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Chapter 54
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
The next morning, Isabel senses a ghostly spirit beside her bed. The incident reminds her of Ralph’s assertion upon their meeting that only those individuals who have suffered greatly can see ghosts at historic estates such as Gardencourt.
James insinuates that the ghost is that of Ralph, whom readers are soon to learn has recently passed away. The ghost’s presence represents Isabel’s current situation in being haunted by her past mistakes and missed opportunities.
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Literary Devices
Isabel goes to visit Ralph in his room, pausing significantly before she opens his door. She finds Mrs. Touchett at his bedside alongside a doctor and two nurses; everyone is very grave, and there is a stillness on the air. Ralph has just died.
Ralph’s death is particularly significant because he was the family member whom Isabel adored most. She likely feels adrift without his comfortable presence in her life.
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Three days later, mourners gather at a small church to pay their respects to Ralph. The funeral party includes Mrs. Touchett, Isabel, Henrietta Stackpole, Mr. Bantling, and Caspar Goodwood, with Isabel feeling distracted by the latter’s forceful presence.
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Isabel remains at Gardencourt for a few days. She is greatly distracted and cannot focus on the daily events of life, for she is torn by her desire to remain there permanently and her obligation to return to Osmond and Pansy in Rome. During this time, Mrs. Touchett informs Isabel that Ralph has left her nothing in his will. The older woman is, however, quite confused by Ralph’s decision to leave his library to Henrietta Stackpole.
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One afternoon, Isabel notices Lord Warburton is sitting in Gardencourt’s library. She presumes he is there to visit Mrs. Touchett and escapes his company by walking in the garden. However, Mrs. Touchett later leads him out to see Isabel in the garden. Isabel imagines she can feel her aunt’s reproach directed at Isabel for having failed to marry such an excellent man.
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With Mrs. Touchett hovering nearby, Lord Warburton explains that he no idea that Isabel was still at Gardencourt. He suggests that the Misses Molyneux would be delighted to see Isabel again, inviting her somewhat awkwardly to visit them at Lockleigh. Warburton continues a slightly strained conversation with Isabel, but refrains from mentioning his engagement. Despite his awkwardness, Isabel recognizes his sincere depth of emotion at Ralph’s loss and his kindness in trying to comfort Mrs. Touchett and Isabel.
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After Lord Warburton takes his leave of the women, Mrs. Touchett retreats inside, and Isabel takes a seat in the garden. She recollects that she sat on the very same bench where she received Caspar Goodwood’s letter detailing his pursuit of Isabel to England, followed by Lord Warburton’s face-to-face encounter with Isabel in which he revealed his desire to marry her.
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Isabel sits there in the garden for some time. Twilight is well upon her when she suddenly realizes that Caspar Goodwood is standing near her. She rises abruptly, but he grabs her hand and sits her back down, also taking a seat on the garden bench. Isabel recognizes a dangerous determination in his presence.
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Literary Devices
Goodwood tells her that he knows that Isabel is unhappy in her marriage to Gilbert Osmond, as he had spoken with Ralph on the matter. Goodwood despises the vile Osmond, calling him “the deadliest of fiends,” but Isabel calmly responds that her marriage is none of his business. Goodwood is undeterred, having promised Ralph that he will take care of Isabel.
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Goodwood reiterates his life-long love for Isabel and scandalously suggests that he can offer her an escape from Osmond—they can start a new life together overseas. He tells Isabel that nothing is stopping her from leaving with him, for she is without children and can ignore social convention. Isabel begs Goodwood to do her the kindness of leaving her, to which he cries out, “don’t say that. Don’t kill me!”
Crying, Isabel repeats her plea for Goodwood to leave. Instead, he glares at Isabel before embracing her in a passionate kiss. The narrator compares the kiss to “white lightning, a flash that spread, and spread again, and stayed.” However, Isabel breaks from the extraordinary kiss and escapes from Goodwood into the garden.
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Two days later, Goodwood visits Henrietta Stackpole’s residence in London. The servants at Gardencourt have advised him that Isabel is in London. Goodwood is upset to learn that Isabel is no longer there; Henrietta tells him that Isabel departed for Rome earlier that morning. Goodwood is devastated at this news, frozen in his shock. Henrietta takes him arm, advising Goodwood to “wait” and walking away with him “as if she had given him now the key to patience.”
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