Warning: Use of undefined constant referer - assumed 'referer' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 102

Warning: Use of undefined constant host - assumed 'host' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 105

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays:102) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 106

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays:102) in /usr/home/essaywo/public_html/essays on line 109
Portrait Of A Lady - Papers

Portrait Of A Lady

Isabel Archer doesn't go away with Casper Goodwood because it would mean giving up what she values most, her freedom and independence. The very first time we meet Isabel she tells Ralph that "I'm very fond of my liberty" (p. 30) and that she is "not a candidate for adoption" (p. 29). Both of these statements clearly show early on that she is not looking to be tied down at all. She wants to be free to experience all that life has to offer for her. Because of that, she turns down the proposal of Lord Warburton, although he had much to offer. James says, "The idea of a diminished liberty was particularly disagreeable to her at present, since she had just given a sort of personal ...

Want to read the rest of this paper?
Join Essayworld today to view this entire essay
and over 50,000 other term papers

and was ready to start anew. Throughout the novel, her morality grew, changed, and became more stable. Where at the beginning she refused two proposals of marriage, without giving any indication to wanting a third, she ends up accepting a proposal from Osmond. Goodwood's offer to Isabel came at an early stage of her moral growth, when she was not really sure of what she wanted, so she could accept. She was beginning to enjoy her newfound freedom. After her refusal to Goodwood, Isabel's throbbing heart was due to two reasons, her discussion with Goodwood and "simply the enjoyment she found in the exercise of her power" (p. 143). Her power was her newfound freedom, her ability to judge however she liked and make her own decisions, no matter the consequences. Isabel said "to judge wrong, I think, is more honorable than not to judge at all (p. 140). She wanted the freedom to judge, and to act on those judgments. By marrying Goodwood, she would be giving up some of that ...

Get instant access to over 50,000 essays.
Write better papers. Get better grades.

Already a member? Login

CITE THIS PAGE:

APA
MLA
Chicago
Turabian

Portrait Of A Lady. (2005, April 14). Retrieved November 30, 2024, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Portrait-Of-A-Lady/25350

"Portrait Of A Lady." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 14 Apr. 2005. Web. 30 Nov. 2024. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Portrait-Of-A-Lady/25350>

"Portrait Of A Lady." Essayworld.com. April 14, 2005. Accessed November 30, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Portrait-Of-A-Lady/25350.

JOIN NOW

Join today and get instant access to this and 50,000+ other essays

PAPER DETAILS

Added: 4/14/2005 05:28:03 PM
Category: English
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 550
Pages: 2

Save |

Report

SHARE THIS PAPER

SAVED ESSAYS

Save and find your favorite essays easier