Themes
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
Lord Warburton has taken a liking to Isabel and requests that Mrs. Touchett bring her niece to visit his castle, called Lockleigh. Having spent more time with the nobleman, Isabel finds out that he is just as confused about American culture as she is about English ways of life. During their conversation, she concludes that he is a surprisingly liberal aristocrat. Isabel also realizes that he is a kind, clever, and altogether admirable individual.
Lockleigh is a castle drenched in wealth, as are its inhabitants. Warburton would therefore be an attractive prospect for Isabel if she were interested in marriage. Despite Warburton’s immense privilege, Isabel learns that he has some radical beliefs about the future of England. This is unusual for a nobleman who has been entrenched in the elitist traditions of owning property and social status since birth.
Themes
Isabel later tells Ralph that she likes Lord Warburton, and Ralph agrees that he greatly likes him too. He also pities his friend, however, finding that Warburton is too modest, or even confused in his own values, and does not make use of his powerful influence as he could.
Like his mother, Ralph proves a perceptive judge of character. Where Isabel fails to recognize Warburton’s complex character, Ralph is able to identify the nobleman’s problematic ideals and reliance on wealth. Throughout the story, though, it seems that Ralph is blind to Isabel’s character flaws.
Themes
Isabel is confused by Ralph’s judgments of Lord Warburton, and therefore also speaks to Mr. Touchett. Isabel’s uncle instructs her not to fall in love with the nobleman, to which Isabel replies she would not do so without her uncle’s blessing.
It remains unclear why Touchett advises both Lord Warburton and then Isabel not to fall in love with each other. Perhaps it is his aversion to English culture that fuels Touchett’s desire to keep Isabel away from the nobleman.
Themes
Mr. Touchett also tells Isabel that although Lord Warburton talks about his desire for revolutionary changes to occur in English society, the nobleman cannot imagine such changes if his own status and holdings were to also change. Isabel enthusiastically hopes that there will be a revolution, and that she would take the side of the loyalists in such an event. However, Mr. Touchett believes Lord Warburton and his fellow radicals would never follow through on actioning the changes they discuss. At Isabel’s questioning, her uncle reveals that he agrees with Ralph in pitying Lord Warburton for his hollow ideals.
Isabel’s key traits of curiosity and independence again emerge. She is far more interested in Warburton’s political ideals than his possible romantic interest. As an American outsider, Mr. Touchett is able to recognize that the English aristocracy will never let go of its own privileges for greater common good.
Themes
Get the entire The Portrait of a Lady LitChart as a printable PDF.
