Abstract

Henry James was a famous novelist, stylist and literary critic at the end of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century, and he had an important influence in the history of western literature. The novel mainly tells the story about a young American woman, Isabel, in her pursuit of life and love. James portrayed a lot of distinctive female images, these women together constitute a "new American women" group. This female group image is both traditional and modern, This paper anaylzes the social causes from the heroine's independence, the pursuit of freedom and equality, as well as the concept of love and marriage so as to understand the author's feminist thought.   

Keywords: The Portrait of A Lady, Henry James, Feminism，Independent，Freedom

CONTENTS

中文摘要

Abstract

1：Introduction-1

1.1 Introduction to the author-1

1.2 literature review-2

1.3 Framework and significance-3

2：Feminist Ideal Against Sexism-3

2.1 The traditional female consciousness-3

2.2 New feminism-4

3: Independence and Eagerness for Freedom-5

3.1 The definition of freedom-5

3.2 Freedom of consciousness-7

3.3 Challenge to freedom-8

4：View on Love-9

4.1. Desire for freedom of love-9

4.2. Conservative and pessimistic marriage-10

5: Conclusion-11

Works Cited-12