Summary Mrs. Touchett questions the propriety of Isabel’s going to London with Henrietta and Ralph. But she implies that a girl who has refused a great proposal can perhaps afford to be unconventional. In London, Ralph introduces Isabel and Henrietta to an old acquaintance, Mr. Bantling, who finds Henrietta amusing […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 15-16Summary and Analysis Chapter 14
Summary Before Isabel leaves for London, she receives another visit from Lord Warburton. Henrietta Stackpole is delighted to meet a real English lord and interrogates him about all aspects of his personal life. As soon as he can, he escapes from Henrietta and approaches Isabel. He questions Isabel about her […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 14Summary and Analysis Chapter 13
Summary Wondering whether she might be a cold, hard, priggish person, Isabel decides to tell her uncle about Lord Warburton’s proposal. Mr. Touchett’s first question is whether she accepted. Upon learning that she plans to decline Lord Warburton’s offer, he tells her that he has known about Lord Warburton’s intentions […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 13Summary and Analysis Chapters 10-12
Summary After returning from her visit to Lord Warburton’s, Isabel receives a letter from Henrietta Stackpole, who has come to Europe to do a series of articles on European life and wants to meet people. Isabel mentions the letter to her uncle, who immediately extends Henrietta an invitation. Ralph accompanies […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 10-12Summary and Analysis Chapters 8-9
Summary Since Lord Warburton has invited Isabel to come to see his house, Isabel questions her uncle about him. From Ralph, she has heard that he is a man of very high social position and of great wealth. He is greatly admired and is somewhat of a radical. After she […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 8-9Summary and Analysis Chapters 6-7
Summary Isabel Archer is a person “of many theories; her imagination was remarkably active.” She also possesses a fine perception and cares very much for knowledge. She is also determined to see the world as a place of brightness and free expansion, but “sometimes she went so far as to […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 6-7Summary and Analysis Chapter 5
Summary Ralph Touchett had been educated in America and England. He was a small boy when his father came to England as a partner in a bank. Mr. Touchett has retained all of his American qualities, but Ralph grew up transformed into an Englishman. He has discovered that he is […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 5Summary and Analysis Chapters 3-4
Summary Isabel’s aunt has several peculiarities. For example, she long ago recognized the fact that she and her husband did not desire the same things in life; therefore, she decided to set up a house in Florence and pay wifely visits to her husband once a year. She also makes […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 3-4Summary and Analysis Chapters 1-2
Summary One afternoon, Mr. Touchett and his son Ralph are entertaining Lord Warburton at tea. Mr. Touchett is infirm and remains in his chair. He and Ralph are busy advising Lord Warburton to interest himself in some woman. Lord Warburton says that he is not interested in marrying until he […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapters 1-2Character List
Isabel Archer A young American girl of a free and independent nature who becomes an heiress. Mrs. Touchett Isabel’s aunt, who brings Isabel to England and introduces her to European society. Mr. Touchett Isabel’s uncle, who is a wealthy banker living in England. Ralph Touchett Isabel’s cousin, who talks his […]
Read more Character List