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Chapter 52
Themes
and Colors
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Portrait of a Lady, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Female Independence vs. Marriage
The European Old World vs. the American New World
Art and Morality
The Dangers of Wealth
Summary
Analysis
On a train to London, Isabel’s mind has “given up to vagueness.” She experiences confusing visions and is unable to imagine her future. With time, though, she uses her recent conversations with Osmond, the Countess Gemini, Madame Merle, and Pansy to begin making some connections between previous events.
James again focuses on Isabel’s interiority rather than moving the plot forward by action in response to Isabel’s weighty new knowledge.
Active
Themes
Isabel considers that her time in Rome has been a total waste. However, she now believes that she could perhaps achieve happiness in her future and that life does not entail only suffering and pain.
Despite her immense suffering, Isabel retains some of the earnest hopefulness that she demonstrated before her marriage to Osmond.
Active
Themes
Isabel is met in London by Henrietta Stackpole, with whom Isabel has corresponded with about her travel plans. Isabel is surprised to see that Mr. Bantling is also with Henrietta; the pair tell Isabel that they are engaged to be married, with plans to live together in London.
Active
Themes
Isabel is further surprised by the news of Henrietta’s engagement to Mr. Bantling and disappointed by her friend’s falling into convention. However, she acknowledges that Henrietta is simply showing her “human susceptibilities.”
Active
Themes
Literary Devices
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