浅析《贵妇的画像》中伊莎贝尔的自由观 15页

AbstractThePortraitofALadyisafamousnovelofHenryJames,whichshowsastrongcoloroffreedom.ItdescribesastoryofanAmericangirl,Isabel,whoseeksfreedom,independence,andhappiness,finallysuffersapainfulmarriage.Isabelbelievesthatfreedomisindependence,freedomofchoiceandselfestablishment.Andafterexperiencingallkindsofhardships,Isabel’sviewoffreedomdevelopfromjuvenilitytomaturity.ThispaperanalyzesIsabel"sviewoffreedomfromtheperspectiveofEmerson"sTranscendentalismandthematureprocessandperformanceofherfreedomview,andthecontradictioninherviewoffreedom.ThroughtheanalysisofIsabel"sviewoffreedom,Deepanddetailedlyunderstandwhatiswomen"sfreedomandhowtorealizeself-freedom.Keywords:freedomindependencetranscendentalism摘要《一位贵妇的画像》是亨利詹姆斯著名的长篇小说作品，小说中表现出强烈的自由色彩。描述了一位美国女孩伊莎贝尔追求自由，独立和幸福但最终走向痛苦磨难的故事。伊莎贝尔认为自由就是独立自主，自由的选择则和自我的确立。并且在经历各种磨难之后由幼稚逐渐的走向成熟。本文分别从爱默生的超验主义和她自由观成熟的过程和表现分析了伊莎贝尔的自由观，以及她自由观中的矛盾。通过对伊莎贝尔自由观的分析，深刻而细致的理解女性的自由以及如何实现自我的自由。关键词：自由独立超验主义ContentsHYPERLINKl"_Toc479457194"摘要2TOCo"1-3"hzu6HYPERLINKl"_Toc480296686"2.3Isabel"sindependence6HYPERLINKl"_Toc480296687"2.4Isabel’sFreedomofChoice7HYPERLINKl"_Toc480296688"2.5Isabel’sSelfEstablishment7HYPERLINKl"_Toc480296689"3.MaturityofIsabel‘sFreedomview7HYPERLINKl"_Toc480296690"3.1SocialCulturalBackgroundofTheNovel8HYPERLINKl"_Toc480296691"3.2.FreedomofIsabel"sMentalWorld9HYPERLINKl"_Toc480296692"4ParadoxesinIsabelArcher’sviewofFreedom10 HYPERLINKl"_Toc480296693"4.1QuestForFreedom11HYPERLINKl"_Toc480296694"4.2RespectforTraditionandFreedom12HYPERLINKl"_Toc480296695"5.Conclusion13HYPERLINKl"_Toc480296699"Bibliography16HYPERLINKl"_Toc480296700"Acknowledgments17ABriefAnalysisofIsabelArcher’sviewofFreedomInThePortraitofALady1Introduction1.1ABriefIntroductionofHenryJamesHenryJameswasborninNewYorkin1843.AndhegrowupinManhattan,Hewasanexcellentfictionistandstylist,Hehadaexceptionalbackgroundoffamily.Hisfatherwasasomebodyinculturalcircle,andalsohisbrotherwasapsychologistandprofessorinHarvarduniversity.Asawell-knownscholar,HenryJames’fatherpaidmoreattentiontotheeducationofchildrenandhethoughthischildrenneededtobeaffectbyEuropeancultureandlife.Hesawitasapartofchildren’slifeaswell.SowhenHenryJameswasababy,hewasbringtoEuropeandhewasinjuredintheback,whichmadehimbecomeaspectator.AndwhenHenryJameswasateenager,hereturnedtoBoston.Afterthat,mostofhistimewasliveinLondon.Besides,healsolivedinParisRomeorothercitiesinEurope.SometimeshewentbacktoAmerican.Therefore，HenryJames’lifebetweenAmericanandEuropebroughthiswritingalargenumberofpreviousmaterials.Withhiscareergoeson,theheroineinhisnovelalwayssashaybetweenAmericanandEurope,theyunavoidablygotinvolveinsomematteraboutdifferentculture.But,notallofthemweresuccessinthiskindofcommunication.Inhismid-twenties,JameshadbecameoneofthemostskilledwritersinAmerican.NovelwasHenryJames’mainworks.Buthealsowritemanyliterarycriticism,travelnotes,biographies,anddramas.ThenovelsuchasTheAmerican,ThePortraitofAladywerefamousworksinfull-lengthnovel.AndthenovelsuchasDaisyMillerBeastintheJunglewerefamousworksinnovelette.HenryJameswasapioneerofthenovelofpsychoanalysis.Andhehadexploredthemostjerkwaterandhazythoughtandfeelingfromfigure.Inhisnovel,everyone’sinnerworldweresointricate.SoHenryJameswasconsideredasthepioneerofmodernpsychoanalysisnovelinthewest.1.2TheBriefIntroductionofThePortrayofALady ThePortraitofAladyisHenryJames’famousandrepresentativeworkinhisearlyyears.Theworkhasabundantmeanings,precisestructuresandwonderfullydescribeofmentality.ThePortraitofALadyisconsideredasabeginningofAmericanmodernnovel.HenryJameswhoisconsideredasafoundertorealisticnovel.Moreoverheutilizespsychoanalysistoperformancefigure’sinnerworldexpertly.Ontheotherhand,HenryJamesadoptsinternationalthemeascentralmaterial.AndheusesmetaphortodescribeaAmericangirlIsabelArcherwhoisinnocenceandsimple,cometoEuropetoseekfreedomandindependence.Intheend,Isabel’sspecificcharacterisdestroyedbyherviewoffreedom.ThenovelmakeHenry·Jamesbecomeamasterbyartisticeffectofirony.TheheroineIsabelarcherisabeautifulAmericanyounggirl.Afterherparents’death,sheisbroughttoEuropebyherrichauntMrs.Touchett,andexperiencethekaleidoscopicWord.ShemeetsheruncleMr.TouchetteandhisneighborLordWarburton.LordWarburtonlosehishearttoIsabelatfirstsightandproposetoher.ButsherejectslordWarburton’sofferofmarriage.Goodwoodisthesonofaproprietorofwell-knowncottonmills.HefallinlovewithIsabelwhentheymetinAmericanandthenheproposetoIsabelforseveraltimes.Unfortunately,hefailed.WhenMs.Touchtteiscriticallyill,MadameMerlecomestoGardencourtforseveraldays,NaturallyIsabelisfamiliarwithMadameMerlewhoisthemostelegant,gorgeousandtalentpersonIsabelhasevermet.Therefore,IsabelisattractedbyMadameMerle.AfterIsabel’sunclepassaway,shegainstheheritageandtravelstoItaly,whensherevelsinhistoricalsiteofFirenzeandRome,shefallsintoMadameMerle’ssnarelittlebylittle.Mrs.MerleintroduceIsabeltoOsmondwhoisadabblerartist.Osmondlooksmicegentleandelegant.Surprisingly,IsabelfallinlovewithOsmond.OsmondhasadaughterwhoiscalledPansy.Pansyisdelicateandattractive.Isabelignorestheoppositionandwarningsofherrelativesandfriends.IsabeladherestoheropinionandgetsmarriedwithOsmond.Finally,shefoundthatsheischeatedbyOsmond.Osmondisjustlikeasnakeamongtheflowers.What’smore,IsabelalsofindOsmondistheinamorataofMrs.Merle.Pansyistheirunlawfuldaughter.Inextremelypain,sheconcealsthefactthatsheisunhappyinhermarriage.Shehasadeepthoughtaboutherlife.WhenRalphisathislastgasp,IsabelreturntovisitRalph.Soon,Ralphisdied.She refusesGoodwoodagainandgoesbacktoRomeaswellasherhusband.Thenovelhasanopenending.LetthereadertoanalysisandimagineIsabel"sviewoffreedom.2TranscendentalFreedomofIsabelArcher2.1Social  and Cultural BackgroundOfTheNovelThePortraitofALadywaswrittenintheendofnineteenthcentury.BothAmericanandEuropeansocietyweremate-dominatedsociety.Atthattime,woman’seconomic,politicalandsocialstatuswereveryhumble.Thesocietyprovidedlittlechanceandhighforwoman.Womanalwaysdeeplyshapedbypatriarchalideologyandstandardofmorality.Evenaftertheirmarriage,alloftheirpoliticalrightsandsocialrelationswilldependontheirhusband.Patriarchybecameabsoluterepresentationofsocialclassandpecuniaryinterest.Whentheywereyoungtheyweretaughttocomplytheirfathers,brothersandhusbands,justlikePansy,whenMadammeremetpansyWhocamebackfromthechurch,“I’mgladthey’vetaughtyoutoobey,that’swhatgoodlittlegirlsshoulddo”（James207).AnothergoodexampleisthetwosistersofLordWarburton’s.MissMolyneuxandMissMildredrespecttheirbrother,andthinkheiswise.WhenIsabelaskedthemaboutLordWarburton’spolicydecisions,theywithoutanyhesitatetobelieveandsupportWarburton’spoliticviews.“ofcourseonelooksuptoone’sbrother.”（James).Also,women’seducationwasgivenlittleattentionandtheireducationaloptionsweremorelimitedthanboy’s.But,afterAmericanWarofIndependence.Apartofwomanbegantostrugglefortheirrightsandinterests.Somehighlyeducatedwomenwerenotwillingtobeacompliantsheepundertheoppressionofpatriarchy.ThesituationofAmericangirlsinnineteenthcenturyisdescribedbyAlanW.Bellringer:Thoughwomencan’tvote,theyfrequentlycriticizedmen’srights，queriedauthoritariantraditionsandpreparedtoexercise.Andsometimewomentrytoexaggeratethefreedomtheyhaveinfact.Thesemiddle-classAmericanwomenwererarelyexplicitChristians.Andtheywerenotrecklesslovers,butusuallyconscientiousseekersandexponentsofindependence.TheheroineIsabelArcherwasbornintoarelativelydemocraticfamilyinAmerican,sheenjoysmorefreedomthancontemporaryEuropeanwomen.WhenIsabelwasachild,hermotherpassedaway,she livedinanoldhousewithhergrandmotherinAlbany.Subsequently,they’vebeentherefortenyears.Isabel’sfatherisaveryindifferentperson.Hehadaterriblelifeandsquanderedmostofhisproperty.Indeed,hedidn’traisehisowndaughter.So,hisdaughtersdidn’tgettheformaleducation.But,hewantedhisdaughterstoseetheworldasmuchaspossible.Forthis,hetookhisdaughteracrosstheAtlanticforthreetimewhentheywereyoung.UntilIsabel’sfatherdied.Isabel"sgrandmothertakecareoftheirfamily.ThisgiveIsabelasenseofintellectualindependence.IsabelArcherhadbeeninaprimaryschoolforonlyonedayandthenbeendeterminedtostayathome，becauseshedidn’tliketheprinciplesofschool.But,shewasallowedtoreadingbooksinhergrandmother’slibrary,Isabelwantedtobeapersonwhowasdistinctive.Thiscandevelopherimagination2.2TranscendentalfreedomFirstofallweneedtoexplainwhatisTranscendentalism.TranscendentalismisthecorrespondingtheoryofthedevelopmentofAmericanromanticliteraturewhichhaddevelopmentby1830-40"s.RalphWaldoEmersonistherepresentativeoftranscendentalism.TheformationofEmerson"sTranscendentalismhasitsspecificbackground.AftertheindependenceoftheUnitedStates,becauseofvastterritoryandrichinresources,inthepurecapitalistcountries,everyonewantstobecomeanindependentperson,createsmorewealthandshowsthemselves.ThecoreofEmerson"stheoryisthehumanisticphilosophy,thebasicstartingpointistoopposingtheauthority,advocatingintuition,advocatingtheliberationofpersonality,breakingtheshacklesoftheologyandforeigndogma.AdvocatingselfpersonalityispartofIsabel"sviewoffreedom.ItisalsotheembodimentofTranscendentalisminherviewoffreedom.Firstofall,Emerson"stranscendentalphilosophyholdsthatonlybyrelyingon"intuition"canmanestablishcontactwithnature,andthenunderstandtherevelationofnature.Emersonregardstheindividualasthecenterofsocietyandhistory,whatismore,hesaid:"theworldisnothing,personiseverything:youhavetofaceeverything.Heclearlypointedoutin"nature":"whycan"twealsoestablishadirectrelationshipwiththeuniverse?Whydonotwehaveapoetryandphilosophyinsteadofrelyingontraditional?Whycan"t therebeanotaccordingtotheirhistoricaltraditionbutdirectrevelationofourreligion?"hecallsforpeopletobelievethattheir"intuition",donotrelyonothersoroutdatedknowledge,advocatingthedevelopmentofpersonality.Isabelhasastrongsenseofselfexistence，EmersonthinkthatIamtheonlyonewhoisright,itisabsolutelywrongtogoagainstmywill.IcanpersistinthefaceofalloppositionSecond,inEmerson’stranscendentalphilosophy,heemphasizeshumanandhumanwisdom,creativityandperseverancetopraisethesupremeofpeopleandpersonalsublimationtotheoversoulrealm.Thatistosay,everythingintheworldisinthehandsofpeople.Emersonisconcernedaboutthefunctionofpractice.HeinheritedtheindividualismofBritishtradition.Hethinkthatpracticeisanimportantchanneltoobtainwisdom.Emersonboldlystoodupandshouted,callingonpeopletodaretosay:Ithink......,Iam....Itspurposeistomakepeoplefaceuptotheirownability,relyontheirownwisdomandunderstandingofknowledge,graspthetruth.ThisisalsoreflectedonIsabel"sviewoffreedom.Becauseonlyrelyonintuitionandimaginationtothinkabouttheworld,Isabel"sconceptoffreedomdepartfromthesocialreality.Shefocusesonherindependenceandpersonality.Andshewillinsistonherowndecisionwhensomeoneelseopposed her marriage withOsmond.Everyoneisunique,anditisimpossiblethatShakespearecanmakeanotherShakespeare.Soshesaidnothingcanrepresentherexceptherself.Duetotheembodimentofindividualism,Isabeloncesaidthatshetriedtounderstandtheworldbyherselfratherthanwhatotherstoldher.2.3Isabel"sindependenceIndependenceisoneoftheexpressionofIsabel’sviewoffreedom.NextwewilltalkaboutIsabel’sindependence.IsabelAcherisadistinctivegirlsheisinnocent,free,andfrank.Alsosheisquiteindependentinheraunt’seyes.Sheadvocatesandaspirefreedom.Sheloveslifeandhopestogetmorelifeexperience.ForIsabel,freedomisthehighestvalueinlife,freedomisthesumoflifeanddignity.Shehasherownideasabouteverything.Independenceispartofherfreedom,sosheinsistsonherindependenceandactsaccordingtoherownwill.What’smore,Isabeliscompletelydifferentfromhersister.HersisterLilliangetmarriedwithalawyerinNewYork.So,justbecauseofIsabel’s Independent,sheoftencontrovertswithLillian’shusband.Lilliansaysshecan’tunderstandIsabelunlessshespendallhertime.Shehasherownideas.LillianthinkIsabelisfittogoabroad.Andthen,inthetelegramthatMrsTouchettsendtoMrTouchettsaid“veryindependent”Isabel’sindependentisalsoreflectedinherconversationwithhercousinRalphTouchett.WhenRalphsaysthatIsabelwasadoptedbyMrsTouchett,IsabelissosadandsaysthatsheistakenupbyMrsTouchett.Intheend,sheadd:“I’mveryfondofmyliberty.”（James15）.InRalph’seyes,Isabelissmart,lovely,andquitearrogant.OneofIsabel’stheoryoffreedomisthatsheisanindependentperson.InLondon,shehaverejectedGoodwoodonemoretimeandsaid:“Ilikemylibertytoomuch.Ifthere’sthingintheworldI’mfondof.Besides,Itrytojudgethingsformyself；tojudgewrong,Ithink,ismorehonourablethannottojudgeatall.Idon’twishtobeameresheepintheflock；Iwishtochoosemyfateandknowsomethingorhumanaffairs.Beyondwhatotherpeoplethinkitcompatiblewithproprietytotellme.”IsabelisalsoaimaginativegirlThisisRalph’sfavoritecharacterofIsabel.RalphTouchettbelievesthatonlytheeconomicindependencecanmakeimaginationramble.Thus,hepersuadeshisfathertoleaveheritagetoIsabel.Asaresult，Isabelhasindependentandfreedom,buttheyareshallow.Shedoesn’tpossessagreatdealofexperience.Herindependenceisdivorcedfromsocietyreality.ThisiswhyshefallinlovewithGilbertOsmordwhenOsmondtellsherthathelivesinasmallplaceonthemountain.Isabelthinkit’sainterestinglifewithherimagination.SheimaginesOsmondtobeaninterestingmanthanheactuallywas.2.4Isabel’sFreedomofChoiceAsweallknow，inthisnovel，IsabelArcherisagirlwithstrongsenseoffreedomandindependence.whetheritisthefirsttimetoseeherorin-depthunderstanding.Shereallyhaveherownjudgmentandopinions,insteadoffollowingothers.What’smore,shealwaysmakesherownchoiceafterherindependentjudgment.Shechoiceherowndestiny.Shethinksit’struefreedomonlycanshedecidewhatshe’sdoing.ChoiceisthekeyfactortothefateofIsabel.ThechoiceofIsabelmademethinkofPortiaintheMerchantofVenicewrittenbyShakespeare.JustlikePortia,Isabelrejectedtwoexcellent suitors,LordWarburtonandGoodWood.Butitisapitythatshedoesn’tgethappinesslikePortia.Isabelisabrightgirl,sheisprodofherself.Andshewantstopursuemorefreedomandlifeexperience.Naturally,differentkindsofsuitorsarefascinatedbyherindependent,consciousnessandcuriosity.WhenIsabelisinAmerican,shemetayoungandpassionateAmericanentrepreneurwhoiscalledGoodwood.GoodWoodaskedIsabeltomarryhim,butIsabelrejectshim.Firstofall,hecannotgiveherthefreedomshewants.Asanindustrialgiant,hehasseveralfamouscottonmils,herepresentsAmericanindustrialclass.Hisidentityisnotfree.IfIsabelacceptshimshehastoacceptGoodWood’sidentity,andintohissocialrelationship.Secondly,GoodWoodcan’tunderstandIsabel’sheartandpursuit.HisenthusiasmfrightenedIsabel.Isabelisafraidofpassion,shethinkpassionwillhinderhercalmandindependentthinking.Thirdly,sherejectsGoodwoodalsobecauseofthelongingandcuringofthefuture.“Youmustrememberthatmypostisoverthereacrossthewater”(James134).HowaboutLordWarburton,heisatypicalEnglishgentleman,heisrich,noble,andhandsome.What’smore,hehaselegantliterateandwideexposure.Thereisnodoubtthatheisaperfectfiance.However,Isabelturnshimdown.Firstofall,becauseshethinksthat“hewastoopreferthen,I’mnotprefermyself,andhe’stoogoodforme,Besides,hisperfectionwouldirritateme.”（James136）.Wecanfind,Isabelisaarrogant.Inhermarriage,shecan’ttoleratethatsheisinferiorbycomparison.SecondlybecauseofLordWarburton’sfamilyandsocialstatus.WarburtonbelongstotheBritishsocialsystemthatshedoesnotwanttobeinvolvedin.Butthoughshewaslostinadmirationofheropportunityshemanagedtomovebackintothedeepestshadeofit,evenassomewilds,caughtcreatureinavastcage.Shecouldn’tmarrytoLordWarburton,theideafailedtosupportanyenlightenedprejudiceinfavourofthefreeexplorationoflifethatshehashithertoentertainedorwasnowcapableofentertaining(James92-94).Isabeldoesn’twanttoescapeherdesiringbygettingmarriedwithLordWarburton.Thewealth,honorandsecurityofwarburtonisn’twhatIsabelwanted.Whatshecaresabout:“ItisnotwhatIask;it’swhatIcangive.Ishouldsuityou”（James102).SherefusesLord Warburtonintheeyesofthecrowed.AndIsabelacceptsGibertOsmondunderthestrongoppositionofallherfriends.OsmondGibertisamanhasnothingatall,includingoccupation,status,property.Heisadabblerartist.Isabeldoesn’tthinkOsmondbelongstoanyofEnglishclasses.Osmondisnotconstrainedbytraditionalideasandsocialconventions.And,hecouldgivehermorefreedom.“Hewantsmeknoweverything；thatiswhatIlikehimfor”（James295）Thisistruefromthesurface,Osmondhasadaughter.Andthen,hecareaboutnothingbesideshisdaughter.ComparedwithFrankGoodWood.Osmondisgracefulandreserved.ComparedwithrichWarburton,Osmondispoorandneednothing.Hedoesn’tcareabouttheworld.InIsabel’sopinion,Osmondisthemostindependent,selflessandexalted.“Heknowseverything,heunderstandseverything,hehasthekindest,gentlest,highest”(James296).It’sthemostimportantthatIsabelthinkOsmondisfree,andifshegetmarriedwithOsmond,shecanrealizeherimagination,“Hisbeingsoindependent,soindividual,iswhatImostseeinhim.”(James296）Butherdecisionisopposedbyeverything.Justbecauseofthis,shecometoafirmdecisionthatshewillgetmarriedwithOsmond.Shethinkshemadethedecisioncompletefreeandindependent.Therefore,it’sthewayshechoseandunderstandherlife.2.5Isabel’sSelfEstablishmentWhenwetalkaboutIsabel’sselfestablishment,weneedtotalkaboutwomen’sselfconsciousness.Woman’sselfconsciousnessshouldbeacomprehensiveunderstandingofwomen.Itincludeswoman’sthoughts,feeling,psychologicalstate,selfvalue,behaviorandotheraspectsofconsciousnessandthinking.Torealizingallthecontentandformoftheirthoughtsandfeelingsisanimportantfoundationforunderstandingandgraspingthemselves.Fortheirownpsychologicalstateofconsciousness.Feelingcontroladjustmentistheestablishmentofselfconsciousnessofwomen,asignofmaturity.InHenryJames’searlyworks,hecreatesmanyfemaleimages.Hefocusesontherichpsychologicalactivitiesofwomen.TherearesomedescriptionsofthefemaleselfconsciousnessinThePortraitofALady.Thefemaleself-consciousnessreflectsonJames"sworksisinfluencedbythefamilyandhisemotions.InThePortraitofALady,Jamesdevoteshislovetotheheroine.TheheroineIsabel"sexplorationandpursuitofherowndestinyinthefuturenaturally expressesherself-established.Isabelisinnocence,ignorance,contemptfortheoldtraditionsandindependence.Inaddition,shehasaninnersenseofself-consciousness.Differentfromotherwomen.Shebelievesthatthespecificformsofallsocietiesarethelimitsoffreedomandindividualityinthemale-dominatedsociety,mostwomenhavenoplansforthemselves,andtheywaitfortheappearanceofamantodecidethefateofher.Besidesindependentandrighttochoice,establishmentofselfisanotherimportantconceptandcoreofIsabel’sviewoffreedom.Sheinsiststhatshedoesnotrepresentanyonesherepresentherself,exceptherselfanythingcan’trepresenther.Isabelthinkseverythingisindependentofeachother.ButMrsMerlebelievesthatmancannotbeindependentofsociety.Theirdialoguefullygiveexpressiontotheview.Idon’tknowwhetherIsucceedinexpressingmyself,butIknowthatnothingelse，expressme.Nothingthatbelongstomeisanymeasureofme；everything’sonthecontraryalimit,abarrier,andaperfectlyone.Certainlytheclotheswhich,asyousay,Ichoosetowear,don’texpressme；Tobeginwithit’smyownchoicethatIwearthem；they’veimposeduponmebysociety（James175).Atthesametime,sherefuseslordWarburton,becauseshecan"tbeacountess.IfshebecomeLordWarburton"swife,allthethingsWarburtonhas:thetitleofnobility,andthepoliticalstatuswouldbeimposedonherandonbehalfofher.Forthesamereason,sherefusesGoodwood.Intheend,SheinsistsonmarryingOsmond.Thereisnodoubtthatshewasopposedbyeveryone.Butbecauseofthis,sheisconvincethatsheisright.Shehastoomuchself-confidence.Sheavoidstalkingabouthermistakes.ThisweaknessledtoherwrongchoicetoEstablisharelationshipwithOsmondandMadamMerle.Isabelbelievesthatitisfullyexpressionofherindependence.Osmondhasnothing,heisjusthimself.Ifshegetmarriedwithhim,thensherepresentsonlyherself.Isabel"sidealoffreedomisapersonwhocanfullydisplayherself.Shefirmlybelievesthattheworldisbright,inthisworld,thereisnorestrictionondevelopmentandnorestrictiononbehavior.Butshelacksasenseofrealityandhasalotofimagination.Shemistakenlybelievesthatpeopleshoulddivorcefromsocietytopursuefreedom.Sheignoressocialexistenceanddivorcesfromsocialreality.Itisthereasonofhermisfortune. 3.MaturityofIsabel‘sFreedomview3.1SocialCulturalBackgroundofTheNovelThematurityofIsabel’sviewoffreedomdependonthebackgroundofherlife.Atthetimeofthenovelhappened,thehistoryofEuropewassplendid,Ithadahistoryofthousandsofyearsandstrongculturalatmosphere.Europehadanelegantculturalcirclethatleadedtheworldspiritfield.EspeciallytheeliteoftheupperclassinEurope,Theywereusuallynobleandmagnificent.Europeancultureinthenineteenthcenturyundertheinfluenceoftheenlightenmenttrendtotheromanticperiodofculturalprosperity.AllofthiswerewhatAmericanintellectualswanted.Atthattime,theUnitedStateswasanewnationofimmigrants,therewashardlyanyhistory.InhabitantsoftheUnitedStatescamefromdifferentraces,religions,andcountries.Theyhadenoughcouragetopioneer,spiritofadventureandsearchedforfreedomandequality.IsabelcametoEuropewiththeadmirationofEuropeanculture.However,duetothelonghistoryofEuropeespeciallythelongruleofthechurchinEurope,thefeudaltraditionwasprecipitatedinEurope,formedaparticularcustomsemphasisonformandetiquette.Andtheseritualshavebecometheirbondage.SoaftercomingtoEurope,SheinheritedtheAmericanspiritoffreedom,butlovedtraditionalEuropeancultureatthesametime.WhenshefirstcametotheGardencourt,sheimmediatelyfellinlovewiththisplace,Itkeepshermindactively,inspiresherdesireforlife,AsIsabelsaid：“I"veneverseenanythingsolovelyasthisplace.I’vebeenalloverthehouse;it’stooenchanting”(James11)ShehadagoodtimeattheGardencourt.Isabelisinnocentandintelligent,InRalph"seyes,sheisbeautiful,cuteandprettyproud.Ralphlikesherverymuch.Shedeservestogetthebestchance.Sowhenhisfatherwasseriouslyill,hepersuadeshisfathertoremainabigamountofmoneytoIsabel.MoneyhasalwaysplayedanimportantroleinIsabel"spursuitoffreedom.However,itisapitythatshefellsintoatrapbecauseoftheheritage.SherefusesLordWarburtonandGoodwoodbutchoicetogetmarriedwithGilbertOsmond.ToIsabel’ssurprise,hermarriageistheresultofaconspiracybetweenOsmondandMadameMerle.OsmondandMadameMerleareloversandtheyhaveadaughter.Isabelknewnothingaboutit.Underthecarefulplanningofthem.Isabelfirmly believesthattheworldisbright.Thereisnoprotectioninherhearttoagainsttheplot.Shewantstogiveherlove,withoutreservation.“shelovedhimnotforwhathereallypossessed,butforhisverypovertydressedoutashonors”(James299).SheisdeceivedbyappearancesofOsmond.“heknowseverything,heunderstandseverything,hehasthekindestgentlesthighestspirit”(James,299).Afterseveralyearsofhermarriage.Shefoundthatherchoiceiswrong.Herchoicedoesnotbringfreedomtoherlife.Osmondtriestocontrolher.ForOsmond,”Awoman’snaturalmissionistobewhereshe’smostappreciated”(James231).Isabel’smarriageisunfortunate.3.2FreedomofIsabel"sMentalWorldIsabeldoesnotgetthefreedomofmarriage,Hermarriagedoesnotleadhertofreedomandindependence.ButIsabel’smarriageleadshertoaplacewhereisfullofshackles.ThetraditionalcustomsgreatlysuppressIsabel.Shewantstopursueherindependenceandfreedom,butshedoesn"twanttogoagainstOsmond.ShesaysthatIfsheisafraidofherhusband,itisherduty.that"swhateveryonewantsinwomen.WhenOsmondasksPansytogetmarriedwithLordWarburton,Isabeldoesn"tagreewithOsmond.Isabel’sheartisintroubled.Isabelsubmitsherselftoherhusband,butshepersuadesPansytoobeyherfather.Astimegoby,IsabelfindsherselfinatrapthatisschemedbyMadamMerleandGibertOsmond.Afterexperiencedthemiseryandpainofhermarriage,ShehasadeepunderstandingofOsmondattheexpenseofhermarriage,shereviewsandsummedupherformerideasoffreedom.Sherealizesthatshehasneglectedsomeessentialproblemsontheroadtofreedomandindependence.Sheseestheuglysideofhumansociety.Atthesametime,shefindacompleteselfthatsheissoproud.AndSheemphasistoomuchonindividuals.ThenIsabelrealizesthatsheisbothamemberofthesocialorganizationandanindependentindividual.Shemustabidethetraditionsandcustomsofthesociety,shemustfacethepainfulexperience.Shedoesn’tescape,butbravelyassumeherresponsibilitiesasamotherandwife.Thisisanothermanifestationofherselfestablished.Shetastestheconsequencesofegotism.Shefeelunprecedentedshameandpain.ThetruematurityofIsabel"sconceptoffreedombeginswithherdeepthoughtsinthemiddleofthenight.Whenshewasyoungshehadalotoffreedomand independence,Butafterlosingthefreedomoftherealworld,sherealizesthetruemeaningoffreedom.Thefreedomofthespiritualworldshouldbethemostimportantthinginthepursuitoffreedomandindependence.WhenIsabellooksbackonherlife,andrealizesthatallhervaluesarethreatenedbytheoldsocialthought.Shedoesn"thavethetranscendentalfreedomanymore.Isabelbegintoacceptthesocialcultureshedeniesinthepast.Attheendofthenovel,IsabeldecidestogobacktoOsmondbecauseofconscientiousness.Thisisnotawaiveroffreedom,butIsabeldecidestofaceallthethingsbravely.Itistheregulationofthecontradictionbetweenfreedomandreality.Itisacorrectunderstandingoftheconceptoffreedom.EvenifherdreamofexperiencethelifefreelyisbrokenbyOsmondandMadamMerle.Shestillkeepshermindfree.Osmondtriestocontrolher,butOsmondcouldn"tcontrolIsabel’smind.It’sexactlythefreedomofthoughtsthatsavesIsabelfromdespairanddestruction.4ParadoxesinIsabelArcher’sviewofFreedom4.1QuestForFreedomAsaclueofthisnovel,freedomhasalwaysbeenthepursuitofIsabel.Herfreedomismoreimportantthananythingelse.Whenshefirstappearedinthenovel,hernameispaintedwithahalooffreedom.Shehasagoodknowledgeofmanyfamousbook.Sheyearnsforfreedomsomuch.Butasweallknow,herpursuitandunderstandingoffreedomisdivorcesfromreality.Shealwaysclosesthedoortoimagine.Thisalsobeafactorofherunfortunate.Mrs.TouchettthinksIsabelhasastrongwillandahightemper,ShecouldnotbearthatRalphsayssheisadoptedbyMrs.Touchett.Shetriestokeepherfreedom.Sherejectstwoexcellentsuitorsforthefreedomfromherheart.ShethinksGoodwoodandLordWarburtoncouldnotbringherfreedom.Ofcourse,atthattime,sheisveryproudandignorant.JustlikeherwordstoGoodwood:“Ilikemylibertytoomuch.Ifthere’sthingintheworldI’mfondof,[...]it’smypersonalindependence”.（James139）Shedoesn"twanttogetmarried.Shewantstoknowtheworldandacquirelivingexperience.Shehopetojudgethingsbyherself.Shethinksshecouldnotescapeherfate.AndLordWarburtonissoperfect,soshecannotgetmarriedwithLordWarburton.Sheneedstofindamarriagethatcanmanifestherselfandhervalues.MadamMerlesoonknowsthecharacterofIsabelandtailorsatrapforher.Inthe end,ShefellinlovewithGilbertOsmondwhohadnothing.ShegetmarriedwithOsmondandignoredalltheobjections.Themorefriendsopposeher,themoreshefeelsheisindependentandfree.Shehappilythinkssheisfree.Shedon"tknowsheisgoingtotheabyssofmisery.SheisunhappyafterhermarriageandgraduallydiscoversOsmond"struecolors.Thensherealizesthatsheiswrong.Osmondruinsherfreedomandwantstocontrolher.4.2RespectforTraditionandFreedomIsabelhasbothpositiveandnegativeoftraditionalvalues。Shepursuesfreedomandknowledge,butshedoesnotobjecttothetraditionalvaluesandmoralstandardsimposedbytheorthodoxauthorityofwomen.PansyandWarburton’ssisteraretraditionalladies,ButIsabellikesthem.WhentheWarburton"ssistervisitsIsabelforthefirsttime,Shepraisesthemfortheirlooksandmanner.“Ishallfindyoudelightful;Ithinkyou’reenchantingjustasyouare.”(James63).PansyisatypicalladyinEuropeanculture,sheissodocilethatshedoesn’thaveanydesiretomakeherowndecisions.Evensimplylikethatgotothegardentopicksomeflowersisneededtogetpermissionfromother.Whenherloveisnotallowed,Allshecandoistoendurethepainsilently.ButIsabelissoambivalentthatsheisagreewiththewaythatOsmondteachingherdaughter.AnotherthingisPansy’smarriage.Isabelignoreseveryone’soppositionandinsistherchoicetogetmarriedwithOsmond.Underthesamecircumstances,sheshouldencouragesPansytofindhertruelove.ButIsabeldoesn’tdoit.Onthecontrary,sheadvisesPansytoobeyherfather.Attheendofthenovel,IsabelreturnstoOsmond’sside.Thatfullyreflectsherrespectforresponsibility.OntheonehandisPansy,ontheotherhandishermarriage.ShepromisesPansythatshewouldtakecareofherandwouldn’tabandonher.Shesaidshewouldcomeback.“Yes-I’llcomeback.”(James492)Shechoicetogobacktoherpainfulmarriage.Becauseitisherwrongchoice,shewantstoberesponsibleforherchoiceandmarriage.Isabel"sunderstandingoffreedomiscontradictory.Shelovesfreedomdeeply,butrespectsfortraditionandresponsibility.Thatbindsher.5ConclusionThispaperanalyzestheconceptoffreedomoftheheroineIsabelinThePortraitofALady.Thechangeanddevelopofherconceptof freedomindifferentsocialandculturalbackgroundsbetweenEuropeandAmerica.WhenIsabelwasyoungshegrewupinaAmericanfamilythatisrelativelyfree.Sheisaveryproudgirlandfullyembodiesfreedomandindependence.Butinfact,shedidnotreallyunderstandthemeaningoffreedomandindependence.Herunderstandingoffreedomisbasedonbooksandherimagination,anddivorcedfromsocialreality.AfterbeingtakentoEuropebyherauntMrs.Touchette.Shemetalotofpeople,includingOsmondandMrs.Merlewhochangedherlife.Sheseeksfreedomandchooseshermarriage.Theseriousself-consciousnessandprideinhercharactercausedhertofallintothetrapandledtotheunfortunatemarriage.HerconceptoffreedomwasborninAmericancultureandmaturedinEuropeanculture.Itisapitythatthereisacertaincontradiction.Throughanunhappymarriage,shecametorealizehermistakesandunderstandthemeaningoffreedom.Shedecidedtotakeresponsibilityinmarriage.Shewasboundbymarriage,butmarriagecannotboundherfreeofherheart.Sheunderstandthatthefreedominthespiritworldistherealfreedom.Isabelasafreedomseeker,shewassuccessfulatthespirituallevel.BibliographyCuiZhaohui崔朝晖.LunAimoshengdeChaoyanzhuyi论爱默生的超验主义（AnAnalysisofEmerson"sTranscendentalism）JournalofchinaWestNormalUniversity5(2006):141-43.XuWanlin徐宛林CongwenhuarongheKanguifuhuaxiang从文化融合看《贵妇画像》（AnAnalysisofThePortraitofALadyfromtheperspectiveofculturalintegration）JournalofMudanjiangUniversity