James’ early novel of “prismatic colours” shows that Europe can only go so far into America before being rejected

Folks

• Eugenia, the Baroness Munster, who travels to her cousins in American so she may find a new husband to replace the one who’s trying to divorce her; worldly, impressive, flirtatious, well-dress, beautifully mannered; almost succeeds with Robert Acton
• Felix Young, brother of Eugenia, a charming but lazy young artist who “has no sense of property” according to Eugenia (36), but whose “charming nature” is “our capital”; a Bohemian, he is not picky or careful, but rather fun-loving and loose; succeeds in wooing younger lady of the house, Gertrude
• William Wentworth, the uncle: the big silent type, rugged and proper but generous
• Charlotte, the elder sister, with an eye towards propriety and American Puritan culture
• Gertrude, the younger sister, who is a little more playful and wants release from her steady practical family
• Clifford, the son of the family, tipsy and kicked out of Harvard; needs steadying influence; Felix suggests Eugenia, who complies
• Robert Acton, a cousin of the American family; dallies with Eugenia but refuses her because of her unsteadiness with Clifford (he doesn’t “get” the European habit of intrigues)
• Mr. Brand, the serious clergyman who tries to “reform” the unsteady Gertrude for her own good, but who ends up with Charlotte after Felix and Eugenia make them realize who really loves whom
• Lizzie Acton, his sister, a silly girl who marries despite Eugenia’s flirtation; manages to like Paris couture and do housework: a new breed that Eugenia doesn’t understand

Themes

• American technology: the omnibus Eugenia has never seen before (34)
• Europe in the US, a reversal of James’ typical design
  • Europe does things in the shadows, behind the scenes, allowing people to have many vague relationships and manipulations
  • In the US, everyone knows who everyone else will end up with; they don’t manipulate, but just wait
  • US is about abstractions, whereas Europe is about the concrete
  • In US, European powers just don’t work; the US requires open-air deals
  • Europe mandates instruction of younger men by older women
    • Eugenia calls herself “a strolling actress”
• Clarity versus Obscurity
  • Hiding, curtains, shadows
• Hospitality
• Naturalness versus Piety
  • Gertrude critiques religion as unnatural, as a pose, as fakery
• Observation: Acton is the “observer” James uses again and again (cf the cousin in Portrait)