In psychology, one of the most debated topics concerns the question of the environmental and societal impact on the education of a person. It is commonly believed that society plays a huge role in how everyone behaves and how easily they conform to the environment in which they grew up. For example, in a society where propriety is valued, an individual is expected to behave in a well-fashioned manner. . In The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James, Isabel Archer, the novel's protagonist, embodies the person who reflects her surroundings. During his journey from North America to Europe, his behaviors, perspectives, values, and desires begin to change significantly. Through the use of formal elements, such as imagery, language, structure, and tone, Henry James clearly delineates Europe as a country of sophistication and decadence, and North America as a country of innocence and individualism. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay In the opening lines of the novel, James captures the essence of European social conventions with this image: “Under certain circumstances there are few hours in life more pleasant than the hour devoted to the so-called tea ceremony in the afternoon (17). James takes a simple social custom from the English tea ceremony and embellishes the tone and language of the passage to provide readers with a picture of the European upper class. This image of order and aristocracy is quickly interrupted when Isabel enters the novel. From the beginning of the novel, Isabel Archer is described as one of the "young American girls accustomed to much deference and high spirit (27)." Peripheral characters such as Lord Warburton and Ralph are captivated by Isabel's liveliness; Lord Warburton exclaims that Isabel is his “idea of ​​an interesting woman” (30) and Ralph envies her desire for independence. Ms. Touchett considers Isabel a girl who “thinks she knows a lot about the world – like most American girls; but like most American girls, she is ridiculously wrong (47). Isabel is clearly not in step with European traditions when it comes to social conventions. By juxtaposing the two representatives of North America and Europe through imagery and language, James reveals to readers that not only is there a stark contrast between the two settings, but there is also a disparity between characters from different contexts. James frequently exchanges the perspectives in which readers see Isabel. Using the structure of the “portrait” as the organizing image of the novel, James shows us Isabel's actions from her point of view and her voice. She lets her readers know that “her deepest pleasure is to feel the continuity between the movements of her own soul and the agitations of the world (41)”. But he also uses tangential points of view to reveal to readers the impressions Isabel leaves on those around her. In shedding this new light on Isabel, James not only strengthens Isabel's character and the American optimism, innocence, and independence that she embodies, but also discloses elements of her character that will prove incompatible in Europe . As Isabel's stay in Europe continues, readers begin to see with more clarity the struggles she faces between independence and European social conventions. Isabel considers herself to be an independent person, passionate about freedom, exploration and adventure. She avoids romantic attractions andrefuses marriage proposals because they would ultimately restrict his autonomy. “At the risk of adding to the evidence of her self-sufficiency, it must be said that there had been moments when this possibility of admiration on the part of a character represented for her an aggression almost to the degree of an affront. , to the degree of an affront. disadvantage (94). Although Isabel never defines the independence she aspires to, consistently rejecting the proposals of Lord Warburton and Caspar Goodwood, Isabel suggests that individual self-sufficiency contradicts a traditional marriage. On the other hand, Isabel also has a desire to conform to European society. She is attracted to the quiet, conventional lifestyle of the Molyneuxs and envies the Warburton sisters for their docility and submissiveness. Because Isabel was raised without an authority figure as a child, she inherently craves security, stability, safety, and protection, giving her the propensity to conform and readily accept social conventions. Although she believes that marrying Lord Warburton "would fail to support any enlightened bias in favor of the free exploration of life that she hitherto entertained or was now capable of entertaining" (101). , she now adheres to the idea that “whatever reservations one may have,” Lord Warburton had offered her a great opportunity (101). Marrying into the English aristocracy would represent a social opportunity for Isabel, giving her status, security and stability. The change in Isabel's way of thinking shows readers that Isabel's American values ​​are rapidly dissipating as European romanticism and idealism slowly but steadily flood over her like the tide of an ocean. Despite many self-proclamations of becoming an empowered woman who seeks only answers from her own heart, Isabel's wavering desires for independence, status, and stability in European society ultimately make her vulnerable to Madame Merle's manipulations. . Described as a woman who “knew how to think – a rare accomplishment in a woman…of course she also knew how to feel; it was indeed Madame Merle's great talent, her most perfect gift (164), Madame Merle serves to represent the decadence of Europe. It is renounced and accomplished; it represents social conventions. But she ultimately uses her gifts as a means to achieve her own gain. By creating an illusory figure, Madame Merle tricks Isabelle into believing that Gilbert Osmond is a man "entirely above the respectable average", a man who "had the most perception and taste - being artistic through and through (211).” In reality, Osmond is pretentious, boring, and lacking in aesthetic appeal, but because he "appears" to Isabel as intelligent, she becomes more and more attracted to him. James' employment of language, imagery, tone, and structure in this section of the novel is extremely crucial not only in foreshadowing Isabel's downfall, but also in seeing Isabel's ultimate decision at the conclusion of the novel . The language and tone that James uses to describe Osmond and his surroundings is outwardly disturbing. As she visits Mr. Osmond at his home, “there was something grave and strong about the place; it seemed that, once in, you would need an act of energy to get out (217). This prison image returns several times when Pansy, Osmond's daughter, is introduced. Pansy was protected by the external influences of European convention; she is raised in a convent in order to live a life of submission and obedience to her father. James repeatedly associates a person's character with the environment of their home. The house of (296)..