Abstract
Henry James’s The Portrait of a Lady (1881) or Jane Campion’s 1996 movie adaptation? Abstract This paper aims at identifying both the similarities and differences between Henry James’s novel “The Portrait of a Lady” (1881) and Jane Campion’s 1996 movie version. We will try to answer the following questions: Is a Modernist literary piece still appealing to the 21 st century readers? What is lost and what is gained from the screen adaptation of the book? Would a person reading the novel be interested in watching the movie and vice versa? Last but not least, we will compare the portrayal of the characters in the novel and their materialization in the movie through the parts of Nicole Kidman, John Malkovich, Barbara Hershey and Mary Lauise Parker.
Highlights
This paper aims at identifying both the similarities and differences between Henry James’s novel “The Portrait of a Lady” (1881) and Jane Campion’s 1996 movie version
Inspired by Turgenyev, Henry James starts from the assumption that if a portrait is modeled on a real person, “the novel is modeled on the portrait” and as a consequence “the portrait and not the person” is the principle of unity for the novel” (Izzo, 1990, p.43)
He uses Isabel as a portrait and most of the thematic exploration of the novel occurs through her actions, thoughts and emotions
Summary
This paper aims at identifying both the similarities and differences between Henry James’s novel “The Portrait of a Lady” (1881) and Jane Campion’s 1996 movie version. He uses Isabel as a portrait and most of the thematic exploration of the novel occurs through her actions, thoughts and emotions.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
