality．Isabel’Squestforknowledgeandartplaysanimportantroleinhergrowingup，andhelpsIsabelturnfromavulgarimpoliteyoungAmericangirltoanelegantmanneredyounglady．B．Isabel’SFreeMarriageChoicesMarriageisjustmarriagewhileIsabel’smarriageisquitedifferentfromothermarriages，hermarriagechoiceimpliesparticularculturalmeaningbecausetoIsabel“husband"’，fromwhomshedesirestogainheridealizedculture，isasymbolofcivilization．InThePortraitofaLaaythereexiststhreesuitorstoIsabel，theyareCasparGoodwood，allenergeticandaffluentAmericanbusinessman；L0rdWarburton，aperhapsevenwealthierEnglishlandowner,ofaristocraticpoliticalpower；andGilbertOsmond，asuperficiallycharmingandcultivatedbutindeedself-centeredAmericanexpatriatelivinginItaly．Isabelrefusestheformertwobutacceptsthethird．Thechoicemaybepuzzlingatthefirstsight，butreasonableinviewofculture．ItiSnotmadeata11individual’Swhimsicalwill，butinline、砘mIsabel’Sculturalorientation．ThefirstsuitorCaspar,astheheadofawell-knowncotton-factoryinMassachusetts，tall，s20ngandsomewhatstiif,isamoverofmanwithresolutedeterminationtoexercisehiswill．Histalentsarepractical，hismannertypicalintheAmericanstyle，andhisoutlookmatter-of-fact．Asasuccessfulbusinessman，hecarriesdistinctnationaltraits．Heisenergetic，shrewd，practical，determinedandstrong—headed．Hardworkingandpractical，consequentlyIsabelfindsinhimawantofeasyconsonancewimthedeeperrhythmsoflife．Heistheproduct，ifnottheembodiment，oftheboldest，mostprominentaspectofemerglngAmericansociety．Caspar’SfigurerepresentsthemodemthemeofCapitalist—as-Hero．HeisallearlymanifestationofwhatistobecomeafamiliarpatterninAmericanlife．Caspartakeslifeseriously,andreactsindifferentlytoartandcultureofEurope，whichCanbeunderstoodinthebackgroundofAmericanPuritanism．Evenhisnamesuggestspracticaluse．Closelyconnectedwitllthispracticalspirit，heneglectshisspiritualcultivation．Hehasnotasteforbeauty,dressinghimselfalwaysinthesameway．Withlimitedresources，hisconversationisconfinedtothesamesubject．WhileinEurope，hejustremainsblindtothebrilliant c1Ⅵlizatlon·Hevisltsmuseums，butknowsnothingaboutthepictures．ob、，iously，hislackof1In姆nation,oftaste，ofappreciationofEuropeanculturesetsa11obstaclebetweeIlhimandIsabel．1sabeJhaseVerseen，andevenattheendsheisstillwonderingwhethershemi窒|ntnoth鲥emarriedhimifshehasnevercometoEurope．Casparhasneverenjoyedtheoldcrlandmuch，a11dhasnoinitiationintoalifeofsuchahighculture．Ontheconm哪；Isabelisfasclnated、)l，imEurope·Shedesirestoleavethepastbehindandbeginaf诧shin廿lefaceofher删’sofferofit·Therefore，shedecidestoget嬲manynewide嬲嬲possibleandtoposses8an灿ngshethinkshasmeaningtoherinit．Soonceherauntopellsupasudd砌y锄J鹕ed啪YoflifetoIsabel，Caspardoesnot‘‘fitin’’(133)；hisinteresta11dfeelingaren帅w；his∞actionembodiesalluncompromisingexhibitionofhiss仃engcll．IsabeladIllitsthatCaspardidnotdelightherata11．IsabelthinksGoodwoodtobenotonlyunlikeheridealofculture，buti11imicaltoitSdlscoV哪Hemakesherfearforherindependence,forherliberty,inse出ngoutthismItilIment·Heraccounttohimofwhyshewillnotmarryhim，andwhyshewiShes11imawav打omEuro舱lSportentous：Sheputshimofftemporarilyatfirst，dazzled豁sheisbvⅡlegreat11啪edlateopeningofheraunt’sofferof‘Europe’，andthenforever(asshethinks、withhermamagetoOsmond·ShehaschosenOsmondinpref打e11cetoGoodwoodbecauseU00dw0伽representswhatAmericahadtoofferIsabel．AccordingtoAm01dKe仕1e．i11her峋eetionofCasparGoodwood，IsabelisrejectingAmerica,oratleastthatpartofAmericathat【joodwoodrepresents，young，strongvaguely廿_linAm谢callcUdnlre．SincejsabelturnsdownGoodwood’sproposalwithouthesitation，readersw趾ttol【110wlsabel。relationwiththeothersuitorLordWarburton，whoisaliberalaristocrat．LordWarbunonembodiesthearistocraticcultureofEurope,whichisaSsociated、)l，itll“greatresponslblllties，缈atopportunities，greatconsideration,greatwealth，greatpower,anah砌shareinthepublicaffairsofagreatcountry’，(59)．Moreover,thereisnodoubtt11atLordwarbunonlsapersonwithmanyfinequalities，suchashisexcellentm锄ler’Ilisconsideration,andhiskindness-FromculturalperspectiveIsabelandLordⅥ蛐unonarebrou曲。upwithdifferentcustomsandideas，SOtheyrevealthespiritofthesystemt11evbelongtorespectively．Theyseetheirlivesfromtheirownpointofview,andoneisneVerablet0seeone’slifeinthemallnertheotherproposed．ThoughIsabelfeelsverydeeplvthea概ti∞ofaristocraticcultureembodiedbyLordWarburton，heispartofasysteln，讹ChisconVentionalandwithsomethingstiffandstupidandwhichIsabeldoesnotwisht0bedrawnInto·Inthissense，IsabelfeelsthatLordWarburtonislimitedandshet11i111【sheridealscould notberealizedbyalifewithLordWarburton，marriagetoLordWarburtonmightmeantoodrasticaforfeitofanAmericansystemofherown．ShefearsthelossofherAmericanqualityinfaceofanaristocraticorde￡What’smore，Isabellikesunexpectation，anddoeswanteverythingsettledinadvance．ThelifeofLordWarburtoncouldprovideispartofthearistocraticcultureofEurope．Itisveryconventionalwitlleverythingprettywellfixedandmarkedoutbeforehand，decentbutalittleprosaic．ThissplendidsecurityisthegreatestthingIsabeldesired，anditletsherseparateherselffromtheusualchancesanddangers，fromwhichmostpeopleknowandsuffer．AccordingtoBrianLee，suchamarriage，withiteasesandcomfort,wouldnecessitatearenunciationofherultimatemoralresponsibilities．Warburton’Sstrengthandpowerwoulddenyhertheexerciseofherfreedom．ItisimportanttoseethatIsabelclaimedallalongthatshewantstobefreeandindependent．Shedoesseeherselfasanyone’Ssatellitebutinsistedthatshehasherownorbit．ⅥmellsheisawareoftheextenttowhichLord呲urtonandCaspardesirestopossessher,Isabelfeelsthatmeythreatenherindividuality．Shewantstoseelife，soshestatesthatshedoeswishtomalTyuntilshehasseenEuropesincemarriagewoulddepriveheroffreedom．Isabelrefusestoescapeunhappiness，butshethinksshecouldescapedisagreeabledutiesbytakingromanticviewswithouttouchingthegrimreality．ThatiswhytherejectionofLordWarburtongaveherasweetfeelingoffreedom．MuchasEuropeattractsher,Isabelhasnoideaofbeingswallowedupbyit；shedesiresmoretosubsumethantobesubsumed，andshewishesalsotoremainanAmerican西dwhohaspossessedherselfofwhateverEuropepossessesthathasmeaningforher．ThusIsabelrefusesLord眦urton．ItcanbesaythateitherofCasparandWarburtonisaspecimenofsocialessenceandpowerinmeirownculture．BUttoIsabel，anAmericangirlwhohasencounteredEuropeancultureforalongtime，neitherofthemtouchedherimagination．IfinWarburtonthemallisstifledbythesystem，inCasparappetitesanddesignsareshown‘"toosimplyandartlessly’’(99)；andifWarburton’Svirtuesaretoomuchcultivated，Caspar’Sarecultivatedenough．ByrefusingL0rdWarburtonandCasparGoodwood，Isabelrefusedtwoalternativemodesofliferepresentedbythem．一Isabel’Srefusaloftheformertwomarriageproposalsdoesmeanthatshewillmarry,butpavesthewayforheracceptanceofOsmond．Outwardly,OsmondbestsatisfieswhatIsabelseeksforinEurope，thatis，experienceandknowledge，ormorespecifically,the11ighcultureinEuropeandthelifeexperience．InIsabel’seyes，Osmondisjustthe incarnationofEuropeanbrilliantcivilization．Hiscleanphysicalappearance，propermanners，humorousconversation,richknowledgeandfinetasteforartappealtoIsabel．Inwardly,Osmond’SartisticdispositionisthemosttouchingpointtoIsabel，whobelievesthathis“fineperception’’is‘"perfectlyconsistentwiththebestbreeding”(229)．Heisafinegrain，freefromanyvulgartroubles，“inasorted，sifted，arrangedworld，thinkingaboutartandbeautyandhistory”(229)．HisoldwayofeducatinghisdaughteralsohelpshimwinIsabel’Sfavor．AsforOsmond，criticshavediscussedextensivelyaboutthischaracter．Thecommentsareusuallyrathernegativeforthisman．Rosenthalargues，attheveryleastOsmondisguiltyofseductionbecauseheisamailwhodeploysatawoman，hisfragmentaryidealizationofhimselfandthenbluntlyeffacesthatvision．PoirierobservesthatOsmondisafortunehunter．InspiteofOsmond’Scursingaspectofcharacter,itshouldbementionedthatOsmondisamallwhopossessesmanygoodpointstobeworshiped．Hedemonstrateshimselftobeamailofculture，clevemess，andamenity．OtherwiseIsabelwouldrefusehiscourtship．Tobespecific，OsmondistogreatextentsymbolicoftheEuropeanculture(civilization)．Thoughhehasnoproperty,notitle，nohonors，nohouses，norlands，norposition，norreputation，norbrilliantbelongingsofanysort，“Osmond，intheeyesofIsabel，is“simplyaverylonely,averycultivatedandaveryhonestmanhe’Snotaprodigiousproprietor”(293)．Osmondisofcourse，amalloftaste，ofpropriety,ofcarefulmanners．ThereisalongpassagebyDorotheaKrook，wonhquotinginfull，onIsabel’SreasonsformarryingOsmond：Hisidealwasaconceptionofhighprosperityandpropriety,ofthearistocraticlife．．．Thatagainwasverywell；heretooshewouldhaveagreed；butt11eyattachedsuchdifferentideas，suchdifferentassociationsanddesires，tothesameformulas．Hernotionofthearistocraticlifewassimplytheunionofgreatknowledgewithgreatliberty；theknowledgewouldgiveoneasenseofdutyandthelibertyasenseofenjoyment．ButforOsmonditwasaltogetherathingofcombinedattitude．GilbertOsmond，aEuropeanizedAmerican，isadecentcompromisebetweenthemoralnotionsofIsabel’SAmericanbackgroundandtheglamouroftheEuropeanforeground．SoheappearsaSaspecimenaparttoIsabelthatshefindsirresistibletofillinlovewith．GilbertOsmonddoesnothingandhasnothing,whileheclaimsthatherenouncespassionlifeandordinaryhumanattachmentstopursuethehigh—mindedstudy．Heseemsimpatientofvulgartroublesandlivesbyhimselfinasorted，sifted，arrangedworld，thinkingaboutartandbeautyandhistory．HisfreedomfromallthesoiledattachmentsandinvolvementsofthisworldismoreattractivetoIsabel．Hedoesnotsuggestanysystemthatwouldengulfher．HeappearsSOindependent．SOindividualtoher． Furthermore，Osmond’SpovertygivesIsabelachancetooffer．IthasbeenmadeclearthatIsabeliswillingtogiveherselfcompletely．Believingthatoneshouldgainthingsbytoiling,Isabelregardstheinheritanceasaburdeninsteadofblessing．Sosheiseagertofindaproperuseforthemoneytosootheheruneasiness．Insuchamarriage，sheistogive，andtoshifttheburdenofhermoney．Thus，shefinallychooseshimashercomertocultivate．Inconclusion，Isabeldoesnotchooseherlifepartneraccordingtothematerialpossessions，buttoherquestforperfection,whichisinlinewithJames’Snotionofculturalfusion．ShelongsforthehighculturerepresentedbyEurope，wantstoenrichherlifeexperience，andhasasenseofmorality．Uptonow,Osmondhasseemedtobethemostsuitablecandidatetobeherhusband．C．Isabel’SPainfulExperienceinHerMarriageLifeExactlyspeaking，throughhermarriageIsabelhopestoseemoreEurope，tolearnmorefromEurope，Isabelthinkshighlyofexperience．Shewishestomakeameaningfullifefromwhathashappenedtoher．AsforOsmond，tosomeextentstandsforallthegoodandbadthingsexistingintheoldworld．Asthestorygoesfurther,onewillfindthatIsabeldevotesallherattentiontohermarriageandshedoesexperiencealotfrommarriage．Thus，bymarryingtheknowledgeableartistofgreatindependenceandlargeliberty,Isabelbeginsherexploringexpedition．ShetakesOsmondastheincarnationofEuropeancivilization．SheworshipshimasallimpoverishedbuthighlycultivatedgentlemanwhorepresentsforIsabelthehandsomebutimpoverishedPrince，Therefore，afterthemarriageatfirstshetriesherbesttodothingsinaccordancewithwhathewishestoplaytheroleasagoodwife．研1ilehermarriagetoOsmondisnotasidealasshehasexpected．Shecannotenjoythehappinessshedesires．Isabelhastofaceapainfulmarriage，andshesuffersfromitalthoughshedoesnottalkaboutit．InmarriageOsmondshowshisnatureofselfishness．Therealbeginningofherdeeperunderstandingandclearvisiontakesplacewhenshesitbythefireatonemidnight,rereadingherlife．Lookingbackattheyearsspendtogether,IsabelrealizesthatunderGilbertOsmond’SindifferencetoSuccess，hischarmingmanners，histaste，andhisknowledgeoflife，hisegotismlieshiddenlike‘‘aserpentinabankofflowers”(369)．HewantstohaveacompletecontrolofIsabel．Hetriestomakeheranextensionofhimself．OsmondensnaresIsabelintheguiseofa11artistand，aftersherisestohisbait,leadsherstepbystepintohisabyss．Throwingoffthemask,theSO-calledgentlemensoonstopsbeingashiningapparition．Osmond’Smagicalspellsaredistinctivelyfoundinthedrasticchangeof32 Isabel．Heisdependententirelyonthepeopleandthings，whichhedespisessomuch．Helivesexclusivelyfortheaestheticvalueofforms，whenhehas110conceptionofthevaluesunderlyingthem．Hehasanimmenseesteemfortraditionandarigidsystemaccordingtotraditions．HeaccusesIsabelofwillfullyrejectingtraditionalvalues．HetriestoisolateIsabelfromheroldfriends，refusestograntheranyfreedomofmind，andwantshertobeamerereflectorofhimsel￡LostinthethoughtofthemagnitudeofOsmond’sdeception，Isabelknowsthatshehasblindlymarriedherselftoaconventionbasedonemptyforms，onexquisitetasteandexternalvalues．Andwhensheperceiveshishatredofher,shefindsherlife“adark，narrowalleywithadeadwallattheend”(365)．ButallthetraditionaldecenciesandsanctitiesofmarriageconstantlypresentinIsabel’smindandrepresshertobecomepassive．What’smore，Isabel’ssufferingisreviewedfromaseriesofoccurrencesinhermaritallife．ShefirstlyperceivesOsmond’sfoulnessonLordWarburtonaffair,amatterthathappenedtwoyearsaftertheirmarriage．LordWarburtoncallsattheirvilla,where，treatedasadistinguishedguest，hegetsacquainted晰tllPansy．Knowingofthislord’sloveaffairwithhis谢featGardencourt，Osmondextremelyhopingtotakethismanofwealthandpowerashisson·-in-·law,whileatthesametimeNedisinpursuitofPansy．BothOsmondandMerlestronglyopposedNed’sproposaltoPansy．Ⅵ嘶leOsmondwantsPansytomaltyWarburtonandbecomeladyWarburton．Becauseoftheirrelationshipinthepast，OsmondissurethatIsabelhasgreatinfluenceonLordWarburton，soheanxiouslywantsIsabeltoexertsuchinfluence．AllthisiscarriedoutthroughastrainedconversationbetweenOsmondandOsmondrequestsIsabeltoencourageLordWarburtonprivately．HewishestomakeuseofheroldrelationshipwithLordWarburtontopromptthemarriage，evendroppinga1lintthatshecouldsacrificehersexiftheoccasionneeded．Osmondsays，”Ishouldlikeitextremely；itwouldbeagreatmarriage．AndthenLordWarburtonhasanotheradvantage：he’salloldfriendofyours”(PL420)．"Youmusthaveagreatdealofinfluence谢thhim，”Osmondgoesonatlast．“Themomentyoureallywishifyoucanbringhimtothepoint"’(PL421)．OsmondinsiststhatIsabelcanbeofgreathelp，whichgreatlyoffendsIsabel．msisagreatshocktoIsabel，forshehasalwaysthoughtherhusbandtobeamanofgreatvirtuesandleastvulgarity．Italsoaddsmuchtoherirritation，forsheisa西r1whovalueschastity．ShecannothelpfeelingdisappointedthatOsmondisfactuallyashamartistwithsuchnastyideas．Isabel’ssufferingisalsoclosedrelatedwithMadameMerle，whoappearsveryrefinedandcultivatedwhentheyfirstmeet．、Ⅳllileunderherelegantshellliestheknowledgeofallevils．WhensheleansIsabel’sinheritanceof70，000pounds，shetriestointroduceIsabeltoOsmond．Shehopesshemightmaltyagreatmanthathasalwaysbeenheridea．Madame33 Merlehaswaitedandwatchedandplottedandprayed，includingencourageIsabeltoadviseWarbttrtontoacceptPansy．ThiswomanbringsIsabelhorriblefortune．WhilelaterIsabelknowsthefact：MadamehasbeenthemistressofOsmond；andPansyistheirchild；themarriagehasbeenarrangedtoendowPansy、砸thIsabel’Sfortune．ThentherevelationthatIsabelisthevictimofacarefullylaidplotthatmakesIsabelfeels筋nt．Shemustconfrontherbitterknowledgethatshehasbeenused，andrealized“thedrystaringfactthatshehadbeenanappliedhandledhung-uptool”(472)．Thoughhermarriageisnothappy,Isabelstillparticipatesinherlifeactively,andsheisnotpassiveinhersilence．Thisintelligent鲥istryingtoworkoutawaytodealwiththemons仃ousOsmond．Shecomesupwimagoodideaofsavingherselffromdiminishing．Theavoidanceofquarrelsandconflicthelpstopreventthosecuriousobserversfromknowinghertruesituation．Asastrong—willedandproudgidstaysinEurope，aimingtobemasterofherownfate，Isabelneverwishesherspectatorstodiscoverorevenperceivehersufferings．Soshechoosestobesilent,keepingherdepressionconcealed．EvenwhenRalphwantstoknowthetruthaboutIsabel’Smarriage，shesaysnothingtohimandtriestokeepthedeepesttroublesinherheart．Sobravelyfacinglife，Isabelrefusestosurrenderherintegrity,becauseshecannotignorePansy’ShonestemotionofherOWn,andpretendnottoknowthatLordWarburtonwoulddoSOforhersakeandnotforPansy’s．IsabelfeelsthatitwouldbecrueltoPansytoallowsuchamarriage．Shealsorealizesthatshecannotseetheinnocentbutintelligent每dPansyfollowshersuit．Itistoocrueltomakethegirlsuffer丽thamarriagenotbasedonlove．ShefeelsitherunshirkableresponsibilitytoencourageNedtobeboldenoughtopursuehistruelove．InadditionIsabeltriestogainherstrengthtomaintainherselfmostlyfromthinking．Inmeditation,sheletsherselflostindeepthought．Thedarknightandthebuntingfirehelpcallforthherspiritualinspirationandherdeepestthoughtsmanifestthemselves．Bygivingherselfawaytoreflection,consideration,ponderingandimagination,sheisabletohearaninfinitenumberofsoundsthatshenormallyneverhearsatallandtounderstandmanythingsthatshefeelsSOpuzzledabout．Hermeditationenableshertohaveagenerallookatherpastandtogiveapoignantanalysisofthepeoplearoundher．Italsoleadshertoaclearunderstandingofherownlimitationsaswellasthecauseforhermisfortunes，thisisaclassicsectionfordescribingthepsychologyofthecharacter．Isabeldoessufferfrommarriage，havingexperiencedSOmanyunpleasantthings：inmarriageIsabeliswillingtoknow,toconfrontwithafullconsciousnessthegruesomerealityofhermarriage．Sheknowsclearlywhathashappenedinherlife．Osmond’Sfeelingstowards herandmotivesformarryingher,MadameMerle’Sbetrayal，herownparticipatingincreatingitandSOon，constitutedacomplexhorridsituation．Butsheisnotafraidofthemiserablelife．Sheisnotdefeatedbythesufferingthatknowledgehasbrought．Shetakesacorrectattitudetowardsthesuffering．“Suffering，谢t11Isabelisallactivecondition；itisnotachill，astupor,despair；itWasapassionofthought，ofspeculation，ofresponsetoeverypressure．"(424)Sheisboldenoughtofacereality．Sheisreadytoacceptanyconsequences．Asfaraswehaveexplained，thisperiodisIsabel’growingupstage．WhenIsabelfeelseagerforknowledge，experience，andmaturity,shecomestoEurope．InEngland，Isabelgetsmanynewideasandthoughtsonknowledgeandart；ThenafterrejeetionoftwosuitorsandaccessionofafortuneshebeginslargeradventureinItaly．ItisinItalythatshefindsmarriage．Thoughitisatragicone，herdeeperknowledgeandclearvisionreallybegin．Sheacquiresknowledgethroughexperienceanddevelopsadequatestrategiesfordealingsuchknowledge，andthenobtainsvirtuesthroughknowledge．thisperiodisveryimportantforgrowingup，theexperienceinEuropemakegoodpreparationforbecomingmatureandknowledgeable——atrueperfectlady．35 ChapterThreeAMaturePerfectLady·----—RealizationofCulturalFusionWiththefullrecognitionofthetruthintheworld，withherwideexperienceinEurope，Isabelisgreatlychangedindeed．Usedtobeplainlyclad，sheisnowdressedin‘"blackvelvet"’，whichmakesherlook“highandsplendid"’(398)．Besides，sheseemsmuchquieterthansheWaSatGardencourt．There，inthegardenshewassoagileandsensitive,butnow,sheismorelikeagraciousladyformedinthegildeddoorway,lackingallherusualfreshnessandquickeagerness．Furthermore，shenolongerlooksathersurroundings谢mcuriouseyes，nordoessheapproachpeoplewithcountlessquestions．“Shehadmoretheairofbeingabletowait"’，(398)ComparedwiththatyoungAmericangiftwhonewlylandedonEurope，Isabeleventuallychanges．Bynomeansthenaive、innocent、ignorantgiaatGardencourt,Isabelhasgrownintoahigh、splendid、radiantlygentleladyAndthenovel’Stitle-一砀PPortraitofaLa岫asimpliedbytheword‘lady’allachievedmaturity,thegoalthatJamesholdsforallAmericaninneedofculturalgrowing-up，justasthe‘portrait’suggestsbetteredtasteofculture．Isabelachievesthefullrefinementandthenreachestotalknowledgeandmaturity．Likeaphoenixwhichobtainstherebirthfromthenirvana,shehascompletelybecomeamaturewomen，whichreconstructedherinterculturalideal—-tbefusionoftheAmericanandEuropean’Scultureessence．ThisisclearlyexplainedfromhergainmaturityfrommarriageandfinalreturntoItaly．A．AchievingMaturityfromMarriageMostofthefairytalesisjustacommonmarriage，butforIsabel，marriageisjustallimportantstageinhertransformationfrominnocencetomaturity．Initially，Isabelisdescribedasagirlwhodeterminestosee，totry,toknow．Shedoes蹒shedesires．ShefirstbettershertasteandsharpensherappreciationofEuropeancivilizationfromhertravelsinEurope，andthenacquiresknowledgeaboutlifethroughexperiencinghermarriage．Sheacquiresthenotionofevilandthenleamstodistinguishthesuperficialfromtheessenceandunderstandsthemeaningoflove．ThefirstthingIsabellearnsfromhermarriageisthenotionofevilwhich,toJames，thenecessaryknowledgeforonetogrowmature．Isabelinitiallyknowslittleaboutevil．Herownnaturehasacertaingarden-likequality．Althoughsheknowstherearesomesoulsthatare “onlyduskypestiferoustractsplantedthickwithuglinessandmisery”(28)，shehasnochancetoencounterthem．Inthisnovel，marryingOsmondgivesherenoughopportunitytodiscovertheeviloftheworldinitsdreadfulentiretyandwithallitsmostrestrictivelimitations．Anditisanecessarysteptohermaturity．Beforethat，Isabelknowsnothingaboutthis．Twoeventshelphertorealizeit．Oneofthemisbutascene．Isabelcomesbackfromashortdrive，andhappenstospotastrangescene---MadameMerlestandingwhileOsmondsittinginsofaunconsciouslyandfamiliarlyassociated．ThetwopeopleknowEuropeancustomstoomuchtomakesuchamistake．Thisscenesetsherdoubtingthetruerelationshipbetweenthetwo．TheotheriscenteredroundWarburton’SpossibleproposaltoPansy．Osmondappearstobealooffi-ommaterialpursuitsandindifferenttoworldlyname，yethesoontakesanintenseinterestinWarburton’Spossibilityofbecominghisson—in-law,andiseagertomakethematchregardlessofthefactthatPansy’StrueloverisMr．Rosier,whoisneitherrichnorprestigiousenough．WhenIsabelfailstoactaccordingtohiswilltoencourageWarburton,OsmondlaysalltheblameonIsabel，accusingherofstoppingthematteroutofjealousy．Isabelatlastfindsoutwithouthermoney,Osmondwouldnevermaltyher．ThatnoblestmaninEuropeprovestobea‘"vulgaradventurer"’(457)．SheisnowawarethathermarriageismadebyMadameMerleandOsmond．Then，IsabelgetstoknowtheadulterybetweenthetwoandPansyisactuallytheirillegitimatedaughter．OsmondmarriedIsabelinsearchforagooddrowsyforPansy．Throughthesepainfuldiscoveries，Isabelnowunderstandstheconceptionof‘"wickedness”．Shehasgotinsightintothedelicateandsophisticatedsurfacetoperceivedark,corruptednature．Isabel’Sgrowingfrominnocencetomaturitycarlberevealedinherbeingrewardedwiththesightof‘ghost’andexperience．OnherfwstarrivalatGardencourt,Shedesirestoexplorelifeandsearchforexperienceandfreedom，butshedoesnotexpectthetroubleshewouldhaveingainingthem．IndoingSO，Isabelhasbeeninvolvedinthestateofexploitation．Ralphhastoldherthatitcouldneverbeseenby“ayoung，happyinnocentpersonlikeyou．"(52)Inordertoseetheghost，hehasexplained，onemusthavesuffered，havegained“somemiserableknowledge．’’Isabel’SmarriagetoOsmondmakesitclearthatshehasnowunmistakablygainedthosequalifications．What’Smore，althoughIsabelhasinsistedinherconversationwithRalphthat‘‘it’Snotabsolutelynecessarytosuffer；wewerenotmadeforthat,"(52)sheapparentlyhasfulfilledthenecessarycondition；“forthenextmorning，inthecold，faintdawn，sheknewthataspiritwasstandingbyherbed”(578)．Isabel’Sseeingtheghostisanecessaryexperience．SheacceptsRalph’Sopinionoftheworld．ShebelievesthatsufferingiSthenecessaryconditionofbeingfullyhuman．Shehasnowcometobelievethat37 sufferingisindeedthenecessaryconditionofbeingmature．ItisinevitablethatIsabeliswillingtoconfrontthetruthandbeartheinreality．ItiscleartoIsabelthathermarriagetoOsmonddoesmakeherobtainalot．Gainingthemiserableknowledgeandexperiencingtheisnecessarytoopenhereyestoghost．Whilet‘ghost’heremaynotmeansomethingevilbutsomethingholy．Itprobablyreferstowisdom，enlightenment,akindoffamiliaritywithconventions，ceremoniesofagivensocietyso硒toavoidpersonaltragedies，orknowledgeofhumannatureinordertogaindeeperunderstandingoflife．BytheendofthenovelIsabelchangeshermind，andsheagreesthatisnecessarytoenjoytherichbanquetoflife．Isabeliswillingtoacceptfromlife．Isabeldoesgainthisknowledgeandisrewardedwitllthesightofghostneartheendofthenovel．Isabel’Smaturitycallalsoberevealedfromherdeepunderstandingthe西Rloveoflife，unselfish，understanding,liberating，spirituallove．Isabel，afterseveralyearsofmarriagelife，hasbeguntoseelifedearly．Inchapterforty-twowhere,musingonthearrestedimageofOsmondandMerleinastanceofgreaterthanexpectedfamiliarity,Isabelbe#istocomprehendthelruthofhersituation．Shehasbeguntos∞dearlythepersonwhoaregoodtoherinlife，andtherealizationcomestoheronlyaftershehassufferedalotfromthemarriagelife．Isabel"scousinRalphplaysaveryimportantroleinherbecomingmaturity．TheintensityofIsabel’SdesiretoseetheworldgreatlyintriguesherseriouslyailingRalph．HeisfurtherintriguedwhensheturnsdownaproposalofmarriagefromtheeminentlyeligibleLordWarburton．RalphtellsIsabelthatitisnowtheaimofhislifetoexperiencethethrillofseeingwhatayoungwomanwilldothat蚵ectsLordWarburton"sproposal．TohastenthatthrillRalphinsecretpE嬲uadeshisfathertoleavehalfofhisfortunetoher,ratherthantohimself．ShortlyafterMr．Touchett’SdeathIsabelbecomesanheiress,thoughsheisquiteunawareoftheprovenanceofherlegacy．Asamatteroffact,RalphhaslovedIsabelallthewhile,butcannotmarryherbecauseofhisbadhealth．Heturnshisloveintokeenconcernaboutherfate．Inordertohelphertofulfillherdesireforfreedom,heoffershalfofhispropertytoher．Heenjoysbeingawitnessandgoesnofurthertodeclarehislove．Heappreciates，heloves，andhesacrifices；hehelpstofinishthemakingoftheportrait．Atlasthedies丽lllIsabelathisside，andnotuntilnowdoesIsabelunderstandhisloveforherandthatlargeamountofmoneyfromhim．FromtheconversationwithRalph，attheverymomentwhenRalphisdying，Isabelsitsatthesideofhisbed．Ralphtellsherthetruthofmoney．Theirconversationbecomesthemostaffectingandmostmorallyprofound． Sheraisedherheadandherclaspedhands；sheseemedfo，．amomenttoprayfo，．him．‘"lsittrue—jSittrue?”sheasked．“Truethatyou"vebeenstupid?Ohno,’’saidRalphwithasensibleintentionofwit．“Thatyoumademerick—thcllallhaveisyours?”(576)NowIsabelismatureandtrulyunderstandtheloveofRalph，SOwhenIsabellearnsthatRalphisdyingandisconfinedtobedandwantstoseeher,shedecidestogotoEnglandtoseehercousinbeforehedies．EvenOsmondrefusesthis，“Idon’tseetheneedofit，”butIsabelinsiststhatshemustgo．WhenIsabelarrives，thoughRalphcannotspeak，theyarehappytobewimeachotherandtheirmutualunderstandingiscomplete．Ralphhasfulfilledagreatpurposeinlifethatishehasfulfilledhisambitionsforher．Itformstheclimaxinthelastpartofthenovel．Everythingisclearnow．Thetruthissimplystated．TherelationshipbetweenRalphandIsabelmaybepurifiedanddeepened．Itisundeniablethatthroughhermarriage，sherealizesthemeaningofevil，distinguishestheessenceandthesuperficial，andmostofallshetrulygetsagoodunderstandingoflovefromhercousinRalph．Shehasbeentakenfromtheworldofinnocencetotheworldofexperience，whereshehasseenthetruthoftheworld．ThethicknessofEuropeanculturehasgotridofherignoranceandnaivety．BehindRalphthereexitsinahiddenJameswhokeepsagreatinterestinthedevelopmentofthestoryandwiselyunderstandseveryaspectoftheheroine’Sspiritualactivities，B．CulturalMeaningofFinalReturntoItalyThroughhermarriageandexperienceinEurope，Isabelisnowagraciousladywithknowledgeandelegance，showinggreatresponsibilityandstrongcommitmenttopromise．ThisCanbeseenfromhertemporaryseparationandfinalreturntoRome．OnhearinghercousinRalphisdying，IsabelleavesforGardencourtimmediatelywithoutpayinganyattentiontoherhusband，Osmond’Sagainst．AfterhercousinRalphdies，thereisachoiceinfrontofher——V矿bemertostayinEnglandorgobacktoRome，whichseemsdifficultforhertochoose．Justatthismoment，GoodwoodcomeslikeaknightinshiningarmortorescueIsabel，heofferstosaveherfromherwretchedmarriagebycarryingheroffunderhiscaretoAmerica．Goodwood’SpromisesexerttheirappealtoIsabelatleastforthemoment：“his39 wordsdroppedintohersoul．Theyproducedasortofstillnessinallherbeing"’(568)．ThencomesCaspar’skiss，whichislike“whitelightning，aflashthatspread，andspreadagain,andstayed．"(573)Ifthisisafai巧tale：IsabelwouldwakeuptoheressentialfemininityandbesavedinthestrongarnlsofCasparGoodwood．ButitisnotasalvationinJames’ssense．Caspar’sappealtoIsabellastsonlyforamomeutandwhentheflashofwhitelightningisover,sheisfree．Becauseshethinkssufferingisnecessaryforhermaturity．ToacceptCaspar’sofferistoescapefromwhatshecomestodefineaslifeitself．Sheneverlooksabouther；sheonlydartsfromthespot．Shehasnotknownwheretoturn；butsheknowsnow“Thereisaverystraightpath"．(521)ThepathforIsabelisclearlyawayfromGoodwood．Thepathoutofthegardenisintotheworldofmaturity．InfleeingfromCasparsheisnotfleeingfromthesexualimpulseshefearedbefore，butfleeingfromthetemptationtosubmittothatimpulsetotheextentthatshewouldgiveherselfuptoitwhenshenowhassomuchtodo：HertruerealizationofmaturityshouldnothavebeenwimCasparGoodwood．ThereisnowaybacktothesimpleleveloflifethatCasparGoodwoodrepresents．ShecouldnotreturntoAmericaninnocencewithCasparGoodwood．AsDorothyVanGhentexplainsvividly,‘"Aftereatingofthefruitofthetreeofknowledgeofgoodandevil，howisonetoregainaccesstothetrueoflife．"lSButtoaccomplishherend，tofacelifeasshenowknows，shemustnotturnasidebutgodirectlyahead．ItissimplyimpossibleforIsabeltocomebacktoCasparbecauseofthedivergenceintheirtaste，imaginationandunderstandingofbeauty,art，literature，etc．Moreover,ifshereallydoesso，what’sthedifferencebetweenherandhersister-in-law,theCountessGemini?AsthepotentialachieverofJames’sculturalfusion，Isabelneverscattershermoralityaway,evenwhenitisunderthethreatofEuropeancorruption．Instead，shehasalwaystakengoodcareofit．Evenafterhersufferingfromherpainfulmarriage．Asagraciouslady，shealsoshowsherstrongcommitmenttolife，therearesomemotivesforIsabeltostartagainforRome．Thefirstisthatshethinksagreatdealofherpromises．Ontheonehand，shepromisesPansy,thepureandweaklittle鲥，nottodeserther．Asshehaspromised，sheisbacktocareforPansy．Ontheotherhand，sheemphasizesthesolemnpromiseathermarriage．Marriage，toIsabel，meansthat“awomanshouldcleavetothemanwithwhom，utteringtremendousvows；shehadstoodatthealtar"’(461)．“Imarriedhimbeforetheentireworld；1wasperfectlyfree；itwasimpossibletodoanythingmoredeliberate．Onetail’tchangethatway,”Isabelrepeats．(487—488)Isabelputsgreatemphasisonherpromises．ShehastakencertainVOWSandshecannotMngherselftobreakthem．Howels believesIsabel’SreturnismotivatedbyherselflessloveforPansy,whomshecallsattheirlastparting，“mychild”(488)andwishtoprotectherfromOsmond，whichdemonstratesthatherconsciousnesshasdevelopedtoencompassnotjustherownconcernsbutthoseofothers．DorotheKrookpointsout‘‘IsabelArchertakesasacramentalviewofmarriageasasanctifiedunionwhichistoberegardedasindissoluble”．19Theother,andmoreimportant，isthatsheinsistsonacceptingfullresponsibilityfortheconsequencesbroughtaboutbyheractionsandherchoice．Isabeladheresstubbornlytoherownopinionregardlessofothers’advice．HersenseofmoralitydemandsthatsheshouldcommitherselftotakecareofPansySOthattheyounggirlCallavoidfollowinghersuit．Althoughshehaslostfreedominmarriage，shestillsustainsfreedominspirit．Tosomeextent，shehasdefeatedOsmondmorally．Isabelacceptedtheconsequenceandtooktheresponsibility,andtherebysecuredherspiritualfreedom．Andthisspiritualachievementwasworthallthesufferingitcost．IsabelthusdecidestoreturntoRome，toOsmond，becauseshehastheideathatinembracingOsmondshehasineffectembracedthehumanconditioninthefallenworldandthatapermanentretreatorescapefromOsmondwouldconstituteadesiretoescapefromtherealitiesoflifeitsel￡Butshewillnotberetumingtothesamesituationasbefore．forsheherselfhaschanged．Sheisnolongermerelyinnocent，naive，uninformed，butfullyknowing，experienced，informedwiththegenerouslove．Besideswhatwehavementionedabove，herreturntoItalyandhermarriagehasbeeninterpretedinavarietyofways．Isabel’Sreturntohermarriagehasculturalmeaningandasymbolicsense．ItisnotmerelyamarriagebetweentwooppositesexesbutalsoamarriageofAmericaninnocenceindividualismandEuropean’Ssophisticationandconvention．Traditionallyspeaking，peoplegetmarriedeitherforsexorlove，wealthorpower．InAustin’sPrideandPrejudicethefirstconsiderationforyoungladiestochoosehusbandsispropertyandsocialstatus．InBronte’SJaneEyreRochesterandJaneEyremaltyoutoflove．IsabelandOsmond’Smarriage，however,isunusual．Itneedstobeanalyzedfromtheperspectiveofcross-culturalrelations．TheanSWerSmentionedaboveareallverysuggestiveenablingUStointerpretIsabel’SreturntoRomefromdifferentperspectives．Yetoneimportantreasonhasbeenleftout．MyargumentisthatIsabelreturnstoRomeshowsoutofnotonlysenseofdutytoOsmondandPansybutalsooutoffullrecognitionofEuropeanculture．Inthelightofculturestudies，Isabel’Sreturnreflectsakindofspecialcross．relationsbetweentheNewWorldandtheOldWorld．Thatis，AmericamaintainedalukewarmrelationshipwithEuropeancountries，especiallyBritaininthesecondhalfofthenineteenthcentury．Ononehanditshows differenceswithBritain，ontheotherhanditwasdependentonBritain．ThisCallbeattestedbyIsabel’Stransformationfromanignorantgirlintoanoldfully-knowinglady．Isabel’SreRkrntoherhusband(inasenseofRome)issymbolicofherrealizationofhighculture．Isabel’Sinnocenceandfancybeforehermarriagefailhertorecognizetheculturaldifferencebetweenthetwocontinents．HenceconflictOCCurS．Herreturnshowsthatshehasawakenedfrominnocencetoexperience．OnemayhavefeltfromtheoutsetofthenovelthatIsabel’Signoranceofpoliteconventions，ofthetraditionsofcivilizedbehavior,hasconstitutedaseriouslacktobereallyfinishedaScompletewoman,alady——asevenIsabelrecognized——sheneedstosubmittothedisciplineofmanners(inasensetogobacktoherhusband)．Insubmittingoneselftothatdiscipline，ofcourse，somecompromiseisnecessary：one’Spersonality,one’Snaturalsel￡issurelysubjecttosomesufferings．Asamatteroffact，thereaderwitnessesIsabel’Sgrowthfromabright，proud，essentiallyinnocentgirltoamoreexperienced，morecompellingwomanwhoseinnervaluesdespiteheroutwardcircumstances—remaipstrongandindependent．InreturningtoRome，Isabelstrengthensherself．Shehasexperiencedhappiness，painandsuffering，evendisillusionmentinlife,understoodherselfbetter,madehereyesopentothevulgarityofthingsandthedistressandevilofpeople，obtainedanewwayoflookingatlife，andacquiredwisdomandmaturity．Sheisnotinnocent,presumptuous，andsimpleanymore，butstillkeptatightholdontohernativevirtue．Sheisdrawnmuchclosertotheknowledgeoftruevalueandthetruthoftheworld．ItishardforthereadertopredictthedetailsofIsabel’Sfuturelife，butitcanbeaffirmedthatshewouldnotbeatorturedwifeanylonger．Herfuturewouldofamuchricherlife，inwhichshewouldgoonmakingherowntrueself．T0windupthischapter,inThePortraitofaLaayIsabelasanAmericangid，shequestfortheEuropeancivilizationSOastoachieveherperfection．ThedistancetraveledbyIsabelbetweenAlbanyandRomeisnotonlyinthegeographicalsellsebutalsointhegrowingupsense．InthisnovelIsabelgrowsfromayounginnocentindependentAmerican西dtoarefinedmaturelady，whichisalsotheprocessofpursuingtheculturalfusionfromculturalconflicts．42 ConclusionInHenryJames’Seyes，theidealcultureshouldbethecombinationofintelligence，orknowledgeinhisownwords，experience,amongwhich,experienceismuchlikeArnold’S‘"becomingprocess"’，whileknowledgeontheonehandreferstoone’Sabilitytoappreciatehighculture，meaningliterature，art，etc．，ontheotherhandreferstoone’Sperceptionoflife，especiallysophistication．JamesbelievesthatAmericansshouldbeopen-mindedtolearnfromtheEuropeancultureSOastoperfectthemselves．Therefore，hesendsIsabeltoexperience，toseekthecombinationoftheseelementstoachievetheidealcultl】rI亨———6】sionofAmericancultureandEuropeanculture．AsanalyzedinThePortraitofaLady，Isabelservesasaroleofculturalfusionachiever．HergrowingupprocessCanbetakenasaprocessofculturalmergerwhichisthecombinationofknowledge，experienceandmorality．TheroadtoIsabel’SsatisfactorymaturityislikethedescriptionbyWilliamBlakeintermsofthreestages：innocence--experience--maturityor‘"higherinnocence’’or“salvation．"，20Concretelyspeaking,thisisalsotheprocessofthreeculturalstages：culturalconflicts--culturalexploration-----culturalfusion．James’SideaisthesameasthatofWilliamBlake’S．Followingthesethreestages，thisthesispresentsaninterpretationofthemetaphorictheme．Asayoung础inAlbany,NewYork，Isabel，comingfromtheNewWorldGarden，hasthetrulyindependenceandsimplisticallynaivetyattitudetowardstheconflictedworld．ThecharacteristicoftheAmericanstyleIsabelinEuropeishercomparativeinnocencenaivestatecreatedbytheyouthofthecountry,andbyitslackoftraditionsandofarichlyculturalcivilization．Isabel’Snaivetyandindividualismurgehertobelievetheworldisalwaysasbrightasshehasexpected，whileinfactit’Snotthecase．AccordinglytheculturalconflictsbetweentheOldworldandtheNewworldhasbeenshowninIsabel，thatistheconfronta_tionbetweenAmericaninnocence，individualismandsocialnaivetyandEuropeansophisticationandcomplexity．OnIsabel’Sroadofgrowingup，shetriesherbesttogainexperienceinEurope，whichispresentedinhersearchforknowledge，art；throughhermarriagechoices，theplacesshegetsto，thepeopleshemeets，andtheeventssheencounters．WhenIsabelsetsherfeetonEngland，theoldthingspregnantwitllmemoryandhistoryattracther；thepoliticsandthecustomsinteresther；andthemannersandthewayoflivingfascinateher．Sherespondsmagnificentlytothebeautyoftheoldworldevenwhilekeepingatightholdonhernativevirtue．Thisdual43 impulseofattractionandrepulsionthattheOldWorldexercisesuponhermakesherflyawayfromhertwosuitors，CasparGoodwood，allAmericanmanufacturerwhorepresentAmerican，andLordWarburton，1tllEnglisharistocratwhostandforEurope，anddrawsherileal"toMadameMerle,aEuropeanizedAmerican,whosheregards舔ltrlidealcombination．InItaly,thequaintbeautyofitsarchitectureandtheperfusionofitsarttreasuresnearlyoverwhelmIsabel．WhilethemarriageisnotaShappy弱shehaseverimagined，sheparticipatesinitfully．Ontheonehandshesuffersfromtheunhappymarriage；Ontheotherhandherlifeexperienceisenriched．WithherexperiencesinEurope,especiallythetragicmarriagelifeIsabelnotonlyacquiresexotericsocialknowledgebutalsodevelopsherinnermaturity,whichbothpromiseherfuturewith觚idealizedculture．Isabelknowsthattheworldisnotalwaystheidealplace弱shethought．Thoughtheknowledgeshehasgotisbitter,Isabelisdeterminedtoacceptthenecessityanddecidestobravelyfaceherfate,retumingtohermarriage．Inshort，sheisnOlongermerelyinnocent,naive，uninformed，butfullyknowledgeable,experienced，informedwithgenerouslove，thusherlongpursuedcultureisachieved．ThemetaphoricdepthofJames’sinternationalfictionsymbolizesthetruthaboutlifeasitalwayshasbeenandmustbe．Throughhisstories，JamestriestoexpresshiswishestohisnativelandthatinordertorecognizeandpreservewhatisbestinAmericancultureandtobroadenandenrichthatculture,AmericanshavetogothroughtheEuropeanculturalstreamfromwhichtheybrokeaway．HisidealisthefusionofthequalitieshecherishesinAmericanswiththequalitieshecherishesinEuropeans，JustasTonyTannersays，“Isabel’sdifficulty,hererror,herfate，formajourneyonwhichwemustall，inourdifferentways，go．ForitisonlythroughchoiceandcommitmentthatWecanfindoutwhatWeare"21andthencallrealizetheculturalfusion． Notes1LeonEdelandLyallH．Powers，TheCompleteNotebooksofHenryJames，(London：OxfordUniversityPress，1987，202James，Henry．ThePortraitofaLady．(NewYork：RandomHouse，Inc．，1966)，83RobertWeisbuch，HenryJamesandtheIdealofEvikTheCambridgecompanion幻HenryJames．(Shanghai：Shanghaiforeignlanguageeducationpress．1998)，1054DorothryVanGhent，TheEnglishFormandFunction(London．Holt，Rhinehrt&．Winston，Inc．，1953)，975DorotheaKrook,TheordealofConsciousnessinHenryJames(NewYorkCambridgeUniversityPress，1962)，26—276EmoryElliot，ColumbiaHistoryoftheUnitedStates，(NewYork：ColumbiaUniversity,1988)，vols．1，6767ChenLi，HenryJames童ConceptionofArtandltsMoralConsequences8LiLiangyan，AnAnalysisoflsabelArcher童ViewofFreedominHenryJames"sThePortraitofaLady9JohnTomlinson，CulturalImperialism，(NewYork：BasicBooks，Inc．，1973)，310StevenBestAndDouglasKeller,PostmodernTheory(London：MacmillanEducationLtd．，1991)238·2391TorilMoi，Sexual／TextualPolitics：FeministLiteraryTheory．(London：Methuen，1985)，P．xiv．12LeonEdel，HenryJames：TheMiddleYears：1882一1895l仪删York：AvonBooks，1962)，3213ibid．1014LeonEdelandLyallH．Powers，TheCompleteNotebooksofHenryJames，(London：OxfordUniversityPress，1987)，2015MalcolmBradbury,刀leModernAmericanNovel(NewYork：OxfordUniversityPress，1992)，116LeonEdel，HenryJamesLetters(Cambridge：HarvardUP，1974—1984)，VolumIII，3517AlwynBerland．CultureandConductintheNovelsofHenryJames．London：CambridgeUniversityPress，1981)99—10018DorothryVanGhent，TheEnglishFormandFunction(London．Holt，Rhinehrt&．Winston，Inc．，1953)，5819DorotheaKrook，TheOrdealofConsciousness加HenryJamesfNewYork：Cambridge45 UniversityPress，1962)，8920Blake，William．ThePoemsandPropheeiesofWilliamBlake，ed．AxPlowman．(London：J．M．DentandsonsLTD．1927)21TonyTanner,TheAmericanMystery：AmericanLiteraturefromEmersontoDellilo(NewYork：CambridgePress，2000)，124 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AcknowledgementIextendmysincereappreciationtomysupervisorProfessorFengMeiforherconstantencouragementandinvaluablesuggestionsintheCOUrSeofmythesiswritingfromtheoutlinetothefinalversion，andalsoforherleadingmeintothefieldofAmericanliteraturestudies．Then1wouldliketoexpressmyheartfeltgratitudetoalltheprofessorsintheEnglishDepartment．Fromtheirwonderfullecturesandwarmhelp，IhaveobtainedabasicknowledgeoftheEnglishlanguage，EnglishandAmericanliterature．MyheartalsogoestoallmyfriendsfromwhomIhave。receivedmuchhelp，supportandconfidencetogoonwiththewriting．Lastofall，Ifeelindebtedtothesupportofmyfamily．WithouttheirsupportIcouldnothavecompletedmythesisandcarriedthroughmygraduatestudy．