Talk:The Europeans
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[edit] Rewrite needed
This section currently reads as original research. It needs to be re-written according to Wikipedia:Verifiability.-Classicfilms 09:00, 25 June 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Major themes
One of the most important themes of the novel is the comparison between European and American women, which James stresses through the great difference existing between Eugenia and the Wentworth ladies. Madame Munster is independent, modern, and displays hauteur. Gertrude and Charlotte lack this self possession. For example, they tend to comply with their father's suggestions. When Mr. Wentworth tries to arrange a marriage between Mr. Brand and Gertrude to which she objects, it is not simple for her to express clearly her preference. They spend most of their free time with the family, until the moment in which Gertrude discovers herself to be in love with Felix. This relationship helps her to get in touch with the world, to take decisions alone, to become independent. She reacts against her father's decision regarding Mr. Brand, explaining that she will never marry a man she does not love. Gertrude will marry Felix and leave America.
The difference between Europeans and Bostonians manifests itself in particular in the expression of feelings and emotions: The former are very sensitive, love is more important than money. Moreover American people are more strait-laced and they have closer links with tradition. The most important thing in life for those living in the 'New World' is, ironically, respecting old traditions and accepting the rules of a good morality. Mr Wentworth is profoundly surprised and fascinated by Eugenia's marriage experience as well as Robert Acton's. In the American eyes, Eugenia really is a perplexing woman.
This first person and omniscient narrator uses a very fine and cultivated language, sometimes he prefers Latin diction; preferring to introduce very long, detailed descriptions of the setting and of the characters, from both a psychological and a physical point of view. In addition to the contributions of the narrator, dialogue helps the author to introduce his characters and to show their reactions to unfolding events.
Finally, it’s important to stress a key word of the novel, because it is used many time by the narrator and by the female protagonist to introduce herself and her brother. The central word of this novel is "clever": quick at learning and understanding, intelligent. It corresponds to the most important quality that, from Eugenia’s point of view, we should possess to be happy and satisfied.
...This disdain for the novel may account for James' exclusion of the book from the New York Edition of his fiction that he assembled in 1907-1909. It's hard to argue that The Europeans is a massive achievement, or a massive anything. But this very lightness of touch does give the book a particular charm compared to the heavier (if more substantial) novels James would produce in the 1880s.
- Most of this material, which is thoroughly well-grounded, mainstream criticism of the novel, has now been restored with supporting cites and quotes from respected critics. Casey Abell 14:09, 18 September 2007 (UTC)
