- Isabel Archer, an independent young American woman, travels to England with her wealthy Aunt Mrs. Touchett. - At her aunt's estate, Gardencourt, Isabel meets Ralph Touchett, her cousin, and Lord Warburton, an English aristocrat who takes an interest in her. - Lord Warburton professes his admiration for Isabel, but she remains unsure of her feelings for him and wants to maintain her independence.

1. PORTRAIT OF A LADY
HENRY JAMES
Dr. M. Fahmy Raiyah

2. HENRY JAMES
• Henry James was born in 1843.
• He moved between America and
Europe for the first 20 years of his
life, before he settled permanently in
England.
• He is known for portraying the
encounter of Americans with Europe
and Europeans.
• Among James's works are Daisy
Miller, The Bostonians, What Maisie
Knew, The Wings of the Dove, The
Ambassadors, The Turn of the Screw,
Washington Square, and The Princess
Casamassima.
• The Portrait of a Lady is published in
1881.
• James died in 1916.

4. These chapter summaries are adapted from the
following websites:
• www.sparknotes.com
• www.shmoop.com
• www.cliffsnots.com

5. CHAPTER 1
It’s tea time. We meet three gentlemen: Mr.
Touchett, An old, kind, and smart American
expatriate; Lord Warburton, an English
aristocrat; and Ralph, Mr. Touchett’s son. The
Touchetts are originally from America and have
lived in England for 30 years. Ralph’s mother,
Mrs. Touchett, is coming to visit from the States
with Ralph’s cousin, a young American lady. She
sends a very brief telegram, mentioning that the
girl is "quite independent."

6. “Under certain circumstances there are few
hours in life more agreeable than the hour
dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon
tea. There are circumstances in which, whether
you partake of the tea or not—some people of
course never do,—the situation is in itself
delightful. Those that I have in mind in
beginning to unfold this simple history offered
an admirable setting to an innocent pastime.
The implements of the little feast had been
disposed upon the lawn of an old English
country-house, in what I should call the perfect
middle of a splendid summer afternoon.” (18)

7. CHAPTER 2
Isabel Archer arrives at Gardencourt. Mrs Touchett goes
straight to her room. Ralph goes to meet his cousin, Isabel
Archer. Isabel tells Ralph that he is to go to his mother’s
chambers at a quarter to seven. Mrs. Touchett has locked
herself in her room, as is her custom.
Mr. Touchett, Ralph invites Isabel to come and meet Mr
Touchett. She discovers that his health has declined drastically.
Isabel meets also Lord Warburton, a friend of the
Touchetts. All three gentlemen are quite interested in her, in
different ways.
Ralph innocently comments that Mrs. Touchett has
"adopted" Isabel. She seems offended by this statement and
clarifies that her liberty is very important to her.
Lord Warburton declares that Isabel is his idea of an
interesting woman.

8. CHAPTER 3
Mrs. Touchett insists on things just as she likes them.
For this reason, she keeps a house in Florence where she
resides, while Mr. Touchett stays in England at Gardencourt.
Mrs. Touchett "discovered" Isabel at her deceased
grandmother’s house in Albany, New York, where she spent
most of her childhood. She read a lot of books on her own
instead of going to school. We begin to see that Isabel is as
independent as her aunt, even as a child.
The two ladies talk for about an hour, waiting for
Isabel’s sister and brother-in-law, Lilian and Edmund, to
return.
Mrs. Touchett offers Isabel the chance to go to Florence.
Isabel is excited by the idea, but cannot promise to do
everything Mrs. Touchett asks her to do.

9. NOTES
 Isabel's life from her own perspective and through
the perspectives of other characters.
 the idea of Europe and the idea of America
 Individualism and independence (represented by
Isabel Archer vs. Social customs
 The chapter takes us by means of flashback to Mrs
Touchett’s visit of her nieces in Albany, New York.

10. CHAPTER 4
Of the three Archer sisters, Lilian is thought to be the
practical one, Edith the beautiful one, and Isabel the
"intellectual" one.
Lilian is worried about her exceptional younger sister,
who is something of a mystery to them.
Mr. Archer, their father, was notorious for not
handling money well, often gambling and spending
frivolously. Despite all of this, Isabel remembers her father
fondly.
Isabel thinks her life is wonderful; she has had every
privilege and has never wanted for anything. She is almost
disappointed because she thinks that hardship would give
her life a little spice – at least, that’s what the books she
reads all suggest.

11. Although a lot of men courted Edith, most men
overlook Isabel or feel intimidated by her intellectual
reputation. However, we are told that she is quite
beautiful in her own, unique way.
For about a year, Boston-based Caspar
Goodwood has been steadfastly wooing Isabel via
post. She finds him to be quite an impressive young
man, but doesn’t really know how she feels about
him yet.
Caspar travels from New York City to Albany to
visit Isabel. She is slow to meet him and, despite the
fact that he looks resolved to action, their visit is
uneventful. He leaves, somewhat defeated.

12. NOTES
• Chapter 4 provides a deeper flashback into
Isabel’s childhood ,upbringing, and growing
up in America.
• The chapter through more light on Isabel’s
character.

13. CHAPTER 5
After attending both Harvard and Oxford (his father wanted
him to be both British and American), Ralph took a position at his
father’s bank. At university, he was considered a very promising
young man. Ralph considered his father to be his best friend and
admired him very much.
Sadly, Ralph fell ill while working at the bank, and never quite
recovered. As a result, he stopped working to take care of his
health. We don’t know exactly what’s wrong with him, but he has
weak lungs.
Ralph resigns himself to indifference in order to make his life
seem less of a disappointment.
Ralph is quite taken with his cousin Isabel and asks his mother
where she plans to take her for her European tour.
Mrs. Touchett plans to invite her to stay at Gardencourt for
some weeks, then plans to take Isabel to France to buy clothes,
and then to Florence in the autumn.

14. Ralph sits and talks with Isabel for an hour,
while his parents chat, and Lord Warburton
leaves to go home for dinner.
Ralph and Isabel look at the paintings in the
house. Ralph is impressed with Isabel’s natural
taste for art.
Isabel assumes that because Gardencourt is a
large, old, very historic house, there’s a family
ghost. Ralph confesses that there is one and that
he has seen it, but Isabel can’t, because she
hasn’t suffered enough yet. This conversation is
half-joking, half-serious.

15. CHAPTER 6
Isabel thinks quite highly of herself – actually, everyone
thinks quite highly of her. She’s intelligent, creative, and, most
certainly, in the words of Lord Warburton, an interesting
woman. Her pride is one of her distinguishing characteristics –
though it can come off as arrogance sometimes, she is the first
to admit when she’s made a mistake. Her greatest desire is to
perfect herself.
Isabel’s best friend is Henrietta Stackpole, another
independent, intelligent, and apparently quite interesting young
woman. Henrietta is some kind of intrepid girl-reporter.
Isabel, like Henrietta, considers independence very
important, and thinks that women should be able to live
without men. She vaguely wonders about marriage, but has
never been in love.

16. Isabel reminds Mr. Touchett of the young Mrs.
Touchett.
Newly planted in English soil, Isabel is very
curious to know about the country and its people.
She asks Mr. Touchett if England really is how it’s
depicted in books.
Mr. Touchett says that anything he’s learned
he’s learned by observation and participation, not
from second-hand sources.
Mr. Touchett says that English people are very
"inconsistent," which pleases Isabel, since she
herself is unpredictable, too.

17. “It was one of her theories that Isabel
Archer was very fortunate in being
independent, and that she ought to make some
very enlightened use of that state. She never
called it the state of solitude, much less of
singleness; she thought such descriptions weak
. . .” (56)

18. “Of course, among her theories, this young
lady was not without a collection of views on
the subject of marriage. The first on the list
was a conviction of the vulgarity of thinking
too much of it. From lapsing into eagerness on
this point she earnestly prayed she might be
delivered; she held that a woman ought to be
able to live to herself, in the absence of
exceptional flimsiness, and that it was
perfectly possible to be happy without the
society of a more or less coarse-minded
person of another sex.” (57)

19. CHAPTER 7
As interested as Isabel is in English society, she has seen
very little of it. Mrs. Touchett has few contacts in the
neighborhood, and Mr. Touchett and Ralph are accustomed to
keeping to themselves. Lord Warburton is the lone exception.
Mrs. Touchett doesn’t visit anyone in the neighborhood
herself, but she does love it when people visit.
Isabel asks her aunt what her national identity is. She
claims that her point of view is distinctly American, but Mrs.
Touchett’s is neither American nor English. Mrs. Touchett
responds that her point of view is personal and not assigned to
a nation. Isabel sees the sense in this. Isabel aligns herself so
much as an American.
Isabel doubts that Ralph really cares about anything, since
he jokes so much and criticizes most things. Ralph says that he
cares about her alone.

20. It turns out that he’s not completely joking
about this. Ralph has worried ever since Mr.
Touchett’s illness has gotten worse. He cannot
bear the thought of living without his father.
Ralph thinks Isabel is fascinating and enjoys
spending time with her. Ralph is Isabel’s tour
guide. They go by horse and boat through the
local countryside.
One day, upon their return, they find Lord
Warburton chatting with Mrs. Touchett in the
garden. Isabel had decided, upon first meeting
Lord Warburton, that she liked him.

21. Lord Warburton stays at Gardencourt for a couple of
days, clearly lured in by Isabel’s company. One night, Ralph,
Isabel, Lord Warburton and Mrs. Touchett are in the drawing
room. Mrs. Touchett gets up to retire for the night and
expects Isabel to follow her.
Isabel says she would rather not, since she’s having such
fun with the guys. Mrs. Touchett says she’ll stay up too, if she
must. Isabel, confused, doesn’t get what her aunt means by
this. They have a little spat – Mrs. Touchett reminds Isabel
that she’s not in Albany anymore. Isabel gives in and says
she’ll go to bed.
Mrs. Touchett explains to Isabel that, in England, proper
ladies are not supposed to stay up at night alone with men.
This is news to Isabel, and she asks that her aunt always tell
her of different social standards she might not know about.
Mrs. Touchett asks Isabel if she only wants to know
about the rules just so she can rebel against them. Isabel
coolly says that she would like to choose whether to obey or
not.

22. “She was intelligent and generous; it was a
fine free nature; but what was she going to do
with herself? This question was irregular, for
with most women one had no occasion to ask
it. Most women did with themselves nothing
at all; they waited, attitudes more or less
gracefully passive, for a man to come that way
and furnish them with a destiny. Isabel’s
originality was that she gave one an
impression of having intentions of her own.
‘Whenever she executes them,’ said Ralph,
‘may I be there to see!’” (65)

23. “‘Of course you’re vexed at my interfering with you,’ said Mrs.
Touchett.
Isabel considered. ‘I’m not vexed, but I’m surprised— and a
good deal mystified. Wasn’t it proper I should remain in the
drawing-room?’
‘Not in the least. Young girls here—in decent houses— don’t sit
alone with the gentlemen late at night.’
‘You were very right to tell me then,’ said Isabel. ‘I don’t
understand it, but I’m very glad to know it.’
‘I shall always tell you,’ her aunt answered, ‘whenever I see you
taking what seems to me too much liberty.’
‘Pray do; but I don’t say I shall always think your remonstrance
just.’
‘Very likely not. You’re too fond of your own ways.’
‘Yes, I think I’m very fond of them. But I always want to know
the things one shouldn’t do.’
‘So as to do them?’ asked her aunt.
‘So as to choose,’ said Isabel.” (69)

24. CHAPTER 8
Lord Warburton invites Isabel over to his estate,
Lockleigh. Mrs. Touchett and Ralph plan to go, too.
Lord Warburton has two brothers and four sisters, two
unmarried and two married.
Ralph and Isabel discuss Lord Warburton. Ralph
thinks Lord Warburton is miserable because, amidst
his luxuries, he doesn’t know what he should be. Mr.
Touchett says that people like Lord Warburton, whose
politics are rather radical, wait until he’s dead to start
a revolution in England.
Mr. Touchett lists all of Lord Warburton’s most
prestigious social roles and says that, even if there
were a revolution, no one would hurt Lord Warburton
because everyone’s too fond of him.

25. CHAPTER 9
Lord Warburton’s unmarried sisters visit
Gardencourt. The two sisters invite Isabel to Lockleigh for
lunch, and Isabel accepts. Isabel tells Ralph that she’d
like to be more like the two sisters, who are more "quiet
and reasonable and satisfied.“ Ralph hopes just the
opposite.
Isabel, Ralph, and Mrs. Touchett visit Lockleigh a few
days later. Isabel talks with the two sisters about Lord
Warburton’s stance as a radical. Isabel seems dissatisfied
with the image the Misses Molyneux paint of Lord
Warburton; she wants to hear that Lord Warburton
would sacrifice his houses and comforts for the cause.

26. Lord Warburton walks with Isabel separately. He asks her
to visit Lockleigh more often. Isabel says that such
arrangements are up to Mrs. Touchett. Lord Warburton thinks
this is a coy act – and that Isabel can act for herself.
Lord Warburton says that Isabel charms him. He says it in
a way that makes Isabel a little nervous, so she tells him that
she won’t return to Lockleigh. Lord Warburton says that he
will visit her at Gardencourt next week.
Isabel thinks of the books she’s read, which say that
English people are the most romantic people. She is afraid of
Warburton’s romantic approaches towards her.
Before they rejoin the group, Lord Warburton says that he
will visit Isabel next week. Isabel is surprised at his behavior.
She’s flattered by it, but also feels nervous.

27. • Isabel's developing relationship with Lord
Warburton
• Warburton is an aristocratic lord who uses his
power to advocate anti- aristocratic political
reform.
• the theme of social class
• Warburton's sisters: not even individual enough
to obtain first names in the novel; they are simply
the height of conformity and convention: calm,
submissive, and thoughtless (the opposite of what
Isabel seems to want out of life).
• the conflict Isabel experiences between
independence and social convention

28. CHAPTER 10
Henrietta Stackpole writes Isabel from London to announce
her arrival. Isabel arranges for her to visit Gardencourt.
Ralph expresses his doubt in journalists, joking that
Henrietta will probably write about their lives at Gardencourt.
Isabel insists that she would not. Isabel claims that Henrietta is
courageous and completely independent from men. She
suggests that Henrietta write about Lord Warburton, who will be
visiting soon. Henrietta is intrigued and appalled by Ralph’s lack
of occupation.
Ralph shows Henrietta the family painting collection.
Henrietta accuses Ralph of giving up his Americanness. Ralph
says that that’s not possible, since your country is born into you.
Henrietta claims that marriage is a duty. Ralph accuses Henrietta
of not fulfilling that duty also.
Ralph confesses to Isabel that Henrietta disturbs him for the
very same reasons that Isabel loves her: she embodies the spirit
of America.

29. CHAPTER 11
Henrietta and Mrs. Touchett do not agree on anything.
Henrietta dislikes the fact that Mrs. Touchett has denied her
American ties, and Mrs. Touchett finds Henrietta too vulgar
and forward.
Henrietta tells Isabel about an encounter she had with
Caspar Goodwood. She tells Isabel that Caspar arrived in
London with her, with the aim to see Isabel. Isabel is not
very excited to see Caspar, although it is unclear what her
actual feelings about him are. Henrietta sees that Isabel’s stay
at Gardencourt has changed her. Isabel hopes so, since she
wants everything to influence her.
Isabel receives a letter from Caspar. The letter expresses
his wish to see her, announces his coming arrival in England,
and expresses the thought that he only wants to be where she
is.

30. CHAPTER 12
Isabel has just finished reading Caspar Goodwood's
letter when Lord Warburton appears. As they stroll
through the grounds, Lord Warburton takes the
opportunity to tell Isabel how much he cares for her. He
then proposes to her. Isabel is rather stunned and
maintains that they do not know each other. Lord
Warburton points out that he knows himself very well and
knows that Isabel is the only person he will ever care for.
Isabel explains that she simply does not want to marry
and that she certainly cannot accept his proposal now. He
suggests that she consider it and write to him later. She
promises to write very soon but warns him not to hope for
a favorable answer. Isabel swiftly realizes that she does
not want to marry him.

31. CHAPTER 13
Isabel needs to talk to someone about the proposal,
and she decides to confide in Mr. Touchett. Mr. Touchett
already knows about the proposal because Lord Warburton
wrote him a letter stating his intentions.
Mr. Touchett figures Isabel is waiting to see if a better
man comes along, but Isabel insists that she does not know
her exact reasons of her refusal except that she doesn't wish
to marry anyone at the present moment.
We learn more about Caspar Goodwood: He studied at
Harvard College, where he was known as a star gymnast and
member of the crew team. The son of a cotton-mill owner,
Caspar has a skill for mechanics and patented a new cotton-
spinning technique. All in all, he’s a successful and
enterprising young businessman.

32. Isabel considers the cons of Goodwood: He always
dresses in the same way, his jaw is too square, and his posture
too stiff. Oh, yeah — and she doesn’t think she’s in love with
him.
Isabel mentally compares Caspar Goodwood with Lord
Warburton and feels that she cannot commit herself to either
of them. She writes Lord Warburton a letter thanking him, but
rejecting his proposal. She decides not to write to Caspar
Goodwood in order to discourage him.
Henrietta Stackpole asks Ralph for help. Henrietta is
determined to match Isabel with Caspar Goodwood. She
insists that Isabel marry an American man and believes that
Caspar is, as they say, the Right One.
Henrietta asks Ralph to invite Caspar to Gardencourt.
Reluctantly, Ralph does; fortunately, Caspar replies that he is
busy. Henrietta suggests that she and Isabel visit London in
order to see more of English society. Isabel, always wanting to
experience more, agrees. Ralph also decides to join the party.

33. CHAPTER 14
Lord Warburton and the older Miss Molyneux come to
Gardencourt for lunch. Henrietta Stackpole asks Lord
Warburton a bunch of questions about the English
aristocracy, and Lord Warburton replies politely.
Lord Warburton questions Isabel about her refusal. She
tries to explain that in marrying him, she would be
attempting to escape from her fate. She feels that she
would be gaining so much that she would then have no
opportunity to confront her real destiny. For some reason,
she fears that she cannot find happiness by avoiding the
perils of life, and in marrying Lord Warburton, she would be
trying to do that.

34. CHAPTER 15
Mrs. Touchett would have liked Isabel to accept Lord
Warburton’s marriage proposal. Ralph accompanies Isabel and
Henrietta to London.
In London, left alone with Isabel, Ralph tells her that he
has been informed of Lord Warburton's proposal. Ralph
questions Isabel about her intentions and is fascinated with
the idea of what Isabel could do with her life now that she has
shown the independence to refuse such a magnificent
proposal. Isabel justifies her refusal by saying that she loves
the unexpected in life, and a marriage with Lord Warburton
would have been too determined and definitely marked out in
advance. She further explains that she wants to have more
experience before resigning herself to marriage.
Ralph devotes a lot of thought to Isabel; she’s still a
fascinating mystery to him.

35. CHAPTER 16
Alone in her room, Isabel receives Caspar
Goodwood's card and she consents to see him.
She is greatly surprised and somewhat
disappointed. Goodwood reasserts his love for
Isabel and expresses his fear that she will end up
marrying some European. She tells him that she
has already had that opportunity, and at present,
she wants nothing but her own liberty and
freedom. She refuses to make any definite
commitments.

36. CHAPTER 17
Isabel is also proud that she has demonstrated the
thing she has wanted all along: freedom. She thinks
that her refusal of Casper is a visible sign of her
commitment to her independence. When Henrietta
returns, Isabel tells her that she was wrong to arrange
the meeting with Caspar. Henrietta says that Isabel is
acting ridiculous by allowing her romantic notions of
Europe to make her forget her practical American
values—she says that if Isabel marries one of her
European acquaintances, Henrietta will cease to be
her friend.
Henrietta decides to stay in London in order to
get word from Mr. Bantling and Lady Pensil.

37. Ralph arrives with the news that Mr. Touchett’s
health has declined. He goes to fetch a renowned
doctor. Isabel insists on going with Ralph, and checks
out of the hotel.
Henrietta gives her regrets to Ralph, with the
assumption that this will be her last time seeing Mr.
Touchett. She tells Ralph that Caspar Goodwood
came to see Isabel last night. Ralph is saddened by
the thought that Isabel would have lied to him about
expecting a visitor. When Henrietta tells Ralph that
Isabel rejected Caspar again, he is relieved that
Isabel didn’t deceive him.
Henrietta decides to talk with Caspar and
encourage him not to give up on Isabel.

38. CHAPTER 18
Ralph and Isabel return to Gardencourt. Isabel hears music playing
and to her surprise, she finds a lovely stranger playing Schubert on the
piano. The stranger is Madame Merle, Mrs. Touchett’s good friend. She
is an American who met Mrs. Touchett in Florence. When Isabel later
questions Ralph about Madame Merle, he tells her that she is the
cleverest woman he has ever known. "She does everything beautifully.
She's complete."
Mr. Touchett’s health declines rapidly. He wants Ralph to marry
Isabel. Ralph admits that he thinks very fondly of Isabel, but is not in
love with her. Ralph instead asks his father to split his inheritance
money in two and give one half to Isabel. He wishes to give Isabel
freedom from worrying about money. He knows she has a big
imagination and wants to enable her to do whatever she’d like, without
depending on a man.
Mr. Touchett worries that this would give her too much freedom,
and that fortune hunters would pursue her. Ralph says he’s not too
worried about that happening. Mr. Touchett consents to Ralph’s wishes.

39. CHAPTER 19
Isabel grows quite close to Madame Merle, who
seems to be almost perfect to her—she is graceful,
talented, and interesting. Madame Merle mostly
asks Isabel about her life. She enjoys listening to
Isabel’s thoughts, and finds the girl altogether
delightful.
Madame Merle promises Isabel that she will
someday tell about her life, but she has friends,
especially an American named Gilbert Osmond,
whom she wants Isabel to know.
Isabel hears of her uncle's death.

40. CHAPTER 20
Some weeks later in London, Madame Merle
pays Mrs. Touchett a visit and learns that Mr.
Touchett left Isabel a fortune. She thinks
immediately what a clever girl Isabel must be for
getting this wealth left to her.
Soon thereafter, Isabel journeys to Paris with
her aunt. There she meets Edward Rosier, whom
she had known as a child. She also sees Henrietta
again. Henrietta tells her that Mr. Touchett made
a mistake in leaving Isabel so much money.
Henrietta is afraid that it might ruin Isabel.

41. CHAPTER 21
Mrs. Touchett goes to San Remo, Italy to visit her
son. Isabel decides to go with her.
Isabel asks Ralph whether he knew about the
inheritance that Mr. Touchett left for her. Isabel does
not seem to know what to do with herself, now that
she is wealthy. Ralph recommends that Isabel think less
and just enjoy her life with the new means she has
received. Isabel agrees with Ralph’s advice.
Isabel confesses that she’s afraid of the freedom a
large amount of money can bring. Ralph says that it is
only a problem for the weak, and Isabel is most
certainly not weak. After talking with Ralph, Isabel
feels better and more comfortable with her new
wealthy persona.

42. CHAPTER 22
Six months after Mr. Touchett’s death, Gilbert
Osmond, and his fifteen-year-old daughter Pansy are
sitting in Mr. Osmond’s house, near Florence, Italy.
Pansy has just returned from a convent school.
Madame Merle tells him about a beautiful
twenty-three-year-old girl named Isabel Archer, who
has inherited half the Touchett fortune. She wants
him to marry her. Gilbert says that he has no interest
in marrying. Merle insists, reminding him that he has
no money of his own, and Isabel's fortune could
provide a dowry for Pansy. As she watches Pansy
playing outside, Merle notes that the girl does not like
her.

43. CHAPTER 23
Madame Merle returns to Mrs. Touchett’s home
in Florence.
Madame Merle recommends Osmond to Isabel
once more, telling her of his impressive traits.
Osmond pays a visit and invites Isabel to visit
him at home and meet his daughter. During the
visit, Isabel keeps silent; she is impressed with
Osmond's refined manner, and he seems to catch
her imagination. Isabel talks to Ralph about
Osmond; Ralph says that he is indeed very refined
but seems to have no other qualities. But he
reminds her that she should judge people for
herself.

44. CHAPTER 24
Merle takes Isabel to visit Gilbert Osmond's house.
Looking at the imposing villa from the outside, Isabel has
the impression that once you were inside, it would be
very difficult to get out.
Osmond says that he has sacrificed everything but his
devotion to art and good taste—Isabel is again impressed
with his refinement and his obvious taste. He tells her
that, though he has lived a life of renunciation, he will
soon need to find a source of income, because he must
provide for his daughter.

45. CHAPTER 25
The Countess Gemini tells Madame Merle that
she does not agree with her scheme to
manipulate Isabel into marrying her brother and
that it is not fair to trick a remarkable woman
such as Isabel. The Countess comments that she is
frightened for Isabel's future.

46. CHAPTER 26
Over the next weeks, Gilbert Osmond begins to visit Mrs
Touchett’s house so often that Mrs. Touchett realizes that he
must be interested in Isabel. Merle pretends not to have noticed
but promises to try to find out by asking Osmond. Countess
Gemini believes that her brother will make a terrible husband.
She says that there is nothing special in him, yet he’s full of
himself.
Mrs. Touchett and Ralph discuss Osmond’s intentions with
Isabel. Ralph is still convinced that Isabel will have lots of suitors
in her life, and she will not accept any of them.
Mrs. Touchett hopes Isabel has the good sense not to fall for
Osmond, who is very clearly socially inferior to Lord Warburton.
Mrs. Touchett figures that if Isabel does want to marry
Osmond, then no one could do anything about it, not even
Ralph.

47. To Countess Gemini’s annoyance, she learns
that Isabel is very rich. She thinks it a pity that
such a fine person should be sacrificed simply for
her money, and worries about what her brother
will do to the girl.
Mr. Bantling will take Henrietta to Rome, and
Ralph volunteers to go with Isabel.
Osmond expresses his wish to go with them
to Rome. Isabel encourages the idea.

48. CHAPTER 27
Isabel greatly enjoys touring Rome with her friends. After
they have been there for some time, Isabel is shocked to
encounter Lord Warburton on the street. He has been traveling
in the east and is now on his way back to England. He tells
Isabel that he has been unable to forget her and that he has
even written her a number of letters which he has not sent.
Isabel is happy to see Warburton, though she fears it will be
inconvenient for him to be in Rome. And she is right: one day,
as she and Lord Warburton are touring Saint Peter's, when she
suddenly comes face-to-face with Gilbert Osmond, who says
that he has come to Rome because of Isabel. Isabel worries that
Warburton will have heard about Osmond. Warburton walks
away with Ralph, and the men speculate about whether Isabel
is in love with Gilbert Osmond. Ralph assures Warburton that
Isabel is looking for something entirely different.

49. CHAPTER 28
When Lord Warburton learns that Ralph and Isabel are at the
theatre, he follows them there. It hurts him to see Isabel and Gilbert
Osmond seated next to one another. The next day, Warburton tells
Isabel that he is leaving Rome, because he is unable to stand being
near Isabel in these circumstances.
Two days later, Isabel meets Warburton again at an art gallery.
She is there with her friends, including Osmond. Lord Warburton
tells Isabel that he is not only leaving the museum, but leaving
Rome as well. For a moment, Isabel wants to stop him, but then
wishes him a good journey. Isabel is alone after Lord Warburton
leaves, accompanied by art objects. Osmond creeps up behind her,
and is glad to find her alone.
Osmond rejoices in Isabel’s behavior toward Lord Warburton,
because he knows that Warburton is a man superior to himself. If
Isabel is strong enough to turn down Lord Warburton, then Osmond
figures that she is the woman for him. He wants to add her to his
collection of beautiful and precious things.

50. CHAPTER 29
Isabel’s aunt is taking her for a visit to another part
of Italy. Isabel accepts and bids Osmond good-bye.
Osmond tells her that he finds himself in love with her.
Isabel is not offended by his declaration, even though
he tries to explain that he has nothing to offer her
except his love. He asks her to come back, for he has
many more things to say to her. Since he is staying in
Rome, he requests Isabel to visit his daughter. Isabel is
glad to promise that. Isabel has been fantasizing about
being in love with Osmond, but now that he has
confessed his love, she feels strangely oppressed. She
feels as though there is a space inside her that she is
unable to cross, but that if she could cross it, she could
return Gilbert's love.

51. CHAPTER 30
Back at Florence, Isabel tells Madame
Merle of her promise to visit Pansy. When
Isabel meets Pansy again, she finds the young
lady to be very quaint and charming. They
discuss Osmond, and Pansy tells how she lives
just to please her father. Isabel agrees with
her that it is very important to obey and
please him.

52. CHAPTER 31
Isabel and Madame Merle tour Greece,
Turkey, and Egypt. Returning from this trip,
Isabel stays three weeks with Madame Merle
and sees Gilbert Osmond every day. She then
goes to her aunt's house for a visit, after a year
of separation.

53. CHAPTER 32
Isabel has not told anyone about her
engagement to Gilbert Osmond except Caspar
Goodwood and Madame Merle. As soon as Caspar
Goodwood hears that Isabel is engaged, he comes
straight to Florence to see her. Isabel receives him in
her aunt's house. He tells her frankly that he is
disappointed and is selfish enough to wish her
anything except marriage to another man. Isabel
knows that her friends do not like Mr. Osmond, but
she says that she doesn't marry to please her
friends.

54. CHAPTER 33-34
Isabel goes to tell Mrs. Touchett about her engagement.
Mrs. Touchett is shocked, realizing that Merle has tricked her,
having convinced her not to interfere in Isabel and Gilbert's
romance by promising to end it herself. Mrs. Touchett
complains that there is no reason to marry Osmond; he has
neither name nor fortune.
Some days later Ralph arrives. He does not speak of the
matter for some time. He then tells her that he fears that she
is going to be put into a cage and he reminds her that she
used to love her liberty and that it is not the type of marriage
he thought she would make. He is disappointed that she has
settled for something so low. Furthermore, he can't get over
the feeling that Osmond is "small . . . narrow, selfish. Ralph
also confesses to Isabel that he loves her, but he says he has
no hope of ever acting on his love or having it returned.

55. CHAPTER 35
Isabel doesn’t tell Osmond that her family and friends think so
poorly of him. She doesn’t care what everyone else thinks, and is
glad that she is marrying someone only to please herself. Her love
for Osmond has somehow separated her from everyone else she
cares about. Osmond tells Isabel that he figures her relations
don’t approve of him because of the class difference. He has no
money, and, therefore, that must be why they don’t like him.
Osmond tells her that she shouldn’t worry that he’s marrying her
for the money. Osmond and Isabel plan to stay in Italy, since that is
where their entire relationship has taken place.
When Osmond tells his daughter the good news, Pansy
congratulates Isabel. Pansy says that she is glad about the
engagement for her father’s sake. She will be glad to have Isabel
for a model, as well.
Countess Gemini offers to tell Isabel all about her husband,
and asks Pansy to leave the room. Isabel insists that she stay,
saying that she only wants to hear what Pansy would be allowed to
hear.

56. CHAPTER 36
Three years pass. A young man named Edward
Rosier, who was friendly with Isabel and Madame
Merle in Paris, calls on Madame Merle in Rome. He
asks her for help him to marry Pansy; he and Pansy
love one another, but he suspects that Pansy's father
will oppose their marriage. He wants to speak to
Isabel about it, but Madame Merle warns him that
Isabel has no standing in her marriage—she is barely
treated as part of the family. Instead, she and Gilbert
disagree about everything and seem to despise one
another. She also reveals that Isabel gave birth to a
son two years ago, but he died when he was only six
months old.

57. CHAPTER 37
Rosier goes to greet Osmond, who is standing by the
fireplace. Osmond is insufferably rude to him. Rosier speaks to
Isabel, implying to her that he is interested in Pansy. Rosier goes
near Pansy. Once people have left the room, the two talk alone.
He tells Pansy that he likes her, and asks if she likes him in
return. Pansy admits that she does.
Madame Merle talks with Osmond. Osmond clearly does
not approve of him, and tells Madame Merle to make it clear
that Rosier should forget about Pansy.
Rosier appeals to Isabel, but Isabel tells him that Osmond
cares too much for money to let him marry Pansy. Rosier makes
a rude comment, saying that it is obvious that Osmond cares a
lot for money. Isabel is offended and walks off. Rosier
approaches her again and apologizes. Isabel says that she
cannot help him.

58. CHAPTER 38
Rosier tries to convince Osmond that his daughter loves
him as much as he loves her, but Osmond doesn’t care. He
coldly states that Pansy will feel whatever Osmond wants her
to feel.
Osmond presents Isabel with a visiting friend: Lord
Warburton. Lord Warburton tells Isabel that he accompanied
Ralph to Rome and that Ralph’s health is much worse, and he
hopes she’ll come to visit him soon. Isabel is prepared to leave
immediately, but Lord Warburton tells her that the next
morning will be fine.
Lately, Ralph’s health has been declining rapidly. He had
been staying alone at Gardencourt, but it wasn’t good for him.
Mrs. Touchett is in America, and, as is her way, won’t let
anything ruin her trip, not even her son’s illness.
Isabel is relieved that Lord Warburton does not make any
mention of their unsuccessful romantic past.

59. Lord Warburton asks if Isabel is happy, and she
replies that she is very happy. Isabel suggests that she is
more accommodating now, and that she will accept
other people’s ideas and proposals. Isabel offers to
introduce Lord Warburton to people, but he says that
the only person who captures his fancy is Pansy.
Pansy says that she will not disobey her father’s
wishes; however, she loves Rosier as much as she loves
her father. Rosier worries that her father will change
Pansy’s mind, but Pansy claims that will never happen.
She will ask Isabel for help.
Rosier worries that Isabel won’t do anything because
she is afraid of Osmond. Pansy states that Isabel is not
afraid of anything.

60. CHAPTER 39
Isabel has distanced herself from all her old
friends, including Henrietta, whom Osmond
despises, and Mrs. Touchett, whose friendship
with Madame Merle has been destroyed by
Merle's deceitful role in helping Osmond win
Isabel.
Warburton tells Ralph about his intention to
marry Pansy. Maybe, he only wants to marry
Pansy to make himself a part of Isabel's life.

61. CHAPTER 40
Isabel discovers Merle’s role in arranging her
marriage to Osmond and also that Merle’s
relation with Osmond is more intimate than she
formerly thought.
Madame Merle also mentions that Isabel
could use her influence over Lord Warburton to
benefit Pansy. Isabel is surprised to find that
Madame Merle knows of Lord Warburton’s
proposal to her. Mrs. Touchett had told her.
Madame Merle and Isabel both agree that Lord
Warburton would be a smarter match for Pansy
than Rosier.

62. CHAPTER 41
Lord Warburton calls on the Osmond
household often to visit with Isabel and Pansy.
Isabel wants to please Osmond, marrying
Pansy to Warburton. Osmond is certain that
Isabel will side with Pansy marrying Rosier. The
couple obviously has an antagonistic
relationship. Osmond commands Isabel to use
her influence on Lord Warburton to get him to
propose to Pansy.

63. CHAPTER 42
Isabel reviews her life. She wonders if Lord Warburton is in fact
interested in Pansy because he still has love for her. This thought
leads her to re-examine her marriage with Osmond. Osmond has
gradually gained total control of Isabel, who was once so proud and
independent. She tried to conform to his wishes until she realized
that he wanted her to change her completely. He wanted her to
become a slave to him and to act as he wanted her to. Yet, she knew
that she was a distinct individual and had to abide by her own
nature. This caused her husband to hate her. Her real offence was
her having a mind of her own.
Isabel and Osmond have barely been speaking to one another.
Isabel knows that Osmond is upset and jealous about Ralph’s stay in
Rome.
Isabel has not told Ralph how miserable her life is. She thinks
that it is better for him to think that he was wrong all along. She
can’t dismiss the idea that Osmond and Merele were conspiring
against her.

64. CHAPTER 43
Isabel accompanies Pansy to a ball, where they once again
encounter both Rosier and Lord Warburton. Isabel can tell that
Rosier really does love Pansy, and that staying away from her
tortures him. Osmond has ordered Pansy to avoid him. Lord
Warburton asks Isabel about Rosier, never having been
introduced to him. He clearly sympathizes with the young man,
although Isabel calls him his rival. Isabel lets it slip that Pansy
does care for Rosier, and Lord Warburton is surprised to hear
that Pansy would do something without her father’s approval.
When asked if he’s really in love with Pansy, Warburton
simply replies that he’s forty-two – presumably too old now to
truly fall in love. Isabel leaves the room and tells Rosier that she
is willing to help him. Isabel reminds Lord Warburton to send
his letter to Osmond. They all prepare to go home from the ball.

65. CHAPTER 44
Henrietta visits the Countess Gemini in
Florence and tells her that she is worried that
Isabel is unhappy and that she is going to Rome.
The Countess is also going to Rome to visit her
brother and surprises Henrietta by telling her
that Lord Warburton is also in Rome and
apparently still in love with Isabel. Henrietta then
goes to speak to Caspar Goodwood, whom she
encourages to come to Rome as well, for Isabel's
sake.

66. CHAPTER 45
Isabel goes to visit Ralph, knowing well that Osmond doesn’t
approve of it. Isabel asks Ralph about Lord Warburton, and Ralph admits
that he is very much in love… but with Isabel, not Pansy. Isabel laments
that Ralph is not helping her, which is the one instance in which she
suggests that she actually needs help. Ralph confesses that he hopes Lord
Warburton doesn’t go for Pansy, since that would make his and Isabel’s
relationship very difficult. Ralph wants to hear Isabel confess how horrible
her life has been as Mrs. Osmond, but she still hides her misery.
Isabel talks with Pansy that night, in order to hear Pansy’s thoughts
from her own mouth. Finally, we see that Pansy has her own thoughts
and feelings. Pansy confesses that she loves Rosier and will remain loyal
to him. She would rather be alone than married to anyone else. However,
Isabel is persistent in carrying out Osmond’s wishes, emphasizing to Pansy
that she must not disobey her father. Pansy says that she’d rather not be
with anyone, if not Rosier.

67. CHAPTER 46
Lord Warburton has not called or written, and Osmond
holds Isabel responsible. Osmond assumes that Isabel has a
hand in Warburton’s sudden absence, and demands that she
correct it. At this moment, Lord Warburton arrives at the
Osmonds’ and announces his departure for England. He invites
the Osmonds to visit him and stay at Lockleigh. Osmond and
Isabel both realize that Lord Warburton is no longer pursuing
Pansy. Osmond leaves the two friends alone.
Lord Warburton expresses his wish for Isabel to visit him
in England. Pansy comes to bid adieu to Lord Warburton, and
she is close to tears. Pansy seems glad to be rid of Lord
Warburton.
Osmond accuses Isabel of having played a game against
him. He thinks that Isabel has worked to turn Lord Warburton
away from Pansy. Osmond says that there is still hope that
they might still take Lord Warburton up on his offer to visit
England.

68. CHAPTERS 47-48
Isabel finally confesses to Henrietta that
she is unhappy. Isabel claims that she cannot
leave Osmond because it would damage her
pride. She made the choice to marry him so
deliberately and publicly, it would be
embarrassing to confess its failure.

69. CHAPTERS 49-51
When Madame Merle confronts Isabel about her role
in Lord Warburton's departure from Rome, Isabel is
shocked by Merle's interference—she sounds as though
she is speaking as Osmond's representative, and not
merely as an acquaintance of the family. Propriety would
dictate that the entire incident is none of Madame Merle's
business, but Merle questions Isabel about it as though
she, and not Isabel, was Osmond's wife. Isabel feels again
that Madame Merle plays a powerful role in her life.
Mrs. Touchett writes Isabel that Ralph is near death
and asks Isabel to come at once. When Isabel tells Osmond
this news, he forbids her to leave Rome.

70. The Countess Gimmini urges Isabel to defy Osmond and
leave Rome. But Isabel is haunted by the memory of her
wedding vows, which she does not wish to break. The
Countess tells Isabel that Osmond has lied to her: his
first wife did not die during childbirth, because she was
never pregnant. Pansy's mother is Madame Merle.
Madame Merle and Osmond have been lovers for years;
Osmond's first wife died around the time Pansy was
born, so they simply claimed that she had died in
childbirth and put Pansy in a convent. Merle chose Isabel
to marry Osmond both because Pansy needed a
mother—she dislikes Merle, her real mother—and
because Isabel has money for Pansy's dowry. Isabel
realizes that this explains why Merle was so upset when
she thought Isabel had encouraged Warburton not to
marry Pansy.

71. CHAPTERS 52-55
Caspar Goodwood arrives in order to attend
Ralph's funeral. Isabel wonders whether she can bring
herself to go back to Rome. She tries not to think
about the problem. Isabel meets Lord Warburton; she
congratulates him on his marriage. Suddenly, Caspar
Goodwood approaches her. He says that Ralph has
asked him to help her, and he urges her not to return
to Rome, but instead to leave with him. He feels that
she loves him very much.
The next day, Goodwood finds Henrietta and asks
her where Isabel has gone. Henrietta says that Isabel
has returned to her husband in Rome. Goodwood is
stunned; Henrietta takes him by the arm and leads
him away.

72. PLOT
• Isabel Archer is a young woman who lives in Albany,
New York with her father and two sister, after the
death of her mother. Her father allows her to educate
herself, which encourages her independence. She
gets the reputation of being an independent and
intellectual woman, which intimidates men.
• She refuses Caspar Goodwood, an American
businessman because she feels that to marry him
would be to sacrifice her freedom.
• Shortly after Isabel's father dies, she receives a visit
from her aunt, Mrs. Touchett, an American who lives
in Florence, Italy. Mrs. Touchett offers to take Isabel
on a trip to Europe, and Isabel eagerly agrees.

73. • Isabel arrives in England with her aunt. Mrs
Touchett’s husband is a rich banker. Isabel makes a
strong impression on everyone at Mr. Touchett's
county manor of Gardencourt: her cousin Ralph,
slowly dying of a lung disorder, becomes deeply
interested in her, and the Touchetts' aristocratic
neighbor Lord Warburton falls in love with her.
• Warburton proposes, but Isabel refuses him
because she believes that marriage would damage
her independence.
• Isabel's friend Henrietta Stackpole, an American
journalist, believes that Europe is changing Isabel.
Henrietta arranges for Caspar Goodwood to meet
Isabel in London. She still rejects him.

74. • Mr. Touchett's health declines, and Ralph convinces
him to leave half his wealth to Isabel so that she
will never have to marry for money. Mr. Touchett
agrees before he dies.
• Madame Merle, Mrs. Touchett's friend, is
interested in Isabel, and the two women become
close friends.
• Isabel travels to Florence with Mrs. Touchett and
Madame Merle; Merle introduces Isabel to Gilbert
Osmond, a man of no social standing or wealth, but
whom Merle describes as one of the finest
gentlemen in Europe, wholly devoted to art.
• Merle arranges Isabel’s marriage to Osmond so that
he will have access to her money. Osmond is
pleased to marry Isabel, mostly because of her
money.

75. • Everyone of Isabel's relatives and friends
disapproves of Osmond, especially Ralph, but Isabel
chooses to marry him anyway.
• Three years into their marriage, Isabel and Osmond
have come to despise one another; they live with
Pansy, his daughter, in Rome, where Osmond treats
Isabel as barely a member of the family: to him, she
is a social hostess and a source of wealth, and he is
annoyed by her independence and her insistence on
having her own opinions. Isabel suffers from
Osmond's arrogance, his selfishness, and his desire
to crush her individuality, but she does not consider
leaving him. Isabel is committed to her social duty,
and when she married Osmond, she did so with the
intention of transforming herself into a good wife.

76. • A young American art collector who lives in Paris,
Edward Rosier, comes to Rome and falls in love with
Pansy; Pansy returns his feelings. But Osmond is
determined that Pansy should marry a nobleman, and
he says that Rosier is neither rich nor highborn
enough.
• Lord Warburton arrives and shows interest in Pansy.
Warburton is still in love with Isabel and wants to
marry Pansy only to get closer to her.
• But Osmond wants to see Pansy married to
Warburton. Isabel is torn between her desire to fulfill
her duty to her husband and help him arrange the
match between Warburton and Pansy, and her her
conscience, which tells her to discourage Warburton,
while helping Pansy to marry Rosier.

77. • When Warburton knows about Rosier, he
admits that he is not in love with Pansy and
decides to leave Rome.
• Osmond is furious with Isabel, convinced that
she is plotting against him. Madame Merle is
also furious with her, confronting her with
shocking impropriety and demanding to know
what she did to Warburton.
• Isabel realizes that there is something
mysterious about Madame Merle's relationship
with her husband; now, she suddenly realizes
that Merle is his lover.

78. • Isabel receives word that Ralph is dying. She wants
to travel to England to be with him, but Osmond
forbids it. Now Isabel must struggle to decide
whether to obey his command and remain true to
her marriage vows or to disregard him and hurry to
her cousin's bedside.
• Osmond's sister, the Countess Gemini, tells her that
Merle is Pansy's mother. Osmond's wife died at
about the same time, so Merle and Osmond spread
the story that she died in childbirth. Pansy was
placed in a convent to be raised, and she does not
know that Merle is her real mother.
• Isabel is shocked and disgusted by her husband's,
so she decides to follow her heart and travel to
England.

79. • After Ralph's death, Isabel struggles to decide
whether to return to her husband or not. She
promised Pansy that she would return to Rome, and
her commitment to social propriety impels her to go
back and honor her marriage. But her independent
spirit urges her to flee from Osmond and find
happiness elsewhere. Caspar Goodwood appears at
the funeral, and afterwards, he asks Isabel to run
away with him and forget about her husband. The
next day, unable to find her, Goodwood asks
Henrietta where she has gone. Henrietta quietly
tells him that Isabel has returned to Rome, unable
to break away from her marriage to Gilbert
Osmond.