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［摘 要］In The Portrait of a Lady，apart from his handling of international theme，Henry James attached much importance to the portrayal of the characters' ideological states，especially of the heroine Isabel Archer's idea of freedom.This thesis attempts to interpret Isabel's view of freedom from the perspective of Sartre's Existentialism so as to reveal that this novel is of profound modern significance.

［關鍵詞］Henry James The Portrait of a Lady Isabel's view of freedom Sartre's Existentialism

［中圖分類號］I106 ［文獻標識碼］A ［文章編號］1009－5489(2008)01－105－02

Ⅰ

\"Henry James acted as a remarkable bridge from the realistic tradition of the 19th century to the modernist tendency of the 20th century.\"During his lifetime，he produced a total of twenty-two novels among which The Portrait of a Lady is one of his greatest works.As for this novel，many scholars think that as James's previous works，it still handles the international theme.While I hold that in addition to the old and new world's cultural conflicts，the theme of freedom runs through the novel.Arnold Kettle ever criticized that\"The Portrait of a Lady is the revelation of the inadequacy of Isabel's view of freedom\".This thesis attempts to interpret the heroine Isabel Archer's view of freedom from the perspective of Sartre's Existentialism so as to reveal that this novel is of profound modern significance.

French Existentialist Jean-Paul Sartre brought forward that\"Existence precedes essence\".\"It means that first of all，man exists and only afterwards，defines himself.Thus，there is no human nature which provides us with an external source of determination and value.In other words，there is no determinism，man is free.\"Therefore，it is this view of human nature from which the Existentialist conceptions of freedom flow.

Sartre's idea of freedom includes：first，we are absolutely free to act independently of determination by outside influences.Second，we must choose in order to be free.Last，to be free，we should also take the responsibility for our choices.Therefore，we can see man's freedom，free choice and responsibility are closely related.In The Portrait of a Lady，the heroine Isabel's view of freedom is almost the same as the above mentioned three aspects.In some sense，we can say that she puts Sartre's ideas into practice.

Ⅱ

From the beginning the quality of Isabel's independence is stressed，which can be traced to Mrs Touchett's eccentric telegram：\"...taken sister's girl...quite independent.\"Later，in Gardencourt，when Ralph says that his mother has adopted Isabel，she assures him that\"I'm not a candidate for adoption...I'm very fond of my liberty\".

Besides，Isabel emphasizes her right of free choice.She is eager to be the master of her own life and tries to judge things for herself.Just as she tells her aunt，\"to judge wrong，I think，is more honorable than not to judge at all\".Therefore，she wishes to choose her fate and know something of human affairs beyond what other people think it compatible with propriety to tell her.

Isabel's commitment to pure identity also fully embodies her pursuit of freedom.When Madame Merle argues that human beings are not isolated beings，Isabel counters that her existence represents nothing except herself，so nothing and nobody can represent her.Even her own clothes only represent her dressmaker but not her.Different from Madame Merle，Isabel keeps distance from social customs to maintain her special self.

Therefore，Isabel's emphasis on her independence，her right of free choice and her pure identity，in a sense，proves that she holds Sartre's idea that we are absolutely free to act independently of determination by outside influences.

Ⅲ

Sartre's Existentialist theory also means that we create our own nature through our free choices and actions.In the novel，Isabel pursues her freedom through her free choice of her marriage.Caspar Goodwood is a successful businessman in Massachusetts.Meanwhile，\"He has been extremely attentive to Isabel.\"However，Isabel refuses all his sincere proposals，because his quiet and virile strength frightens her，which will undoubtedly hinder her from pursuing freedom.Besides，Isabel thinks that he represents American upper social stratum rather than himself，which is contradictory to Isabel's view of pure identity.Therefore，even at the end of the novel when Isabel finds herself encircled by her tragic marriage，she chooses to refuse his proposal again.

Isabel's rejection of Lord Warburton is not a light one.Both Ralph and his father commend Warburton，however，Isabel rejects his offer of marriage.Isabel admits that she feels very deeply the attraction of his charming appearance，elegant conversation style and accomplishment.Nevertheless，she thinks her marrying Warburton implies keeping her away from many chances and challenges that most people confront.Warburton has been living in the Continent where he has formed the sophisticated outlook of life.His amazing accomplishment and reputation will draw her onto his orbit of life that will hinder her from experiencing her own life.

Isabel's refusals of the two great men urge us to know what kind of companion she considers perfect.Actually，she only wishes to find a man who keeps distance from social customs and provides her with intellectual support.At this time，Gilbert Osmond，an American art collector living in Florence，is introduced to her.Isabel is completely fascinated by his art temperament and cultural cultivation.Thus，although he has\"no career，no position...no anything\"，for Isabel，this proves Osmond to be an absolutely free individual.He isn't limited by any social stratum，so he only represents himself.Her combination with a person who has no social identity implies that she can protect her personality，averting from being drawn into others' living system.However，her marriage is opposed by almost all the people around her.Here，it is noteworthy that Sartre points out\"the external limit of freedom...will never be a real obstacle for freedom.\"Thus，the opposition of Isabel's fellowmen can't change her mind but further strengthens her resolution.

Ⅳ

According to Sartre's view of freedom，we should take the responsibility for our behavior.Just as Sartre says，\"the first aim of Existentialism is to make us be responsible for our actions\".In the meantime，we should not only bear the responsibility for ourselves but also for all men.

Isabel，imagining herself free，has in fact delivered herself into bondage.After their marriage，Osmond demands obedience in everything，always looking consummately uncompromised.However，to our surprise，Isabel returns to Osmond at last.Many readers find it confusing and think that Isabel finally abandons her ideal of freedom，while I hold that her final decision is loyal to her ideal.It can be interpreted as follows：

Isabel is determined not to escape the consequences of her deliberate act.Her return to Rome is not a mere surrender to the conventional force of the marriage vow.She tells her friend Henrietta，\"One must accept one's deeds.I married him before all the world；I am perfectly free；it is impossible to do anything more deliberate\".Moreover，it is her obligation towards Osmond's daughter Pansy that urges her to return to Rome.Here，we can see Isabel assumes both the responsibility for her wrong choice and the people around her.Last，although Osmond wants to rule over Isabel's life，even her thoughts，he has to recognize her as\"a disagreeable necessity of thought\".Therefore，we can perceive that Isabel still owns intellectual freedom.Her final choice—returning to Rome—also proves that she still has the freedom of choice.

Ⅴ

Sartre says that if existence really does precede essence，man is free.Besides，man creates his own human nature and value through his free choice.Thus，he should take the responsibility for his choice.In this sense，man's freedom，free choice and responsibility are closely related.In The Portrait of a Lady，the course of the heroine Isabel's pursuit of freedom fully embodies Sartre's Existentialist philosophical ideas.Although Existentialism flourished in France and Germany after WWⅡ，Henry James successfully portrayed Isabel as an Existentialist in the 19th century.Therefore，we can perceive that this novel is of profound modern significance.

［參考文獻］

［1］候維瑞：《英國文學通史》，上海外語教育出版社2002年版。

［2］Kettle，Arnold.1953.An Introduction to the English Novel(Volume Ⅱ).London：Hutchinson House.

［3］Sartre，Jean-Paul.1957.Existentialism and Human Emotions(Trans.by Bernard Frechtman).New York：Philosophical Library.

［4］James，Henry.1981.The Portrait of a Lady.Oxford：Oxford University Press.

［5］Sartre，Jean-Paul.1999.Being and Nothingness.Beijing：China Social Sciences Publishing House.

［6］李辛生：《自由的迷惘》，廣東高等教育出版社1991年版。