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F o r a m s e l e c i o n a d o s p a r a e x p l i c a r o m o d o q ue J a m e s a b o r d a a r e f e r i d a t r a g é d i a , e m t r ê s p e r í o d o s de s u a v i d a l i t e r á r i a . O s p r o t a g o n i s t a s i n o c e n t e s d e J a m e s s ã o i n i c i a d o s e m s e u s p r o c e s s o s d e c o n s c i e n t i z a ç ã o q u a n d o e l e s v e m d a A m é r i c a , o n o v o m u n d o q ue o b t e v e s u a l i b e r d a d e d a E u r o p a , e a v e n t u r a m .se n o v e l h o mundo.. E l e s v ê m p a r a a E u r o p a a f i m d e se s u b m e t e r e m a u m p r o c e s s o d e c o n s - c i en t i z aç a o ., A e x p e r i ê n c i a q u e o s a m e r i c a n o s i n o c e n t e s s o f r e m n o e x t e r i o r é r e t r a t a d a e n t a o e m s u a b u s c a p o r f o r m as d e v i d o à i m a t u r i d a d e d o n o v o miando. A per'd a da i n o c e n c ia, ou a q u e d a n a c o n s c i ent s zaça o, o c o r r e p o r t a n t o n a m ed ida e m q u e o c h o q u e e n t r e c u l t u r a s s e d e s e n v o l v e n o c e n á r i o e u r o p e u . C a d a um d o s q u a t r o r o m a n c e s é a n a l i s a d o d e t a l h a d a m e n t e a t r a v é s d a d i s c u s s ã o d o e n r e d o p a r a d e t e c t a r a s p e c u l i a r i d a d e s d e c a d a p r o t a g o n i s t a e n q u a n t o c o n f r o n t a m a s o c i e d a d e e u r o p e i a » I- i n a 1 m e n t e , v e ~ r i f i e a - s e o q u e o p e r s o n a g e m p r i n c i p a l d e c a d a r o m a n c e f a z do c o n h e ci i m e n t o e e x p e r i ê n c i a q u e e l e / e l a a d q u i r e n o v e l h o m u n d o , e, a c o n c l u s ã o é q u e h á u m a e v o l u ç ã o n o a p r o v e i t a m e n t o qu e o s p e r s o n a g e n s f a z e m d e s u a e x p e r i ê n c i a d o f r a c a s s o t o t a l p a r a s o b r e v i v e r e m IRo-dericlt H u d s o n
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As J a m e s r e p r e s e n t s t h e t r a g e d y o f i n n o c e n c e t h r o u g h t h e impact: o f E u r o p e a n c i v i l i z a t i o n on A m e r i c a n s in great: part: o f hi s w o r k s a n d in m a n y d i f f e r e n t w a y s , t h i s d i s s e r t a t i o n f o c u s e s part: i c u l a r 1 y on h o w J a m e s m a n a g e s t o d e v e l o p t h e t h e m e of t h e i n n o c e n t a b r o a d t h r o u g h o u t t h r e e p e r i o d s o f h i s l i t e r a r y c a r e e r . In o r d e r t o a c h i e v e a g e n e r a l c o m p r e h e n s i v e v i e w of the c o n s i d e r i n g s u b j e c t , f o u r n o v e l s h a v e b e e n s e l e c t e d out of J a m e s ' s t w e n t y c o m p l e t e l o n g f i c t i o n a l w o r k s - R o d e r i c k H u d s o n ( 1 8 7 5 ) f r o m h i s e a r l y p e r i o d , a n d t h e first: n o v e l in w h i c h h e b r o a c h e s t he A m e r i c a n in E u r o p e ; T h e P o r t r a i t o f a L a d y (1 8 8 1 ) f r o m h i s m i d d l e p e r i o d ; a n d T h e A m b a s s a d o r s (j.9@3) a n d T h e G o l d e n B o w l ( 1 9 0 4 - t h e
last c o m p l e t e w o r k o f ...James's n o v e l s ) f r o m h i s l a t e period,.
S i n c e t h e c o n c e r n o f t h i s d i s s e r t a t i o n r e s i d e s e s p e c i f i c a 1 1 y in t h e e x p e r i e n c e t h e m a i n p r o t a g o n i s t in e a c h o f t h e n o v e l s m e n t i o n e d a b o v e u n d e r g o e s in t h e o l d w o r l d , s o m e q u e s t i o n s m a y be a s k e d t o g u i d e t h i s r e s e a r c h : In w h i c h w a y is e a c h pro t a g o n i s t : i n c o m p l e t e , or i n n o c e n t ? W h a t t r i g g e r s t h e i r j o u r n e y t o E u r o p e ? W h i c h c o n f l i c t s d o t h e y f a c e in E u r o p e ? H o w is a w a r e n e s s o r / a n d
in a t u i" i fc y a c: h i e v e c! ? 1 s fc1-. e p r o c: e s s t h e s a m e f o r b o t l-i m a i e a n d f e in a I. e p r o t a. g o n i s t s '? I s i h e r e a p a. fc fc e r n f o r ivi a.). e s a. s o |:> p o s e d fc o ■F e m a I e s ? 1-1 o w cl o e s fc h i s p r o c: e s s fc o w a r d s c: o n s c: i o u s n e s s a n d m a fc u r i fc y f i fc i ii fc. o t h e fcheor ies e x p r e s s e d by cr it i c s ? T h e s e a r e s o m e of fche q u e s t i o n s fc hi s d i sserfc afc i on p o s e s .
R e v i e w o f C r i t i c i s m
1 n J a m e s ' s f i c: fc i o n fc hi i s p r o c e s s fc o w a r cl s l< n o w '1 e d g e a n d m a t u r i t y is r e l a t e d t o fche a c q u i s i t i o n o-F fche ’c o n s c i o u s c o n s c i e n c e ’ as m e n t i o n e d by T o n n y T a n n e r in T h e R e i g n o f W o n d e r ; N a i v e t y a n d R e a l i t y In A m e r i c a n L i t e r a t u r e 1 For T a n n e r , a c o n s c i o u s c o n s c i e n c e is fche c o n s c i e n c e fchafc h a s a c h i e v e d knowledge- a n d e x p e r i e n c e o-F fche w o r l d . Wifch r e g a r d t o J a m e s ' s -Fiction, t h i s p r o c e s s is u s u a l l y d e v e l o p e d t h r o u g h t h e i n i t i a t i o n of A m e r i c a n s in E u r o p e . W h a t is m e a n t by i n i t i a t i o n h e r e is not s i m p 1 y fc h e e n t r a n c e i n t o fc h e a. d u It w o r Id, but fc h i s v e r y " p r o c e s s of m a t u r i n g “ as s t a t e d by R . W . 8 . L e w i s in h i s b o o k T h e A m e r i c a n A d a m : I n n o c e n c e , T r a g e d y , a n d T r a d i t i o n in t h e N i n e t e e n t h C e n t u r y „ 2 A c c o r d i n g t o L e w i s , J a m e s ’s p r o t a g o n i s t s h a v e t h e i r i n i t i a t i o n s t a r t e d w h e n t h e y c o m e f r o m fche n e w w o r l d fchafc o b t a i n e d its f r e e d o m f r o m E u r o p e a n d c o n f r o n t t h e E u r o p e a n s o c i e t y - fche w o r l d o f e x p e r i e n c e a nd tra dition,. J a m e s ' s p r o t a g o n i s t s t hen ar e t h e p r o d u c t o f fche n e w h i s t o r y . T h e y a r e fche n e w A m e r i c a n s of a n e w America,, A s L e w i s e x p l a i n s , fche i n t e l l e c t u a l s p o k e s m e n o f the- s e c o n d q u a r t e r o f t h e n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y w e r e m o s t l y i n t e r e s t e d in t h e i n h a b i t a n t o f t h e n e w world,, T h e i r c o n c e r n wifch that new m a n w a s m o s t l y r e l a t e d to t h e i d e a s of i n n o c e n c e a n d e v i l , hies ides, t h o s e a r e exact: iy t h e s a m e i d e a s wh ich confcr i b ut eel fc o fche
s h a p i n g o f t h e s t o r y o f t h e n e w A m e r i c a n , o r t h e A m e r i c a n m y t h o f t h e n e w A d a m » F o r L e w i s , t h e A m e r i c a n m y t h i s b a s e d o n t h e r e j e c t i o n o f a l l t h e v e s t i g e s o f t h e s o c i a l c o n v e n t i o n s a n d t r a d i t i o n o f t h e o l d w o r l d . . L e w i s h e r e e x p a n d s o n l . ) . W „ I... a w r e n c e ' s i d e a 11- . a t t h e m y t h o f A m e r i c a i s b a s e cl o n t h e ' s l o u g h i n g o f f o f t h e o l d s k i n ' i n o r d e r t o c r e a t e a n e w n a t u r a l w o r 1 d . 3 B u t o f a 1 1 t h e i n h e r i t e cl n o t i o n s a n cl p r a c t i c: e s t o b e r e j e c t e d i n t h a t n e w p e r i o d t h e m o s t o f f e n s i v e w a s t h e C a l v i n i s t i c d o c t r i n e w h i c h o n s i c l e r e c l a l l m e n s i n f u 1 a n c l g u i 1 1 y . I n f a c t , t h a t d o c t r i n e c a u s e d a g r e a t d a m a g e t o t h e A m e r i c a n m i n d d u e t o t h e r i g i d i t y o f P u r i t a n i s m . T h e n t h e n e w l i b e r a t e d , i n n o c e n t , s o l i t a r y , e n d u r i n g a n d e v e n h e r e t i c m a n w a s c r e a t e d , . T h a t n e w m a n , a m a n o f p u r e h e a r t a n d b l a n k m i n d , w a s r e c o g n i s e d i n d e e d a s t h e n e w A d a m f r e e f r o m h i s p a s t a n d a n y i n h e r i t a n c e . , I n t h i s w a y , s a y s L e w i s , t h e A m e r i c a n m y t h " s a w l i f e a n d h i s t o r y a s j u s t b e g i n n i n g « " T h e n e w A m e r i c a n , a s a r e s u l t , h a d t o b e m o u l d e d l i k e t l-i a t : a n i n d i v i cl u a i e m a n c i p a t e d f r o m h i s t o r y , I-. a p p i 1 y b e r e f t o f a n c e s t r y , u n t o u c h e d a n d u n d e f i l e d b y t h e i n h e r i t a n c e s o f f a m i l y a n d r a c e ; a n i n d i v i d u a l s t a n d i n g a l o n e , s e l f - r e l i a n t a n d s e 1 f -■ p r o p e 1 1 i n g , r e a d y t o c : o n f r o n t w h a t e v e r a w a i t e d h i m w i t h t h e a i d o f h i s o w n u n i q u e a n d i n h e r e n t r e s o u r c e s . . . . H i s m o r a l p o s i t i o n w a s p r i o r t o e x p e r i e n c e , a n d i n h i s v e r y n e w n e s s h e w a s f u n d a m e n t a l l y i n n o c e n t . . . . A l l t h i s a n d m o r e w e r e c o n t a i n e d i n t h e i m a g e o f t h e A m e r i c a n a s A cl a m . 4 A c c o r d i n g t o L e w i s , t h e a c c e p t a n c e o r n e g a t i o n o f t h a t n e w b o r n i n n o c e n c e g e n e r a t e d t h e a p p e a r a n c e o f t h r e e d i s t i n c t P a r t i e s : t h e p a r t y o f H o p e , o r t h e p a r t y o f t h e f u. t u r e ; t h e p a i - 1 y o f M e m o r y , o r t h e p a r t y o f t h e p a s t ; a n d t h e p a r t y o f I r o n y , o r t h e p a r t y o f c o m m u n i o n . , T h e p a r t y o f H o p e w a s f o r t h e " p l a i n
g e n u i n e in n oc e n c e ' of t h e b i b l i c a l Adam, and a total r e j e c t i o n of
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r © -F1 e c t e d t h e p e c u 1 i a r A m e r i c a n r h y 1h m .. .. . o -F t. h e -F o r a y i n t o
t h e
u n k n o w n wo r ld ,
the c o l l i s i o n w i t h that
w orld,
'the
f o r t u n a t e
■Fall, ' t h e w i s d o m and m a t u r i t y w h i c h s u f f e r i n g p r o d u c e d „"5
In The Reign Of Wonder, Tony Tanner is also concerned with
the American search for a new vision
in the literature of the
nineteenth century. Like Lewis,
Tanner also states that the new
vision consists mainly in the cultural break with Europe.
That
e s t a b 1 i s h in e n t of t h e " n a i v
ee y e "
o r p lain i n n o c e n c e i n A in e r i c a n
L i t e r a t u r e .
For t h o s e T r a n s c e n d e n t a l i s t s , the n e w v i s i o n of
li f e
c o n s i s t s
in
t h e c o in p 1 e t e
a to s e n c e o f w i s d o in,
i n t ell i g e n c e ,
a w a r e n e s s , and e x p e r i e n c e in the life of an i n d i v i d u a l . 6 N a i v e t e ,
or p l a i n i g no r an ce , thus, b e c o m e s the im p o r t a n t Form of w i s d o m - a.
w i s d o m that
c o n s i s t s
in
the
i n a b i l i t y
to see the
w o r l d
i n t e 11 ec t u a 11
a. For
J a m e s , on
t h e ot h er
h an d , t: h at
n ew v i s i on
c o n s i s t s in t he
i n v e s t i g a t i o n of t he
f o r m a t i o n of t h e c o n s c i o u s
m i n d .
It
is a p r o c e s s c o n c e n t r a t e d m o s t l y
on “h o w •••• wh e n
..
p e o p l e a s s i in i 1 a t e , c o n s t r u e a n d i n t e r p r e t e x p e r i e n e e ... 1-1 o w d o w e
L or II h o w s h o u l d we •••• look at t h e w o r l d ? "
J a m e s ' s i n t e n t i o n
then,
s a y s T a
nner, is “to i n v o 1 v e u s i n t h e m o m e n t - b y m o m e n t e f f o r t s o n
t h e part o f t h e [".naive m i n d II t o d i s c e r n and d e c i d e , t o infer
and
i n t e r p r e t e . "
U n l i k e E m e r s o n
and
his
f o l l o w e r s ,
J a m e s
n e v e r
c e I e to r a t e s t h e
i n d i v i d u a J. 's u n s e 1 f c o n s c i o u s n e s s a n d
p a s s i v i t a ..
I n s t e a d , h e t a k e s t h a t
b 1 a n k
c: o n s c i e n c: e a n d
p u s I-. e s i t
i n t o a
c omp
1e x soc i et
y ;he sh o w s t h e i nd i v i d u.a
1 's
mi n d
“ toe
wi
1d e r ed
"an d
at c o n t i n u o u s a c t i v e w o r k . 7
in s ho r t,
w h i l e E m e r s o n
and
his
f o l l o w e r s a i m a t t h e c o n s t r ue t i o n
o f t It e u n c o n s e i o u s s e 1 f ,
J a m e s
a i m s at the c o n s t r u c t i o n of the c o n s c i o u s sel f.
Indeed,
J a m e s ' s
p r o t a g o n i s t s ' Fall into c o n s c i o u s n e s s , as s u g g e s t e d by T a n n e r ,
is
the v e r y ‘f o r t u n a t e fall" p r e v i o u s l y d i s c u s s e d by L e w i s .
In t h e a r t i c l e “
F r e e d o m and
C o n s c i o u s Form: H e n r y J a m e s and
the A m e r i c a n Se l f , "
F r e d e r i c k J. H o f f m a n
a l s o d i s c u s s e s th e n ew
man o f t h e n e w w o r l d p r o p o s e d
toy L e w i s
in T h e A m e r i c a n A d a m „
H o f f m a n p r e s e n t s t h e “N e w W o r 1 d " a s a r e f u g e f r o in o 1 d d o g in a s „
In
•Fact, he a l s o p o i n t s out the br eak of A m e r i c a w i t h E u r o p e and
its
t r a d i t i o n
for
t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t
o f
that
n e w w o r l d -
the
r e cl i s c: o v e r e cl E! cl
0n a f t e r F a 1 1 t o w a r d s w I-. i c !-■
t h e n a i v e A in e r i c: a n s e I f
in o v e d
T h e n a i v e A in e r i c a n t h e n i s t I t e n e w A d a in “
a 1 r e a d y g r o w n ,
t h o u g h not m a t u r e . "
By r e j e c t i n g t he f o r m s of h i s past, he can
o nl y s e e r a t h e r t h an u n d e r s t a n d h i s p r e s e n t time..
Indeed, h e
is
the image of t he "chi I d - l i k e mind"
w h i c h T a n n e r u s e s to s h o w the
Tr an se en dent al i st s ' ideal
n e w man,,
H o w e v e r ,
t h e image of
the
A m e r i c a n s e l f p o r t r a y e d
by
H e n r y J a m e s
is not
that
of
the
Tr an s e e n d en t a 1 i st s „ Ho f f man exp 1 a i n s t It at
i n J a m e s ' s wor 1 d
" 1 i f e
neecls f o r m s ’
to a c h i e v e t h e h u m a n comix:: i o u s n e s s . 8 T|-,ose f o r m s
i n
tur n a re o n ly a c q u i r e d in t It e i n t e r n at i o n a 1 e x c h a n g e (t h e A m e r i c: a n
i n Eur ope) wh i c: h p r o v i d e s the" c r uc i a 1 exp er i en c e any c: on sc: i o u n ess
in u s t
u n d e r g o .. "
N o d o u b t
w I t a I:
J a m e s c a 1 1 e d
t h e
" c r u. c i a 1
e x p e r i e n c e ’
i s t l-i e v e r y F a 11 o f A cl am, t h a t i s , t h e c 1 a s h
b e t w e e n
i n n o c e n c e and
awareness.,
M o r e o v e r , H o f fman
s a y s that
for
the
y o u n g e r J a m e s t he " A m e r i c a n A d a m ”
had fa i l e d in h i s s e c o n d
c h a n c e
-• b e s i d e s a b a n d o n i n g
all past
f o r m s he c r e a t e d
no n e w ones,
r e m a i n i n g , thus, e v e n m o r e innoc en t .
In fact H o f f m a n s t a t e s that
"This is why t h e A m e r i c a n c o n s c i o u s n e s s , w h i c h is in it se l f r e a l l y
m o r e n a i v e th a n
'free',
n e e d s to e x p e r i e n c e t he
f ixed
and
e s t a b l i s h e d E u r o p e a n world., "9
James, in
s hort, f o c u s e s on
the
a n a l y s is o f t h e s e l f in d e v e 1 o p m e n t t:
c jw a r d s c o n s
ci o u s n e
ss „
A n o t h e r c r i t i c
w h o h e l p e d to unveil
t h i s as p e c t
of
"The
I n t e r n a t i o n a l T h e m e "
w a s L y al l
H ,.
Powers,,
In h i s b o o k
H e n r y J a m e s : A n I n t r o d u c t i o n a n d I n t e r p r e t a t i o n(1970), P o w e r s a f f i r m s
that J a m e s ' s p r o t a g o n i s t s
i n i t i a l l y f l o u r i s h o n c e they get
into
that s o p h i s t i c a t e d a t m o s p h e r e of E u r o p e .
E u r o p e r e p r e s e n t s then
all p l e a s u r e they can e n j o y - they a r e d e l i g h t e d by all that
rich
s o c i a l e x p e r i e n c e a v a i l a b l e to t h e m and
the p o s s i b i l i t i e s
that
o p e n b e f o r e t h e m „
I n e v i t a b 1 y , h o w e v e r , t h e c 1 a s h !:> e t w e e n t h e
t w o
c u l t u r e s d o e s not
tal<e long to c o m e out.
All of a s u d d e n
the
A m e r i c a n ' s s i m p l i c i t y
h a s to c o n f r o n t
E u r o p e a n c o r r u p t ion
and
a p p a r e n t l y , s a y s P o we rs ,
the A m e r i c a n " g o o d h e a r t e d n e s s “
t r i u m p h s
ov er t h e E u r o p e a n
evil,,
M o r e o v e r ,
t he c o n f r o n t a t i o n
b e t w e e n
ni a n n e r s a n d
m o r a 1 s o r , r a t h er,
1 1-, a t
c 1 a s h o f E u r o p e a n
s o c i a 1
m a n n e r s , c o n v e n t i o n s and t r a d i t i o n w i t h A m e r i c a n b e h a v i o r causes,
s u f f e r i n g t o t h e A m e r i c an: t h e n a t u r a 1 n e s s o f t h e n e w m a n
c: a n n o t
wor l< i n su.ch I
ti gh 1 y m a n n e r ed soc i et y „
As a con s e qu.en c e of
t he
A m e i'- i c a n insu f f i c i e n c y t o w a r d s IE! u r o p e a n 1 i f e , t h e A in e r i c an i s
1 e d
to t h e a c c e p t a n c e of " v i c t i m i z a t i o n "
(a t e r m a l s o u se d by H a s s a n
that will
be d i s c u s s e d
lat e r) .
I n d e e d
the n a i v e A m e r i c a n
is
v i c t i m i z e d by
t h o s e s o c i a l
c o n v e n t i o n s and c u s t o m s o f E u ro p e.
That vi g o r of m a n n e r s that is * r e p r e s e n t a t i o n a l r a t h e r than
t r u l y
e x p r e s s i v e " s t a n d s for evil itself •••■
t h e s o c i a l evil t ha t c a u s e s
the fall of t h e A m e r i c a n
A d a m .10
In c onc 1 us i on ,
P o w e r s s a a s t hat
.Jam e s i s
i nt e
rest ed
on 1 y
" ... s u p e r f i c i a l l y
in
t h e c o n t r a s t
of n a t i o n a l
c u l t u r e s
and
s o c i e t i e s in t h e m s e l v e s , t h a t h i s f u n d a m e n t a l i n t e r e s t is w i t h t h e e f f e c t o f t h o s e c o n t r a s t i n g c u l t u r e s on t h e A m e r i c a n c h a r a c t er a s a m e a n s o f e x p r e s s i n g h i s u l t i m a t e c o n c e r n w i t h t h e q u e s t i o n of c u 11 ui-a 1 mat ur i t y a nd i t s r e 1 at i on t o m o r a 1 mat u.r i t y „ " 11 II-, u s , t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l s i t u a t i o n or, r a t h e r , t h e act o f l e a v i n g America, a nd v e n t u r i n g into E u r o p e in J a m e s ' s f i c t i o n is t h e c o n d i t i o n to a c h i e v e a w a r e n e s s or m a t u r i t y i t s e l f for t h e n a i v e American,,M a x w e l l G e i s m a r , in hi s
H e n r y J a m e s a n d t h e J a c o b i t e s(1965),
p o r t r a y s “
T h e A c h i e v e d L i f e "a
la H e n r y
J a m e s " and
r a i s e s
the
q u e s t i o n that J a m e s ' s p r o t a g o n i s t s ' fall
may not be f o r t u n a t e at
all,,
I n de e d what G e i s m a r c a l l s “T h e A c h i e v e d L i f e a la J a m e s "
is
r a t h e r "the w a s t e d
l i f e . ”
He s a y s that
t h e e x p e r i e n c e J a m e s ' s
life and love.
F a r t h e r m o r e , 'It was the s p i r i t of love and not
the
act of love that ..James s t il l p r a i s e d ; it w a s t h e s a c r i f i c e s of
love
and
not
t h e r e w a r d s or p l e a s u r e s of love he sti l l coinmended
. . . . ’
12 G e i s m a r a l s o s t a t e s that, for J a mes,
t h e A m e r i c a n had
m a r r i e d
t. o o y o u n g and
a u s t e r e 1 y
t o t h e N e w E n g 1 a n d c o n s c i e n c e .
This
c o n s c i e n c e ,
as T a n n e r
p o i n t s out,
is r igid,
in f le x i b l e ,
and
i n t r a n s i g e n t *
That
implies,
a c c o r d i n g
to P o w e r s ,
a
l i f e of
d i s c i p l i n e r a t h e r t h a n p l e a s u r e .
Thus, as G e i s m a r c o n v e y s , it
is
b e c a u s e o f t he Puri t an
N e w
Engl an d m i n d
t hat
t h e
.James i an
p r o t a g o n i s t $ ' a t t e m p t for a full l i f e r e s u l t s in a t r a g i c end
s i n c e
love and p a s s i o n work just as d e s t r u c t i v e a g e n t s in t h e i r lives..
T h e t h e m e of
i n i t i a t i o n t r e a t e d by Ihab H a s s a n
in th e
first
c h a p t e r of h i s book Radical Innocence (i.96i) r e i n f o r c e s t h e idea of
t r a g e d y a s d i s c u s s e d
a b o v e -
H a s s a n e x p l a i n s that "the e n c o u n t e r
b e t w e e n the; s e l f and the w o r l d in f i c t i o n ’
or t h e c o n f r o n t a t i o n
of
t h e i n d i v i d u a 1 w i t h e xp eri enc e or real it y i t s e 1 f may a ss u m e t h e form
of i n i t i at i on or v i c t i m i sat i on . 13 U n l i k e v i c. t i m i sat i on ,
i n i t i at i on
1 e a d s to a c o n s e c r a t e d k n o w l e d g e and
r e c o g n i t i on „
T h e erid of
i n i t i a t i o n t h en is c o n f i r m a t i o n in t he w o r l d •- t h e a c c e p t a n c e of t he
w o r l d *
On
th e o t h e r hand,
t h e r e s u l t
of v i c t i m i z a t i o n
is
r e n u n c i a t i o n . M o r e o v e r , H a s s a n s a y s that
a l t h o u g h the ’n e u r o s i s of
i n n o c e n c e " r e p r e s e n t s an i m p e d i m e n t
to i n i t i a t i o n
For
A m e r i c a n s ,
t h e i r " . . . t r a n s i t i o n to v i c t i m i z a t i o n is w i t n e s s e d ,
p a r a d o x i c a l l y ,
in t h e p r o c e s s o f i n i t i a t i o n . " H a s s a n m e a n s that t h e A m e r i c a n
First
a c q u i r e s k n o w l e d g e and r e c o g n i t i o n ,
then he c h o o s e s to r e n o u n c e .
S i n c e t h e A m e r i c a n h ad to s t r u g g l e a g a i n s t c o n t r a d i c t o r y
f e e l i n g s
c o n c. e r n i n g h is p 1 a c. e i n t h e w o r 1 d h e h a d to d e f e n d h i m s elf.
T h u s ,
r e s i s t a n c e , r e b e l l i o n , and d e n i a l w e r e t h e d e f e n s e s of t h e A m e r i c a n
s e l f as it had to l e a v e A m e r i c a b e h i n d d u e to th e r e q u i r e m e n t s of
A d a m for t h e r e c o n c i l i a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e
i n d i v i d u a l and t h e world,,
A c c o r d i n g to H a s s a n , ‘. . . J a m e s k n e w that i n i t i a t i o n to t h e w o r l d w a s
s o m e t h i n g
t r a g i c ,
t h e r e f u s a l
of
i n i t i a t i o n
w a s m o r e
often
p a t h e t i c . ’
Ind ee d , J a m e s ' s gr eat h e r o e s
’. . . s h o w that it is in
t h e
s a c r i f i c e , and not m e r e l y in r e f u s a l , that t h e c o m p l e x
i m p e r a t i v e s
of s e l f and
w o r l d a r e f i n a l l y r e c o n c i l e d ."14
A s a c o n c l u s i o n ,
H a s s a n s t a t e s that
c o n f i r m a t i o n w a s s e l d o n r e a l i z e d
in
that
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c p r o c e s s of
i n i t i a t i o n
for
A m e r i c a n s .
I n s t e a d ,
i n i t i a t i o n for t h e m r e s u l t s in s a c r i f i c e ,
r e g r e s s i o n , d e f e a t ,
and
r e n u n c i a t i o n .
In fact, that r e s u l t is of v i c t i m i z a t i o n r a t h e r
t ha n
i n i t i a t i o n »
Then,
as m e n t i o n e d
in
t h e v er y
b e g i n n i n g of
this
p a r a g r a p h , th e t h e m e of
i n i t i a t i o n t r e a t e d by H a s s a n m e e t s w i th
G e i s m a r ' s idea of "The A c h i e v e d L i f e
ala J a m e s " in t h e s e n s e
that
b o t h s e e t he p r o c e s s as c o m i n g to a t r a g i c end - what
c o r r e s p o n d s ,
i n t h is way, to t In e t r a g e d y o f in n o c e n c e t h a t h a d l:> e c o m e e s s e n t i a 1
in t h e A m e r i c a n f i c t i o n of t h e n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y .
Statement of purpose
This dissertation proposes to analyse the awakening process
0 r / a n d t h e a
c h i e
v e m
e n t o f in a t u
r i t y in f o u
r o f t h e t wen t y J a
m
g si a n
complete novels - Roderick Hudson, The Portrait of a Lady, The
Ambassadors, and The Golden Bowl - as regards the experience of the
A m e r i c a
n i n n o c e
n t abroad,.
The purpose of this dissertation
is to verify whether James
keeps the same attitude towards the international experience of his
characters throughout his literary career or not. In order to do so,
1 will investigate how this process into awareness occurs with the
male and female protagonists of James's earlier and late periods
k n o w l e d g e or
e x p e r i e n c e t h e y a c q u i r e in E u r o p e •- w h e t h e r
t h ey
a c h i e v e m a t u r i t y or not.
M o r e o v e r ,
I
intend
to d e m o n s t r a t e m o r e espec: i f i cal 1 y
the
st e p •••• b y •-st ep m o m e n t of t h e ma i n pr ot a go n i st s ' awak en i ng d e v e l o p m e n t ,
and d e t e c t h o w / w h e n t h e i r fall
fr o m i n n o c e n c e is f i n a l l y c o m p l e t e d
in e a ch o f t h e a n a l y s e d n o v e l s «
In e a c h c h a p t e r of
th i s
d i s s e r t a t i o n , it will
be d e m o n s t r a t e d t h i s s a m e a s p e c t
c o n c e r n i n g
t h e way E u r o p e s t r i k e s t h e A m e r i c a n p r o t a g o n i s t s , and t h e way
they
r e s i s t or c o n f o r m to E u r o p e a n s t a n d a r d s of b e h a v i o r .
It is a 1 s o w o r t h n o t in g s o m e o b s e r v a t i o n s o n t h e m e t h o d o 1 o g y I
u se in t h e a n a l y s e s of t h e f o l l o w i n g c h a p t e r s .
To b e g i n with,
the
p l o t ™ l i k e d i s c u s s i o n I a p p l y t o th e a n a l y s i s o f e a c h c h a p t e r is used
to r e i n f o r c e t h e full
i m p l i c a t i o n s of th e p r o t a g o n i s t s ' g r a d u a l
1o s i ng of i n n o c e n c e or t h e i r p r o g r e s s i ve suspi ci o n s into awar e n e s s „
B e s i d e s , in t he first
c h a p t e r , on R o d e r i c k H u d s o n , an e m p h a s i s
is
laid on t h e y o u n g s c u l p t o r ' s w o r k s of art b e c a u s e t he y s t a n d for a
s i g n
of R o d e r i c k ' s
a c q u i s i t i o n of
a w a r e n e s s and
e x p e r i e n c e
t h r o u g h o u t h i s s t a y
in th e old world., As
for t h e c h a p t e r on T h e
G o l d e n Bowl, t h e first part of t h e novel is o m i t t e d b e c a u s e it
d o e s
not c o n c e r n t h e in n ocent
A m e r i c a n a b r o a d
• - but
t h e a r i s t o c r a t it:
It al i an Pr i n e e .
F i n a l l y , I w o u l d li ke to m a k e it c l e a r that I h a v e not had
the
a mb it i o n o f e x h a u s t i n g t h e t o p i c p r o p o s e d s i n c e J a m e s ' s a c k n o w 1 e d g e d
a m b i g u i t y a l l o w s a
w i d e r a n g e of
i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s ,
and
h i s
c h a r a c t e r s ' m o t i v e s a r e n e v e r m a d e e x p l i c i t , as one? s h a l l s e e on
r e a d i n g t h i s work.
N o t e s 1 T o n y T a n n e r , T h e R e i g n O f W o n d e r : N a i v e t y a n d R e a l i t y In A m e r i c a n L i t e r a t u r e (Cambridge-: C a m b r i d g e U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 19 7 7 ) 2 9 1 „ 2 R . W. B. L e w i s , T h e A m e r i c a n A d a m : I n n o c e n c e ,T r a g e d y , a nd T r a d i t i o n in t h e N i n e t e e n t h C e n t u r y ( C h i c a g o : T h e U n i v e r s i t y of C h i a g o P r e s s , 1 9 5 5 ) 9 8 3 L e w i s I 0 3 . 4 L e w i s 5 - 6 . 5 L e w i s 1 5 2 - 3 . 6 T a n n e r , T h e R e i g n O f W o n d e r 3 7 . 7 T a n n e r , T h e R e i g n O f W o n d e r 2 6 7 - 8 . 8 F r e d e r i c k J. H o f f m a n n , " F r e e d o m a n d C o n s c i o u s Fo r m : H e n r y J a m e s a n d T h e A m e r i c a n S e l f " , V i r g i n i a Q u a t e r l y R e v i e w
X X X V I I
( S p r i n g , 1 9 6 1):
2 7 0 - 7 5 . 9 H o f f m a n 2 7 5 - 7 8 . 10 Lya'i H. P o w e r s , " F i e t i o n I: T h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l T h e m e “, H e n r y J a m e s : A n I n t r o d u c t i o n a n d I n t e r p r e t a t i o n (New Y o r k : l-lolt, R i n e h a r t a n d W i n s t o n , Inc.., 1 9 7 0 ) 22., 11 P o w e r s 48. 12 M a x w e l l G e i s m a r , “T h e A c h i e v e d L i f e a la H e n r y J a m e s ’, H e n r y J a m e s a n d t h e J a c o b i t e s ( N e w Y o r k : H i l l a n d W a n g , 1 9 6 5 ) 2 6 3 -4 n 13 Ihab H a s s a n , " The D i a l e c t i c of I n i t i a t i o n in A m e r i c a ' , R a d i c a l I n n o c e n c e : S t u d i e s In T h e C o n t e m p o r a r y A m e r i c a n N o v e l ( N e w J e r s e y : P r i n c e t o n U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1 9 6 1 ) 34-5,. 14 H a s s a n 4 0 - 4 ....
I might p r o d u c e i ll u s i o n if I s h o u l d be a b l e to
a c h i e v e intensity,,
P r e f a c e t o R o d e r i c k H u d s o n
W h i l e H e n r y J a m e s s i g h s for intens i ty , his c h a r a c t e r
Roderic:
H u d s o n
h a s p l e n t y of it.
In fact, in t e n s i t y f l o w s from R o d e r i c k '
w h o l e n a t u r e
like an i n e x h a u s t i b l e s p r i n g at e ac h instant
of hi
ex i st e n c e .
I n t e n s i t y a 1 s o i s w h a t m o s 1 1 y c o n v e y s R o d e r i c k ' s s c u 1p t u r e o
t h e t h i r s t y water--dr i n k e r ,.
It s e e m s to s y m b o l i z e youth, i n n o c e n c e
h e a l t h , s t r e n g t h , c u r i o u s t y . The y o u n g man is d r i n k i n g of t h e cup o
k n o w l e d g e ,
p l e a s u r e and e x p e r i e n c e
( . 6 6 ) ,as o n e may d e d u c e f r o m th
•Pol o w i ng quot e :
T i-i e s t a t u e 11 e , in Is r o n z e , s o m e t It i n g id o r e 1h a n t w o f e e t h i g h , r e p r e s e n t e d a n a k e d y o u t h d r i n k i n g f r o m a go ui-
d .T
h e a 11 i t u d e w a s p e r f e c 11
y s impI
e . T h e1
a d w a s s q u a r e l y p l a n t e d on h i s Feet, w i t h h i s l e g s a 1 i 1 1 1 e a p a r t ; |-,i s b a c k w a s s 1 i g h 1 1 y h o 1 1 o w e d , h i s h e a d t h r o w n b a c k ; h i s h a n d s w e r e r a i s e d t o s u p p o r t t h e rustic: c u p . T h e r e w a s a l o o s e n e d f i l l e t of w i l d f l o w e r s a b o u t h i s h e a d , a n d h i s e y e s , u n d e r t h e i r d r o p p e d lids, l o o k e d s t r a i g h t into t h e cup. On t h e b a s e w a s s c r a t c h e d t h e G r e e k w o r d l"Thirsty'.]... (39)A p p a r e n t l y R o d e r i c k ' s f i r s t c o n f r o n t a t i o n w i t h t h e O l d W o r l d o c c u r s t h e r e , s t i l l in A m e r i c a , by t h e t i m e h e g e t s in t o u c h w i t h R o w l a n d M a l l e t , w h o is a r e p r e s e n t at ive of t h e w o r l d of e x p e r i e n c e . R o w l a n d ' s g r e a t i n t e r e s t in a n d a p p r e c i a t i o n o f R o d e r i c k 's P i n e art l e a d s t h e l a t t e r t o t h e r e c o g n i t i o n o f h i s g e n i u s , for he c o u l d h a r d l y s u s p e c t h e p o s s e s s e d any., B e s i d e s , w h e n R o w l a n d i n v i t e s h im t o g o t o E u r o p e , h e l e t s t h e y o u n g m a n k n o w t h a t he h a s m o n e y a n d t i m e t o b e h i s p r o t e c t o r a n d a l l o w h i m t o s t u d y t h e " a n t i q u e " in R o m e .
On
a c c o u n t
of that
e a r l y
r e c o g n i t i o n ,
the b e g i n n i n g of
R o d e r i c k 's t h i n k i n g and r e a s o n i n g of h i s own a f f a i r s a l s o c a u s e s the
b e g i n n i n g
o f h i s s u f f e r i n g a n d f i r s t >::: r i s i s .
I? o d e r i
c:k
b e g i n s
t o
s u f f e r s i n c e he is a l r e a d y c o n s c i o u s of t h e v a l u e of hi s g e n i u s , and
o f h o w hat e f u 1 it i s Is e i n g f o r c i b 1 y a law •••■
s t u d e n t
af M r .
S t r i !< e r
o n l y
for the? s a k e of h i s mother.,
T h e t u r n i n g p o i n t of t h i s c r i s i s
then
b r e a k s out as R o d e r i c k s h o w s his p r o d u c t i o n s to R o w l a n d .
On
r e c o g n i z i n g
t h e q u a l i t y of h i s work, R o d e r i c k lets R o w l a n d k n o w he
can
see the o p p o r t u n i t y he is o f f e r e d and d e a l s at Mr.
S t r i k e r ' s
s ku l l
a b l o w (73),.
The d e s t r u c t i o n of Mr,. S t r i k e r ' s bust t h u s sets
free all the h e a v y f e e l i n g s w h i c h had been o p p r e s s i n g and
w e i g h i n g
u p o n
R o d e r i c k 's soul and f r e e d o m . B e s i d e s , as he m e e t s R o w l a n d
the
next
m o r n i n g , he g i v e s h i m s e l f up fc o the o u t b u r s t of a m o n o l o g u e in
w h i c h
he
q u e s t i o n s and .judges t h e m o r a l i t y o f h i s m o t h e r
and
the
b o r e d o m of hi s own life. No d oubt, R o d e r i c k is a l r e a d y l i v i n g
that
c o n f 1 i c t
a s s t a ted b y 1-1 o f f m a n * a n d H a s s a n „ ^ 1-1 e i s c o n f r o n t i n g
t h e
i m p o s i t i o n s of t h o s e c o n t r a d i c t o r y c u l t u r e s of A m e r i c a and
E u r o p e .
H e f e e l s d i v i d e d b e t w e e n t h e n e w and t h e old, f r e e d o m and a u t h o r i t y ,
instinct
and mind, n a t u r e and c i v i l i z a t i o n . But s i n c e the A m e r i c a n
s e l f h a s to deny, r es i st and rebel in o r d e r to l e a v e A m e r i c a b e h i n d
to t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s of th e Old W o r l d or
c i v i l i z a t i o n
itself,
R o d e r i c k c o n c l u d e s h i s s p e e c h by d e c l a r i n g h i m s e l f ‘i m p r o v e d ’
for he
s m a s h e d Mr. S t r i k e r ' s bust and d e c i d e d t o g o t o E u r o p e (77)„
D e s p i t e all d a n g e r and t e m p t a t i o n that E u r o p e s h o u l d r e p r e s e n t
•For R o d e r i c k ,
t h e s c u l p t o r ' s s t a y in A m e r i c a c o m e s to an e n d
in
C h a p t e r
4.
He h a s a l r e a d y b i d d e n h i s f a r e w e l l to Mr. S t r i k e r :
by
d e s t r o y i n g t h e l a w y e r ' s bust, he d e s t r o y e d t h e " v o i c e of duty " whic h
/
o p p r e s s e d him;
and now,
b e f o r e he s h o u l d bid
f a r e w e l l
to Ma r y
G a r 1 a n d ,
w
h o r e p r e s e n t s t h e A in e r i c a n P u r i t a n m i n d f o r <» h e i s
" t h e
d a u g h t e r of a m i n i s t e r , the g r a n d - d a u g h t e r of a m i n i s t e r , th e s i s t e r
o f a m i n i s t e r " (85-6), and b e f o r e b i d d i n g f a r e w e l l to h is m o t h e r w ho
r e p r e s e n t s all
t h e c r u d e n e s s of t h e i n n o c e n t A in er ican
worl d ,
o r
r a t h e r , w h o r e p r e s e n t s t h e n a ï v e t é o f h i s m o t h e r c o u n t r y itself, the
y o u n g m a n ' s c o n t e n t m e n t r e a c h e s its c l i m a x .
In h i s last talk to h i s
f ri e nd C e c i l i a ,
m o v e d by h i s g r e a t e n t h u s i a s m for the
f e e l i n g of
f r e e d o m he l o n g e d for, he r e v e a l s t h e gr eat f o r c e of h i s p a s s i o n a t e
n a t u r e :
"I
want
to s t r i k e out hard! ... I want
to d o s o m e t h i n g
v i o l e n t , to let o f f s t e a m ’
(95).
Thus, c o n s i d e r i n g that R o d e r i c k is
b i d d i n g h i s
f a r e w e l l
to t h e A m e r i c a n
r i g i d i t y ,
P u r i t a n i s m , andn a ï v e t é ,
all
that s t r e n g t h , and inten si ty , c o n v e y e d by
his
w o r d sjust
c o m e s to (emphasize h i s l o n g i n g For k n o w l e d g e and
e x p e r i e n c e
w h i c h he h i m s e l f s u g g e s t e d in h i s s t a t u e of th e t h i r s t y d r i n k e r .
In t h e ship, in t h e i r way to E u r o p e , R o w l a n d l e a r n s R o d e r i c k is
e n g a g e d
t o M a r y G a r 1 a n d a n d t h e s c. u 1 p t o r o n 1 y e x p I a i n s t h at be c a u s e
o f h i s r i d i c u l o u s g o o d h u m o u r he felt t h e d e s i r e to tell s o m e w o m a n
that
he a d o r e d her (102). R o w l a n d indeed is t r e m e n d o u s l y s t u p e f i e d
a t
t h a t s e n s e 1 e s s d e c 1 a r a t ion»
H e -F e e 1 s t e r r i b I y d i s c o n t e n t e d
for
he s e e s R o d e r i c k c a r e s o n l y abou t p l e a s i n g h i s big ego.
Yet, as if
that
n o n s e n s e w e r e not e n o u g h for R o w l a n d , R o d e r i c k a s k s h i m v e r y
i n n o c e n t l y t o r e m i n d h i m of h i s s w e e t h e a r t if ev e r he is "... a dull
c o m p a n i o n and o v e r - a d d i c t e d
to m o p i n g .
(
i$2)„
In
t h i s
way,
R o d e r i c k
r e a s s u r e s R o w l a n d that he will be r e s p o n s i b l e n e i t h e r
for
h i s d e e d s nor for h is o wn e n g a g e m e n t to M a r y (3ar 1 and .
R o w 1 and a 1 so
f e e l s r e a s s u r e d of C e c i l i a ' s j u d g e m e n t that R o d e r i c k ’
g r e w up a
la
g r a c e de D i e u , " as o n c e h e h i m s e l f had j u d g e d t h e y o u n g man
c r u d e
and i m m a t u r e
( 6 6 - 7 ) .V e r y
soon, in C h a p t e r 5, R o d e r i c k e x p e r i e n c e s a c h a i n o f
fast
t. ran s for mat i oris b ot h
in
a p p e a r a n c e and ideas..
In
Fact
he
d o e s
e v e r y t h i n g t o o
Fast.
Now,
a f t e r
t h r e e m o n t h s o nl y
of R o m a n
at m o s p h er e ,
h e d ec 1 ar es h e h as r eac h ed t h e t op o f t h e h ill"
( i 03) ..
A l t h o u g h
he s o u n d s t o o p r e c i p i t a t e d or e v e n i r r a t i o n a l , h e f e e l s
r e a d y to s t a r t w o r k i n g , and he a l s o Feels r e a d y to j u d g e h i m s e l f , as
h e t a l k s to R o w l a n d :
'It
s e e m s
like ten ye a r s . What an e x q u i s i t e a s s
I
w a s !
'Do y o u feel so w i s e n o w ? '
V e r i l y !
D o n't
I look s o ? S u r e l y I h a v e n ' t the same
face.
H a v e n ' t
I a d i f f e r e n t
eye,
a
d i f f e r e n t
e x p r e s s i o n , a d i f f e r e n t v o i c e ?
'...
Yo u a r e in th e lit e ra l s e n s e o f t h e w o r d m o r e
c i v i 1 i s ed „ ' (104)
It
is so t r u e that R o d e r i c k is m o r e c i v i l i z e d in th e l i t e ra l s e ns e ,
that
he is u n a b l e to c h a n g e h i s m i n d a b o ut Mary..
On a c c o u n t o f her
l i v i n g s u r r o u n d e d by
m i n i s t e r s , he can o n ly s e e her as
"a s t e r n
m o r a l i s t " w h o w o u l d call h i m c o r r u p t if s h e s h o u l d s e e h i m wear i ng a
V e n e t i a n w a t c h - c h a i n r o u n d h i s neck and a m a g n i f i c e n t R o m a n i n t a g l i o
on
t h e t h i r d f inger o f h i s left h a n d as if t h ey w e r e a s t a i n o f the
c i v i l i s e d
w o r l d
(104).
At all e v e n t s , he f e e l s he is
l i v i n g
"an
t h e in o r e i t h a s s p a c e f o r t l-i e in :
R o d e r i c k
so
far
had j u s t i f i e d hi s c o n f i d e n c e and
■Flattered h i s p e r s p i c a c i t y ; h e w a s g i v i n g a s p l e n d i d
a c c o u n t o f h i inse 1 f .
1-1 e was c: h an g ed e ven
111or e t h an h e
h i m s e l f s u s p e c t e d ; he had s t e p p e d w i t h o u t
f a l t e r i n g
into
h i s
b i r t h r i g h t ,
and
w a s s p e n d i n g
money,
i n t e l l e c t u a l l y ,
as l a v i s h l y as a y o u n g h e i r who
has
just
won an obstructive-: l a w s u i t .
R o d e r i c k ' s g l a n c e
and
v o i c e w e r e t h e same, d o u b t l e s s , as when
they
e n l i v e n e d
th e s u m m e r dusk on C e c i l i a ' s v e r a n d a h , but
in
h i s p e r s o n
g e n e r a l l y t h e r e w a s an
i n d e f i n a b l e
e p r e s s i o n
o f
e p e r i e n c e
r a p i d 1 y
a n d
e a s i 1 y
assimilated.,
R o w l a n d had b e en s t r u c k at t h e o u t s e t
w it h the i n s t i n c t i v e q u i c k n e s s of h i s o b s e r v a t i o n and
h i s
Free a p p r o p r i a t i o n of w h a t e v e r m i gh t s e r v e
his
p u r p o s e .
i-le had not b e en for i n s t a n c e h a l f an
hour
on E n g l i s h soil
b e f o r e he p e r c e i v e d
that
he
was
d r e s s e d p r o v i n c i a 1 1 y , a n d I-» e h a d i in in e d i a t e 1 y r e f o r in e d
h i s t o i l e t w i t h t h e most u n e r r i n g tact,.
H i s a p p e t i t e
for
n o v e l t y
w as
i n sa t i a b l e ,
and
for
e v e r y t h i n g
c h a r a c t e r i s t i c a l l y
f o r e i g n , as it p r e s e n t e d
itself,
he had an e x t r a v a g a n t g r e e t i n g ; but in h a l f an
hour
t l-i e n o v e 11 y h a d f a d e d , h e It a d g u e s s e d t h e s e c r e t , h e
h a d p 1 u c: k e d o u t t h e k e e n e r s e n sat i o n . A t 1 1-, e e n d o f a
m o n t h h e p r e s e n t e d
a p u z z l i n g s p e c t a c l e to
his
c o m p a n i o n .
He had c a u g h t i n s t i n c t i v e l y the k e y - n o t e
o f t h e Old W o r l d .
He o b s e r v e d
and
e n j o y e d ,
he
c r i t i c i z e d and
r h a p s o d i s e d , but t h o u g h
all
t h i n g s
i n t e r e s t e d h i m and m an y d e l i g h t e d him, n o n e s u r p r i s e d
h i m ;
he
i n ven t ecl
s 1-,or t cut s and
an t i c i pat ed
t he
u. n e x p e c t e d
(106)
1 n h i s v i s i t s t o Pari s, G e n o a , M i l a n , y e n i c e ‘a n d F"l or e nc e , R o d e r i k
s i mp 1 y 1 ool< ed , a b s o r b e d a n d re-Flecte d on t It e i r g r e a t art " He
j u d g e d i nst i net i v e l y a n d i-' a s s i o n a t e 1 y , b u t n e v e r v u l g a r 1 y * ( :10 7 ) . On 1 y i n R o m e h o w e v e r h e m a k e s h i s f i r s t g r e at d i s c o v er a ,. H e p e r c e i ve s t h a t E u i'’ o p e is t h e w o r l d of art i f i c i a 1 1 i f e , c o n v e n t i o n s , a n d “a e s t h e t i c r e v e l ,. “ B e s i d e s , h e r e c o g n i z e s t h e P o p e a....
»
t h e most i m p r e s s i v e c o n v e n t i on i n a l 1 h i s t o r y , and 11-. a t s o p h i st ic a t i on an d a e s t h e t i c s a r e p a r t o f t h a t world., R o d e r i c k t h u s d e c 1 a r e d 11-. a t R o in e m a d e h i in f e e 1 a n d u n d e r s t a n d m o r e t h i n g s t h a n h e c o u l d e x p r e s s ; h e w a s s u r e th at life m u s t h a v e t h e r e for all o n e ' s s e n s e s an i n c o m p a r a b l e f i n e n e s s ; t h a t inore i n t e r e s t i n g t h i n g s inu st h a p p e n too n e fc I-.er e 11-. an an a wh er e e 1 s e . A n d h e g a v e R ow 1 an d fc o u n d e r s t a n d t h a t h e m e a n t t o J.ive F r e e l y a n d l a r g e l y a nd b e a s i nt er est ecl a s oc:c:as i a n deinandeel. ( i% 8 )
T h o s e i n t e r e s t i n a t h i n g s R o d e r i c l< s u. p p o s e s m u. s t It a p p e n in R o m e I:) e g i n t a a p p e a r v e r y e a r 1 y . 1 n t h e L u cl o v i s i g a r d e n s , I? o d e r i c: l< l-< a s h i s First s i g h t o f C h r i s t i n a L i g h t a nd h e g e t s i m m e n s e l y a f f e c t e d by her l o o k s . A l t h o u g h C h r i s t i n a is an A m e r i c a n b o r n a s R o w l a n d h i m s e 1 f i s , f I'' o m h i s o w n j u d g e m e n t , R o d e r i c l< t e 1 1 s R o w 1 a n d t h a t C h r i s t i n a is a d a u g h t e r o f t h e O l d W o r l d - h e s e c s h er a s a f r u i t o f t h a t a r t i f i c i a l w o r l d (110),. T h e n d u e t o t h a t b e w i l d e r m e n t p r o v o k e d l:> a Hi u c: l-i a b e a u t y , R o d e r i c l< i s i n s p i r e d t o p r o cl u c: e h i s f i r s t g r e a t w o r k s in Europe,, H e m o d e l s a l i f e - s i z e d f i g u r e o f A d a m “a n d a l l t h e w o r l d c a m e t o s e e i t . ’ H o w e v e r g r e a t h i s s u c c e s s is on o n e h a n d , he f a i l s on t h e other,, H e s t a r t s t o s u r r e n d e r t o t h e t e m p t a t i o n s of c i v i l i z a t i o n for h e o w e s e v e r y franc: of t h e m o n e y R o w l a n d s h o u l d p a y h i m for t h e Adam., But , a s R o d e r i c k is i n i t i a t e d into s o c i a l e v i l h e e x p e r i e n c e s a n o t h e r g r e a t s u c c e s s a s h e p r o d u c e s t h e f i g u r e o f Eve, a n d h e a l s o h a s a t a s t e o f t h e f r u i t o f R o m a n s o c i e t y a s R o w l a n d
i n t r o d u c e d Chi mil r i g h t a n d left, a n d s u f f e r e d h i m to
m a k e h i s w a y h i m s e l f a.n e n t e r p r i s e for w h i c h R o cl e i'- i c l< v e r y Hi o o n cl i s p 1 a y e d a n a 1 1 •••■ s u f f i c i e n t capacity,. W h e r e v e r h e w e n t h e m a d e , n ot e x a c t l y what i s c a 11 e d a f a v o u r a b 1 e i m p r e s s i o n , b u t w I-. a t , f r o m a P i'- a c t i c a 1 p o i n t o f v i e w , i s b e 1 1 e r •••• a |:> u z 1 i n g o n e ,. ., R o d e r i c k ' s m a n n e r s on t h e p r e c i n c t s o f t h e P i n c i a n w e r e q u i t e t h e s a m e a s h i s m a n n e r s on C e c i l i a ' s v e r a n d a h ; t h a t is, t h e y w e r e n o m a n n e r s at a ll. But it r e m a i n e d a s t r u e a s b e f o r e t h a t it w o u l d h a v e been i m p o s s i b 1 e o n t h e w h o 1 e t o v i o 1 a t e c e r e m o n y w i t h 1 e s s o f 1 a s t i n g o f f e n c e „ H e i n t e r r u p t e d , h e >::: o n t r a d i c t e d , h e s p o k e t o p e o p l e h e h a d n e v e r s e e n , a n d left h i s s o c i a l c r e d i t o r s w i t h o u t t h e s m a l l e s t c o n v e r s a t i o n a l inter' e s t o n t h e i r 1 o a n s ; h e 1 o u n g e cl a n d y a w n e d , h e t a l k e d l o u d w h e n h e s h o u l d h a v e t a l k e d low, and low w h e n l-i e s h o u 1 d I-. a v e t a 11< e d 1 o u cl. M a n y p e o p 1 e i n conse<:|uence t h o u g h t h i m i n s u f f e r a b 1 a c o n c e i fced and d e c l a r e d t h a t . . . he a s s u m e d t h e a i r s o f a s p o i l e d
celebrity... C e r t a i n l y , a m o n g t h e y o u n g m e n o f
t e s t t h e i r p o w e r s , n o n e e v e r m a d e a f a i r e r b e g i n n i n g t h a n R o d e r i c k . H e r o d e h i s t w o h o r s e s at o n c e w i t h e x t r a o r d i n a r y g o o d f o r t u n e ; h e e s t a b l i s h e d the l-i a p p i e s t in o cl u s v i v e n d i b e t w i x t w o r l< a n d p 1 a y . ( i :12 •- 4 ) R o d e r i c k i n d e e d r e a c t s v e r y h a r s h l y a s h e F a c e s s u c h a Formal s o c i e t y For he s i m p l y i m p o s e s h i s o w n n a t u r a l w a y o f l i f e - he i m p o s e s h i s f r e e d o m t o t h a t w o r l d a s h e b e s t pleases,, E v e n his s t a t u e s of A d a m a n d Eve, w h o a r e s y m b o l s of t h e lost i n n o c e n c e , ma y a l s o c o n v e y h i s r e b e 11 i o n t o w a r d s t h e u n n a t u. r a 1 n e s s o F t: h e E u r o p e a n w o r 1 d . A n cl alt h o u g h R o cl e r i c l< ' s ‘ cl e 1 i g h t e cl f r e s h n e s s " w a s c: a mm e n t e cl u p o n a s w e l l a s h i s “d a m n e d i m p e r t i n e n c e , " R o w l a n d k n o w s that t he y o u n g m a n "... w a s i m p u 1 s i v e , s p o n t a n e o u s , si n c: e r e ; t h e r' e w e r e s o m a n y p e o p l e at d i n n e r --t ab l es a n d in s t u d i o s w h o w e r e n ot t h a t it s e e m e d w o r t h w h i l e t o a l l o w t h i s r a r e s p e c i m e n all p o s s i b l e f r e e d o m o f a c t i o n “ < i i 3 ) „ 0 h a p t e r 6 t h e n b e g i n s w i t h t h e c: e 1 e b r a t i o n o f R o cl e r i c k ' s t w o g r e a t p r o d u c t i o n s o f A d a m a n d Eve., R o w l a n d o f f e r s a l i t t l e d i n n e r an d i n v i t e s s o m e a r t i s t i c f r i e n d s . As o n e of t h o s e a r t i s t s s u g g e s t s t h a t R o d e r i ck s h o u 1 d m a k e a Ju.das, t h e s c u 11:>tor r e a c t s v e r y har slily : " N e v e r ! I m e a n n e v e r t o m a k e a n y t h i n g u g l y . " T h u s , by r e f u s i n g to m a k e a -J u das, t h e b e t r a y e r o -F C h r i s t , R o d e r i c k r e f u s e s t o p o r t r a y
11-, e sp ot s o f c: or r up t i on . I n fac: t , h e c: ar e s on 1 y for ' p er f ec: t
b e a u t y . , “ A n d a s h e r e i n f o r c e s h i s ideal s c u l p t u r e s , h e d e c l a r e s h i s art m u s t c o n v e y B e a u t y , P o w e r , G e n i u s , D a r i n g a n d all t h e F o r c e s , a n d E l e m e n t s , a n d M y s t e r i e s o f Nature., H e m e a n s t o d o t h e M o r n i n g , t h e N i g h t , t h e O c e a n , t h e M o u n t a i n s , t h e M o o n a n d t h e W e s t W i n d . He m e a n s t o m a k e "a m a g n i f i c e n t s t a t u e o f A m e r i c a " (124),, All the g r e a t n e s s R o d e r i c k ' s art m u s t c o n v e y is a s h i g h a s h i s i l l u s o r y a m b i t i o n s , for it i m p l i e s o n l y t h e i l l u s i o n of an i d e a l i s t ' s i n n o c ent n a t u r e . F u r t h e r m o r e , R o d e r i c k ' s a m b i t io n s e e m s t o b e a n
