Physical Descriptions in the International Tales of Henry James

Abstract

The subtleties of Henry James's art have been much examined, but one aspect of his technique, at least in the early stages of his career, was strikingly simple and conventional: his physical descriptions of his characters are unambiguous indications of the basic moral polarities of the tales. The Americans in the early tales all belong to the same physical type, and the Europeans also share a common physique, which is in marked contrast to that of the Americans. These contrasts are maintained systematically from tale to tale, and often a thematic analogy between characters in different tales is reflected by common details in their descriptions.These points are established in an examination of physical descriptions in several early tales: A Passionate Pilgrim, The Madonna of the Future, Madame de Mauves, Four Meetings. An International Episode, and A Bundle of Letters.In the final pages of the essay it is demonstrated that this system of physical types is closely linked to James's deepest (and perhaps not fully articulated) feelings about Europe and America, and the suggestion is made that his physical descriptions of American characters hint at their deepest flaw ‐ a profound unease in the face of life.