Abstract：The Portrait of a Lady is the master work of Henry James in his early age and it’s one of his greatest work in his life. The work is famous for its vivid description of psychology and flexible application of the international theme and metaphor, which encourage many scholars all over the world to study it. However, the thesis studies the work from the perspective of feminism. In the thesis, much attention is paid to explanations of Isabel’s tragedy and focuses on her request for knowledge, marriage and freedom. Causes of her tragedy are presented including the influence of feminist movement, traditional views of women and Henry James’s life experiences. 

Key words: tragic marriage; freedom; feminist movement; traditional women; life experiences

CONTENTS

ABSTRACT

中文摘要

Chapter One INTRODUCTION-9

1.1 Background of the study-9

1.2 Significance of the study-10

1.3 Structure of the thesis-10

Chapter Two LITERATURE REVIEW-11

2.1 Previous study aboard-11

2.2 Previous study at home-12

Chapter Three THE TRAGEDY OF ISABEL -13

3.1 Failure in the request for knowledge-13

3.2 Failure in the request for marriage  -14

3.3 Failure in the request of independent freedom-15

Chapter Four THE CAUSES OF ISABEL’S TRAGEDY-17

4.1 The influence of feminist movement-17

4.2 The influence of traditional views of women-18

4.3 The influence of Henry James’s life experiences-19

4.3.1 Family influence-19

4.3.2 Realistic empirism-20

Chapter Five CONCLUSION-21

BIBLOGRAPHY ..... 22